Software Developer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Software Developers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $213,110 a year ($102.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 87,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $138,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $289,150 for the top 10%. That is 57% higher than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 22% higher than the California statewide median of $174,410. There are 77 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 7.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $221,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $138,420 | $66.55 |
| 25th percentile | $173,650 | $83.49 |
| Median | $213,110 | $102.46 |
| 75th percentile | $226,080 | $108.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $289,150 | $139.02 |
| Average (mean) | $221,710 | $106.59 |
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 | $17,759.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,879.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,196.54 |
| Weekly | $4,098.27 |
| Hourly | $102.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $184,430 | $88.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $157,140 | $75.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $166,530 | $80.06 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $201,260 | $96.76 |
| Computer Network Architect | $186,110 | $89.47 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $133,360 | $64.12 |
| Information Security Analyst | $176,120 | $84.67 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $218,420 | $105.01 |
| Web Developer | $166,670 | $80.13 |
| Database Architect | $197,960 | $95.17 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $124,130 | $59.68 |
| Computer Programmer | $154,920 | $74.48 |
| Database Administrator | $138,620 | $66.64 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for software developers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $213,110 a year, or $102.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $138,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $289,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of software developers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $289,150 a year. The top 25% earn $226,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $138,420 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $173,650 or less.
How many software developers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 87,350 software developers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.