How much does a software developer make in California?
$174,400a year
Median yearly pay for software developers in California. That is $83.85 an hour or $14,530 a month.
- Hourly
- $83.85
- Vs. national median
- +28%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 284,390
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $105,100Median: $174,400Highest 10%: $272,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $105,100 | $50.51 | |
| 25th | $137,000 | $65.86 | |
| Median | $174,400 | $83.85 | |
| 75th | $216,700 | $104.17 | |
| 90th | $272,700 | $131.09 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $213,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,900 |
| Oxnard, CA | $159,400 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $158,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $156,900 |
| Napa, CA | $153,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $148,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $139,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $138,600 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $135,200 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $135,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $133,300 |
| Merced, CA | $132,100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $132,100 |
| Chico, CA | $131,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $130,300 |
| Redding, CA | $129,200 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,100 |
| Visalia, CA | $126,200 |
| El Centro, CA | $125,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $119,800 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for software developers.
| 1. California | $174,400 |
| 2. Washington | $166,500 |
| 3. New York | $166,200 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $165,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $83.85 ($174,400 a year).
Do software developers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $174,400 against $136,000 nationally, 28% more.
Where does California rank for software developer pay?
California ranks 1 of 50 states.
Which city in California pays software developers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $213,100 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.