Computer Programmer salary in California
Computer Programmers in California earn a median of $116,760 a year ($56.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $70,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,300 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $100,390. California ranks 7th of 46 states for computer programmers pay. There are 0.62 computer programmers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $119,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer programmers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| 25th percentile | $83,490 | $40.14 |
| Median | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| 75th percentile | $148,740 | $71.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,300 | $82.84 |
| Average (mean) | $119,900 | $57.64 |
Half of computer programmers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,730 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,865 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,490.77 |
| Weekly | $2,245.38 |
| Hourly | $56.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Programmer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,920 | 980 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $134,130 | 1,600 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $132,850 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,730 | 2,440 |
| Visalia, CA | $121,710 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $114,110 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $109,690 | 140 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,830 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $108,060 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,090 | 3,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,250 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $102,600 | 580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,810 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $100,410 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $99,370 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,250 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for computer programmers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $133,820 |
| Massachusetts | $128,390 |
| Washington | $125,620 |
| Maryland | $125,570 |
| Virginia | $121,610 |
| Hawaii | $118,180 |
| California | $116,760 |
| Arkansas | $111,840 |
| Minnesota | $107,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,940 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $159,100 | $76.49 |
| Web Developer | $119,570 | $57.48 |
| Database Administrator | $113,060 | $54.35 |
| Database Architect | $170,160 | $81.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1251. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in California?
The median salary for computer programmers in California is $116,760 a year, or $56.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $70,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer programmers make in California?
The top 10% of computer programmers in California earn at least $172,300 a year. The top 25% earn $148,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer programmers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $70,310 a year, and a quarter of computer programmers earn $83,490 or less.
How many computer programmers work in California?
About 11,340 computer programmers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.