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Software Developers Salary in California

Software Developers in California earn a median $174,410 a year, 28% above the U.S. median.

Median in CA
$174,410 a year
U.S. median
$135,980 a year
Employment
284,390
Location quotient
1.44
Share of jobs vs. U.S. (1.00 = same)

Pay range in California

10%: $105,060Median: $174,41090%: $272,670
Median (50%)
$174,410 · $83.85 an hour
Mean (average)
$186,770 · $89.80 an hour (estimate error ±0.6%)
10th percentile
$105,060 · $50.51 an hour
25th percentile
$136,990 · $65.86 an hour
75th percentile
$216,670 · $104.17 an hour
90th percentile
$272,670 · $131.09 an hour
Employment
284,390 (estimate error ±2.6%)
Jobs per 1,000
15.61
Location quotient
1.44 (1.00 = national share)

Software Developers 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.

AreaMedian wageEmployment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$213,11087,350
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$186,64069,030
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$163,27020,610
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$160,92055,540
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$159,4302,170
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$158,2901,680
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$156,910540
Napa, CA$153,130130
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$148,630560
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$139,6407,460
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area$139,040140
Stockton-Lodi, CA$138,550570
Vallejo, CA$136,930330
Salinas, CA$135,160290
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$135,020520
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$133,2704,150
Merced, CA$132,12080
Yuba City, CA$132,12080
Chico, CA$131,360150
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area$131,110100
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$130,330740
Redding, CA$129,230160
Fresno, CA$129,060740
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area$127,86070
Visalia, CA$126,170230
El Centro, CA$125,93070
Modesto, CA$119,770300

H-1B filings for software developers in California

FY 2026 through Q3, by work location

Details

27,465 certified filings with a median offered wage of $187,574.

More

Frequently asked questions

How much do software developers make in California?
The median wage for software developers in California is $174,410 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 284,390 jobs in the state.
Where in California do software developers earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $213,110 a year.