California Median
$174,410
per year
Hourly Rate
$83.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+28% vs US median
US median $135,980
State Rank
#1 of 50
284,390 employed here
How much does a Software Developer make in California?
Software Developers in California take home a median of $174,410 annually — roughly $83.85 an hour — which runs 28% above the national median of $135,980.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $105,060 while the top 10% make $272,670 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $136,990 and $216,670 a year.
Software Developer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,060 | $50.51 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $136,990 | $65.86 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $174,410 | $83.85 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $216,670 | $104.17 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $272,670 | $131.09 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories for Software Developer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Software Developer salary in other states
Washington $166,540New York $166,180Massachusetts $165,210Oregon $142,720New Hampshire $139,720Maryland $138,680Colorado $138,390District of Columbia $136,880Virginia $136,460New Jersey $135,940North Carolina $134,710Connecticut $134,120Delaware $133,020Texas $132,150Illinois $132,110Idaho $131,590Georgia $131,010Florida $130,980Rhode Island $130,590Minnesota $130,050Arizona $129,690South Carolina $129,450Nevada $128,810Utah $128,810Pennsylvania $126,550Missouri $126,120Michigan $125,570Vermont $125,280New Mexico $124,520Hawaii $124,040Maine $123,120Wisconsin $122,660Alabama $122,540Tennessee $122,430Montana $121,990West Virginia $121,000Oklahoma $118,100Wyoming $115,170Iowa $114,890Ohio $114,090Kansas $113,420Nebraska $110,900Kentucky $109,010Indiana $105,920North Dakota $105,600Arkansas $104,490Louisiana $102,800South Dakota $96,310Mississippi $95,330
Working as a Software Developer in California
Nationally, about 1,688,000 people work as Software Developers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($174,410) 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 Software Developer make in California?
The median Software Developer salary in California is $174,410 per year, or about $83.85 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $105,060 at the entry level to $272,670 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Software Developers about 28% more than the national median of $135,980. California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Software Developers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $174,410 a year. About 284,390 Software Developers 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 Software Developer salary report
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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.