Checked
Computer Programmers Salary in California
Computer Programmers in California earn a median $116,760 a year, 16% above the U.S. median.
- Median in CA
- $116,760 a year
- U.S. median
- $100,390 a year
- Employment
- 11,340
- Location quotient
- 1.05
- Share of jobs vs. U.S. (1.00 = same)
Pay range in California
- Median (50%)
- $116,760 · $56.13 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $119,900 · $57.64 an hour (estimate error ±4.5%)
- 10th percentile
- $70,310 · $33.80 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $83,490 · $40.14 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $148,740 · $71.51 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $172,300 · $82.84 an hour
- Employment
- 11,340 (estimate error ±10.5%)
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.62
- Location quotient
- 1.05 (1.00 = national share)
Computer Programmers pay by metro area in California
Includes metro areas that cross into this state and nonmetropolitan areas
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $98,980 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,250 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Not reported | 100 |
| Salinas, CA | Not reported | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Not reported | 50 |
H-1B filings for computer programmers in California
FY 2026 through Q3, by work location
1,234 certified filings with a median offered wage of $123,751.
More
Frequently asked questions
- How much do computer programmers make in California?
- The median wage for computer programmers in California is $116,760 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 11,340 jobs in the state.
- Where in California do computer programmers earn the most?
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $154,920 a year.