Software Developers Salary in California
Software Developers in California earn a median annual wage of $174,410 —28.3% above the national median of $135,980. That ranks CA #1 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is 1.44× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.
Highest-paying states for software developers
All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 | $83.85 | 284,390 | 1.44 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 | $80.07 | 107,030 | 2.78 |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 | $79.89 | 113,510 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 | $79.43 | 48,190 | 1.22 |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 | $68.62 | 21,830 | 1.02 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $139,720 | $67.17 | 10,840 | 1.46 |
| 7 | Maryland | $138,680 | $66.67 | 31,350 | 1.05 |
| 8 | Colorado | $138,390 | $66.53 | 43,320 | 1.39 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $136,880 | $65.81 | 6,120 | 0.80 |
| 10 | Virginia | $136,460 | $65.61 | 88,280 | 1.98 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | $79,570 | $61,860 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $127,720 | $105,850 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $116,580 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $99,130 |
| Data Scientists | $141,590 | $120,230 |
| Information Security Analysts | $138,570 | $129,180 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do software developers make in California?
The median annual wage for software developers in California is $174,410, or $83.85 per hour. That is 28.3% above the national median of $135,980.
What is the entry-level software developers salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $105,060 per year ($50.51/hour). The 25th percentile is $136,990.
How many people work as software developers in California?
About 284,390 people work in this occupation in California, or 15.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for software developers?
California ranks #1 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.44x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.
Which state pays software developers the most?
California has the highest median wage at $174,410 per year, followed by Washington ($166,540) and New York ($166,180).