California Median
$116,760
per year
Hourly Rate
$56.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+16% vs US median
US median $100,390
State Rank
#7 of 46
11,340 employed here
How much does a Computer Programmer make in California?
Computer Programmers in California take home a median of $116,760 annually — roughly $56.13 an hour — which runs 16% above the national median of $100,390.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $70,310 while the top 10% make $172,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,490 and $148,740 a year.
Computer Programmer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,310 | $33.80 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $83,490 | $40.14 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $116,760 | $56.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $148,740 | $71.51 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,300 | $82.84 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 7th out of 46 states and territories for Computer Programmer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Computer Programmer salary in other states
Connecticut $133,820Massachusetts $128,390Washington $125,620Maryland $125,570Virginia $121,610Hawaii $118,180Arkansas $111,840Minnesota $107,250New Jersey $104,940Utah $104,890Colorado $104,610New York $103,980Maine $101,780Oklahoma $99,780South Carolina $99,740Oregon $99,540Texas $99,330Georgia $98,380Indiana $97,000Rhode Island $96,470Nebraska $95,150Kentucky $94,850Alabama $93,800Nevada $93,600Florida $93,180Kansas $92,960North Dakota $92,280Alaska $91,700Missouri $90,420Montana $89,920Vermont $89,560Pennsylvania $89,180Idaho $89,020Arizona $88,990Ohio $85,270Mississippi $85,120New Mexico $83,750Wyoming $81,640North Carolina $81,070Iowa $79,180New Hampshire $74,000Illinois $72,540Michigan $65,860West Virginia $65,320South Dakota $58,240
Working as a Computer Programmer in California
Nationally, about 92,000 people work as Computer Programmers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($116,760) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Programmer make in California?
The median Computer Programmer salary in California is $116,760 per year, or about $56.13 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $70,310 at the entry level to $172,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Computer Programmers about 16% more than the national median of $100,390. California ranks 7th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Computer Programmers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $116,760 a year. About 11,340 Computer Programmers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Computer Programmer salary report
Related salaries
$104,300
median pay · 187,000 employed
$120,230
median pay · 262,000 employed
$81,490
median pay · 4,000 employed
$134,050
median pay · 180,000 employed
$105,850
median pay · 520,000 employed
$92,650
median pay · 70,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.