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
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 #12 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 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $130,730 | $90,992 | $78,704 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $102,600
- 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 #12 of 34 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
- Database Architect — $175,860
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $171,440
- 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
- Web Developer — $152,450
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $134,630
- Computer Systems Analyst — $134,460
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $129,680