.NET Developer Salary in Tacoma: $85,000-$135,000 (2026)

Tacoma's cost-of-living index (~95) means your dollar stretches a bit further here than in Seattle but not as far as many smaller Washington towns. For a .

NET developer earning the local average (~$105k), major cost drivers are housing and commuting. Rental rates for a one-bedroom typically fall between $1,400–$1,700/month; a modest two-bedroom runs $1,700–$2,200 in many neighborhoods.

Median single-family home prices in Tacoma are substantially lower than King County, making ownership feasible sooner than in Seattle. Commute costs matter: many devs drive to suburban campuses or carpool to I-5/167 corridors; budget $200–$350/month for gas and tolls if commuting within the region, more if commuting to Seattle.

Daily lifestyle (groceries, dining, entertainment) is affordable relative to Seattle, so take-home pay for a mid-level . NET dev commonly provides comfortable middle-class living — with room to save or allocate toward mortgage down payments if housing priorities are modest.

Salaries for . NET developers in Tacoma are shaped by a mix of healthcare IT demand, defense contracting, and logistics/port modernization.

Major local employers such as MultiCare and Providence run sizeable clinical applications and need . NET expertise for integrations, EHR customizations and API work.

Joint Base Lewis–McChord generates steady government contracting opportunities (C#, . NET Core services, secure web apps).

The Port of Tacoma and regional logistics firms need software for cargo tracking and operations, often built on Microsoft stacks. Additionally, local consultancies and managed-service providers fill roles for smaller businesses that cannot hire in-house.

Proximity to Seattle and Bellevue means remote or hybrid roles from Amazon, Microsoft and Boeing raise local salary expectations and create upward pressure. Economic trends — continued healthcare IT spend, infrastructure modernization and occasional defense contract awards — keep demand high but localized, producing salaries lower than Seattle but above many inland markets.

Seattle: Average . NET compensation (~$140k) is materially higher but the COL index (~150) and housing costs offset much of that premium.

Commuting or remote work for Seattle-based employers can be attractive if the salary premium or stock/bonus components exceed additional housing and commute costs. Olympia: Salaries (~$95k) are lower than Tacoma and COL slightly lower (~92), which can favor relocation if remote work isn't required and you prioritize lower housing costs.

Portland: Salaries (~$110k) and COL (~110) are similar to mid-to-high Tacoma; relocation to Portland might make sense for different lifestyle preferences but not strictly for higher pay. Practical guidance: consider commuting to Seattle only if total compensation (base + equity + bonuses) exceeds Tacoma opportunities by ~15–25% or if remote/hybrid flexibility reduces commute frequency.

For many . NET developers, staying in Tacoma and targeting regional employers or Seattle remote roles balances compensation and living costs.

Typical progression: junior (0–2 years) → mid-level (3–7 years) → senior/lead (8+ years). In Tacoma, expect about 2–3 years to move from entry-level (~$70k) to early-mid (~$85–95k) with consistent project delivery and solid C#/.

NET Core skills. Reaching the mid benchmark (~$100k) typically happens around year 4–6 when you contribute full-stack ownership, CI/CD automation, and cloud (Azure) deployments.

Senior roles (~$130k) require system design, mentoring, architecture decisions, domain expertise (healthcare or defense), and proven success delivering production systems. Accelerators: earning Azure certifications, gaining experience with secure government systems at JBLM contracts, front-to-back integrations with EHRs (Epic/InterSystems), or transitioning into full-stack/DevOps responsibilities can compress time-to-mid/senior by 1–2 years.

Consulting or contracting can also spike compensation temporarily but sometimes without benefits continuity.

When negotiating in Tacoma, use local comparables (MultiCare, Providence, regional consultancies) and factor remote Seattle roles into leverage. Reasonable base ranges: entry $65–75k, mid $90–110k, senior $120–140k.

If the employer is local (healthcare or logistics), emphasize domain experience (EHR integrations, secure government work) to push toward the top of these ranges. Ask about Azure credits or training budgets — many regional employers will pay for Microsoft/Azure certifications which increases your market value.

Common benefits to negotiate: hybrid schedule (2–3 remote days/week), flexible hours to avoid peak I-5 commutes, student loan assistance, relocation/moving allowances, and enhanced health benefits rather than marginal base increases. For candidates considering Seattle offers, quantify commute/time cost and request remote/hybrid flexibility or a location premium to offset living/transport costs.

Use recent regional offers and public salary tools as supporting evidence in conversations.