Software Developers Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 284,390 employed
Annual Mean
$186,770
$89.80/hr
Annual Median
$174,410
$83.85/hr
Bottom 10%
$105,060
$50.51/hr
Top 10%
$272,670
$131.09/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$186,770
Difference
+26.1% vs US avg
US National
$148,100
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $105,060 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $136,990 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $174,410 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $216,670 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $272,670 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$105K
25th
$137K
Median
$174K
75th
$217K
90th
$273K
California has a large Software Developers workforce with approximately 284,390 positions, indicating strong demand for this occupation in the region.
In California, Software Developers salaries range from $105,060 at the 10th percentile to $272,670 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $167,610 (96% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Software Developers wages
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$221,710
per year
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$193,430
per year
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$174,020
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$163,300
per year
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$161,900
per year
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$158,220
per year
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$155,770
per year
Napa, CA
$154,740
per year
How Software Developers Compares in California
The average Software Developers salary of $186,770 in California ranks above the national average of $148,100. There are approximately 284,390 Software Developerss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.