Software Developers Salary in California
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410 a year, +28% compared with the U.S. median.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
- Median pay
- $174,410
- vs. U.S. median
- +28% ($135,980)
- Rank among states
- 1 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 284,390
Pay range in California
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $105,060; the top 10% earn over $272,670. Nationally the range is $82,460 to $214,670.
States ranked near California
Similar jobs in California
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$128,740 median in California
- Computer Systems Analysts$127,720 median in California
- Web Developers$119,570 median in California
- Data Warehousing Specialists$170,160 median in California (broader BLS group)
- Database Administrators$113,060 median in California
- Database Architects$170,160 median in California
Software Developers pay in California
How much do software developers make in California?
The median is $174,410 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $105,060 and the top 10% earn over $272,670. BLS OEWS May 2025.
Is California a good state for software developers?
On pay alone it ranks 1 of 50 (+28% vs. the national median of $135,980). Living costs are not included.