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
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 #27 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 27 | 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 34 metros →
Computer Programmer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $154,920
- San Diego, CA — $134,130
- San Francisco, CA — $130,730
- Sacramento, CA — $102,600
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 #27 of 34 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
- Software Developer — $160,920
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $155,960
- Database Architect — $155,740
- Computer Network Architect — $147,510
- Data Scientist — $129,740
- Information Security Analyst — $129,630
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $122,210
- Computer Systems Analyst — $121,560
- Statistician — $116,200
- Database Administrator — $112,540
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,700
- Web Developer — $107,290