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Software Developers Salary in California

What Software Developers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 10 counties.

Average in CA
$184,398
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
1 of 30
published states
Workers in state
253,790
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
10 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Software Developers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$213,110$143,068$100,121Santa Clara County, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$186,640$125,919$88,828Alameda County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$163,270$111,466$73,834San Diego County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$160,920$110,078$71,643Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Software Developers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1San Benito County, CA$213,110$143,068$105,905
2Santa Clara County, CA$213,110$143,068$100,121
3Alameda County, CA$186,640$125,919$88,828
4Contra Costa County, CA$186,640$125,919$88,828
5San Francisco County, CA$186,640$125,919$80,272
6San Mateo County, CA$186,640$125,919$80,272
7Marin County, CA$186,640$125,919$80,272
8San Diego County, CA$163,270$111,466$73,834
9Los Angeles County, CA$160,920$110,078$71,643
10Orange County, CA$160,920$110,078$69,147

Software Developers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Software Developers in California is $184,398, based on 253,790 workers. Among the 30 states with published data, that ranks number 1. The BLS national median for the occupation is $135,980, so California averages 35.6% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $213,110 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area and the lowest is $160,920 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $52,190 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Software Developers in California

We compare 10 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. San Benito County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $105,905. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $69,147. The median wage covers all four basics in 10 of the 10 counties.

Software Developers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Software Developers are New Hampshire ($164,712), Washington ($163,103), New York ($161,463) and Massachusetts ($160,990).

Frequently asked questions: Software Developers in California

How much do Software Developers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $184,398, from $160,920 to $213,110 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Software Developers?

San Benito County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($105,905). Santa Clara County, CA follows at $100,121.