Computer Programmer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Computer Programmers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $107,090 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,046 take-home, or $6,420 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,730
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,640
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,553
- California income tax$5,730
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,392
- Take-home pay$77,046
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,700 | $29.66 | $49,202 | $4,100 |
| 25th percentile | $82,770 | $39.79 | $62,515 | $5,210 |
| Median (50th) | $107,090 | $51.49 | $77,046 | $6,420 |
| 75th percentile | $132,600 | $63.75 | $92,072 | $7,673 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,460 | $77.14 | $108,161 | $9,013 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $107,090 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $77,046 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,842 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $126,750 | $91,462 | $81,254 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,730 | $90,992 | $78,704 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $102,240 | $80,756 | $78,335 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $107,090 | $77,046 | $67,842 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: computer programmers
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -7.3% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Computer Programmer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $130,730
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median computer programmer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $107,090 a year, or about $51.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,770 and $132,600.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $107,090 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $77,046 a year ($6,420 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,122 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,842 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Information Security Analyst — $129,630
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- Computer Systems Analyst — $121,560
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,700
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $106,550
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