SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Software Developers reaches $213,110 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Software Developers reaches $213,110 a year. That is 56.7% more than the national median of $135,980. Pay ranges from under $138,420 at the tenth percentile to more than $289,150 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $173,650 to $226,080.
Employment stands at 87,350, or 77.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $186,640. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 24th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $138,420 | +1.8% |
| 25th | $173,650 | +27.7% |
| Median (50th) | $213,110 | +56.7% |
| 75th | $226,080 | +66.3% |
| 90th | $289,150 | +112.6% |
| Mean | $221,710 | +63.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $186,640 | 69,030 | |
| 2 | San Diego | $163,270 | 20,610 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $160,920 | 55,540 | |
| 4 | Oxnard | $159,430 | 2,170 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $158,290 | 1,680 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $156,910 | 540 | |
| 7 | Napa | $153,130 | 130 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $148,630 | 560 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $139,640 | 7,460 | |
| 10 | Stockton | $138,550 | 570 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $213,110 buys what $192,511 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 41.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$213,110as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$192,511US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $213,110 a year, 56.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $138,420 to $289,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 87,350 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $186,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $213,110, or $102.46 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 San Jose, CA is 56.7% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $289,150 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $138,420 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 Francisco, at $186,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 87,350 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, 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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