Minneapolis vs Raleigh for Software Engineers (2026)
The HackerX talent pool has 1,138 developers in Minneapolis and 960 developers in Raleigh. Compare developer supply, in-demand stacks, estimated salary bands, cost of living and upcoming HackerX hiring events below.
Minneapolis
| Junior (0–2 yrs) | $80K – $105K |
| Mid-level (2–5 yrs) | $105K – $135K |
| Senior (5–8 yrs) | $130K – $170K |
| Staff+ (8+ yrs) | $160K – $210K |
Salary figures are 2026 market estimates, not HackerX data. See the Minneapolis salary guide.
Raleigh
| Junior (0–2 yrs) | $80K – $105K |
| Mid-level (2–5 yrs) | $105K – $135K |
| Senior (5–8 yrs) | $130K – $170K |
| Staff+ (8+ yrs) | $160K – $210K |
Salary figures are 2026 market estimates, not HackerX data. See the Raleigh salary guide.
Cost of living & pay, side by side
Cost of living in Minneapolis is roughly 6% higher than in Raleigh (estimated cost-of-living index Minneapolis 72 vs Raleigh 68, where New York = 100). These are estimates for guidance only.
Minneapolis: Minneapolis pays about 25–30% below coastal hubs, with Fortune 500 stability and one of the best salary-to-cost-of-living ratios in the US.
Raleigh: Raleigh-Durham pays 25–30% below coastal hubs but consistently ranks top-5 in the US for salary adjusted for cost of living.
Ready to make a move?
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