Software Developers pay in California
In California, the median pay for software developers is $83.85 an hour ($174,410 a year). About 284,390 people work in this job there.
That is 28% higher than the U.S. median ($135,980). California ranks 1st of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for software developers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $50.51 | $105,060 |
| 25% of workers | $65.86 | $136,990 |
| Half of workers (median) | $83.85 | $174,410 |
| 75% of workers | $104.17 | $216,670 |
| 90% of workers | $131.09 | $272,670 |
Software Developers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $213,110 | 87,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $186,640 | 69,030 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $163,270 | 20,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $160,920 | 55,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $159,430 | 2,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $158,290 | 1,680 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $156,910 | 540 |
| Napa | $153,130 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $148,630 | 560 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $139,640 | 7,460 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $138,550 | 570 |
| Vallejo | $136,930 | 330 |
| Salinas | $135,160 | 290 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $135,020 | 520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $133,270 | 4,150 |
| Merced | $132,120 | 80 |
| Yuba City | $132,120 | 80 |
| Chico | $131,360 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $130,330 | 740 |
| Redding | $129,230 | 160 |
| Fresno | $129,060 | 740 |
| Visalia | $126,170 | 230 |
| El Centro | $125,930 | 70 |
| Modesto | $119,770 | 300 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for software developers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +10.2% over ten years, much faster than average · about 95,300 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $79,570 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $127,720 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 |
| Information Security Analysts | $138,570 |
| Computer Network Architects | $158,870 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.