Software Developers Salary in California
BLS OEWS May 2025 • 27 metro areas • California
Software Developers in California earn a median salary of $138,717 per year on average across 27 metro and nonmetro areas, +4.2% vs the national median of $133,080. An estimated 264,840 software developers are employed across California, with salaries ranging from $116,180 to $208,270 depending on location.
$138,717
Avg median salary in California
$208,270
Highest paying metro
$116,180
Lowest paying metro
264,840
Employed in California
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Software Developers salaries by city in California
| Metro area | Median salary | 25th pct | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $208,270 | $171,610 | $222,550 | 90,280 |
| San Francisco, CA | $174,910 | $160,060 | $213,420 | 76,900 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $163,020 | $124,720 | $170,570 | 2,030 |
| San Diego, CA | $159,240 | $125,170 | $174,420 | 21,080 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,330 | $122,940 | $174,320 | 54,650 |
| Yuba City, CA | $145,550 | $111,460 | $167,200 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $141,140 | $114,180 | $172,220 | 630 |
| Sacramento, CA | $141,030 | $115,910 | $171,020 | 7,410 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $138,740 | $108,820 | $170,770 | 580 |
| Oxnard, CA | $138,480 | $112,260 | $166,660 | 2,420 |
| Riverside, CA | $136,760 | $106,320 | $167,940 | 4,340 |
| Vallejo, CA | $134,570 | $106,190 | $163,920 | 320 |
| Salinas, CA | $134,300 | $103,310 | $168,780 | 280 |
| Merced, CA | $133,370 | $101,320 | $168,720 | 60 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $132,590 | $103,890 | $165,120 | 740 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $132,010 | $110,540 | $162,810 | 480 |
| Napa, CA | $131,050 | $109,230 | $164,170 | 120 |
| Stockton, CA | $128,440 | $102,030 | $162,180 | 580 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California | $127,890 | $96,350 | $166,130 | 200 |
| North Coast Region of California | $127,420 | $91,610 | $165,230 | 110 |
| Chico, CA | $126,490 | $97,930 | $160,180 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $126,290 | $99,720 | $156,750 | 650 |
| El Centro, CA | $125,930 | $98,430 | $166,710 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $124,410 | $97,880 | $152,080 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $123,320 | $93,620 | $143,360 | 170 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California | $118,620 | $80,040 | $160,520 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $116,180 | $92,070 | $141,140 | 280 |