Software Developer salary in California
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410 a year ($83.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 284,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $272,670 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $135,980. California ranks 1st of 50 states for software developers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 16 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $186,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,060 | $50.51 |
| 25th percentile | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Median | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| 75th percentile | $216,670 | $104.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $272,670 | $131.09 |
| Average (mean) | $186,770 | $89.80 |
Half of software developers 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 | $14,534.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,267.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,708.08 |
| Weekly | $3,354.04 |
| Hourly | $83.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,110 | 87,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | 69,030 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | 20,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | 55,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $159,430 | 2,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,290 | 1,680 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $156,910 | 540 |
| Napa, CA | $153,130 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $148,630 | 560 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,640 | 7,460 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,550 | 570 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,930 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $135,160 | 290 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $135,020 | 520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,270 | 4,150 |
| Merced, CA | $132,120 | 80 |
| Yuba City, CA | $132,120 | 80 |
| Chico, CA | $131,360 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,330 | 740 |
| Redding, CA | $129,230 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,060 | 740 |
| Visalia, CA | $126,170 | 230 |
| El Centro, CA | $125,930 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $119,770 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Programmer | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| 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 15-1252. 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 software developer make in California?
The median salary for software developers in California is $174,410 a year, or $83.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $272,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in California?
The top 10% of software developers in California earn at least $272,670 a year. The top 25% earn $216,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,060 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $136,990 or less.
How many software developers work in California?
About 284,390 software developers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.