How much does a software developer make in San Diego?
$163,300a year
Median yearly pay for software developers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $78.50 an hour or $13,610 a month.
- Hourly
- $78.50
- Vs. national median
- +20%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 377
- Jobs in the area
- 20,610
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $95,420Median: $163,300Highest 10%: $223,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $95,420 | $45.88 | |
| 25th | $128,600 | $61.82 | |
| Median | $163,300 | $78.50 | |
| 75th | $194,000 | $93.26 | |
| 90th | $223,300 | $107.34 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for software developers.
| San Jose, CA | $213,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,600 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Network Architect | $157,700 |
| Database Architect | $156,800 |
| Computer Programmer | $134,100 |
| Information Security Analyst | $132,100 |
| Statistician | $131,900 |
| Data Scientist | $131,000 |
| Computer Occupation | $127,600 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $123,900 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $121,500 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $120,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $78.50 ($163,300 a year).
Do software developers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $163,300 against $136,000 nationally, 20% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $174,400, so San Diego pays 6% less.
Where does San Diego rank for software developer pay?
7 of 377 metro areas with data.
How much does a software developer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $95,420 or less a year; the top 10% make $223,300 or more.
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.