Software Developers Salary in California
The median pay for a software developers in California is $170,910/year ($82.17/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $104K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $171K get you in California?
About software developers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $171K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Software Developers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $171K | +28% | 292,630 |
| Washington | $167K | +25% | 91,470 |
| New York | $161K | +21% | 104,130 |
| Massachusetts | $151K | +13% | 54,260 |
| Maryland | $138K | +4% | 31,940 |
| District of Columbia | $136K | +2% | 8,250 |
| Oregon | $135K | +2% | 21,100 |
| Delaware | $135K | +2% | 3,850 |
| Virginia | $134K | +1% | 83,290 |
| New Hampshire | $132K | -0% | 8,010 |
| New Jersey | $132K | -1% | 57,120 |
| North Carolina | $131K | -2% | 57,590 |
| Connecticut | $131K | -2% | 16,490 |
| Vermont | $131K | -2% | N/A |
| Texas | $131K | -2% | 151,460 |
Track software developers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do software developers make in California?
The median is $170,910 a year - that works out to about $82.17 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $103,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $171K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,628/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,201/month (median of metro areas), which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a software developers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median software developers salary is worth about $170,910 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do software developers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.