Software Developers Salary in California
Median annual wage in California: $174,410 +28.3% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $174,410 | $135,980 |
| Median hourly | $83.85 | $65.38 |
| Employment | 284,390 | 1,687,890 |
| Location quotient | 1.44 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
What the data says
The median wage in California is 28.3% above the national median — a difference of about $38,430 per year for a typical worker.
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $105,060, median pay is $174,410, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $272,670.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average software developers salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $174,410 ($83.85 per hour), per BLS OES May 2024 data.
How does California compare to the national average for software developers?
The California median of $174,410 is 28.3% higher than the U.S. median of $135,980.
How many software developers work in California?
Approximately 284,390 are employed in California, per BLS OES.