Computer Programmer Salary in San Diego, CA
Computer Programmers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $134,130 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,956 take-home, or $7,746 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,925
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,316
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,945
- California income tax$8,245
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,744
- Take-home pay$92,956
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,010 | $34.14 | $55,394 | $4,616 |
| 25th percentile | $101,360 | $48.73 | $73,622 | $6,135 |
| Median (50th) | $134,130 | $64.49 | $92,956 | $7,746 |
| 75th percentile | $163,990 | $78.84 | $110,200 | $9,183 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,930 | $86.02 | $118,828 | $9,902 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,130 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $92,956 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,080 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 Diego, CA has 1.8× 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 Diego, CA ranks #6 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 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $130,730
- Sacramento, CA — $102,600
- Los Angeles, CA — $107,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in San Diego, CA?
The median computer programmer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $134,130 a year, or about $64.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,360 and $163,990.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $134,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,956 a year ($7,746 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,988 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,080 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #6 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Software Developer — $163,270
- Computer Network Architect — $157,700
- Information Security Analyst — $132,120
- Data Scientist — $130,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $127,600
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $123,850
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $121,530
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $120,210
- Computer Systems Analyst — $119,090
- Database Administrator — $106,820
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $105,170
- Operations Research Analyst — $99,230