SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — Fresno
Fresno, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $129,060, median pay for Software Developers in Fresno, CA tracks the national median of $135,980 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $129,060, median pay for Software Developers in Fresno, CA tracks the national median of $135,980 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $100,650 and $161,650. The lowest tenth earn under $78,060, while the highest tenth earn more than $175,410.
The area has 740 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.14 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $213,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 48th of 527 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,060 | −42.6% |
| 25th | $100,650 | −26.0% |
| Median (50th) | $129,060 | −5.1% |
| 75th | $161,650 | +18.9% |
| 90th | $175,410 | +29.0% |
| Mean | $131,810 | −3.1% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $213,110 | 87,350 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $186,640 | 69,030 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $163,270 | 20,610 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $160,920 | 55,540 | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $159,430 | 2,170 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $158,290 | 1,680 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | $156,910 | 540 | |
| 8 | Napa | $153,130 | 130 | |
| 9 | Santa Rosa | $148,630 | 560 | |
| 10 | Sacramento | $139,640 | 7,460 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fresno run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $129,060 buys what $116,585 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$129,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$116,585US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $129,060 a year, 5.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,060 to $175,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 740 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $213,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in Fresno, CA?
The median annual wage is $129,060, or $62.05 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $135,980, so pay in Fresno, CA is 5.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fresno, CA earns more than $175,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,060 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $213,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 740 jobs in this occupation in Fresno, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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