Salaries › Software Developer › California
Software Developer Salary in California (2026)
$83.85 per hour · take-home ≈ $118,332/year ($9,861/month) for a single filer
Software Developer pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $105,060 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $136,990 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $174,410 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $216,670 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $272,670 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 284,390 Software Developer jobs in California (occupation code 15-1252, “Software Developers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Software Developer salary of $174,410 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $118,332 — an effective tax rate of 32.2%.
| Gross (median) | $174,410 |
| Federal income tax | −$30,592 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$13,342 |
| California state income tax | −$12,144 |
| Take-home (annual) | $118,332 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $9,861 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Software Developer make in California?
- The median Software Developer salary in California is $174,410 per year ($83.85 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $136,990 and $216,670.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software Developer in California?
- On the median salary of $174,410, a single filer in California takes home about $118,332 per year ($9,861 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 32.2%.
- How many Software Developer jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 284,390 Software Developer jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software Developers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.