Computer Programmer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Computer Programmers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $130,730 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,992 take-home, or $7,583 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,109
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,105
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,896
- California income tax$7,928
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,699
- Take-home pay$90,992
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Computer Programmer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,110 | $35.63 | $57,286 | $4,774 |
| 25th percentile | $77,710 | $37.36 | $59,484 | $4,957 |
| Median (50th) | $130,730 | $62.85 | $90,992 | $7,583 |
| 75th percentile | $166,830 | $80.21 | $111,840 | $9,320 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,770 | $84.02 | $116,425 | $9,702 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,730 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $90,992 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,704 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.7× the national concentration of computer programmer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $107,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median computer programmer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $130,730 a year, or about $62.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,710 and $166,830.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $130,730 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,992 a year ($7,583 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,628 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,704 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 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 San Francisco, CA
- Software Developer — $186,640
- Data Scientist — $170,110
- Computer Network Architect — $166,760
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $163,810
- Information Security Analyst — $162,310
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $161,700
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $134,630
- Computer Systems Analyst — $134,460
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $129,680
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $101,600
- Computer User Support Specialist — $89,440