Software Developer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Software Developers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $156,910 a year ($75.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $92,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,260 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 10% lower than the California statewide median of $174,410. There are 5.5 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $153,930, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,520 | $44.48 |
| 25th percentile | $124,210 | $59.72 |
| Median | $156,910 | $75.44 |
| 75th percentile | $175,720 | $84.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,260 | $100.61 |
| Average (mean) | $153,930 | $74.01 |
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 | $13,075.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,537.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,035 |
| Weekly | $3,017.50 |
| Hourly | $75.44 |
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 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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,450 | $59.83 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,720 | $36.41 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Computer Programmer | $132,850 | $63.87 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Database Administrator | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| Web Developer | $81,350 | $39.11 |
| Data Scientist | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $104,680 | $50.33 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for software developers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $156,910 a year, or $75.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $92,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of software developers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $209,260 a year. The top 25% earn $175,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $92,520 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $124,210 or less.
How many software developers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 540 software developers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.