Computer Programmer Salary in San Jose, CA
Computer Programmers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $154,920 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $104,962 take-home, or $8,747 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$25,915
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,605
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,246
- California income tax$10,178
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,014
- Take-home pay$104,962
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,750 | $39.30 | $61,905 | $5,159 |
| 25th percentile | $119,590 | $57.50 | $84,515 | $7,043 |
| Median (50th) | $154,920 | $74.48 | $104,962 | $8,747 |
| 75th percentile | $179,860 | $86.47 | $119,365 | $9,947 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,640 | $97.42 | $133,621 | $11,135 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $154,920 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $104,962 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,054 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 Jose, CA has 1.5× 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 Jose, CA ranks #3 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 Diego, CA — $134,130
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median computer programmer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $154,920 a year, or about $74.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $119,590 and $179,860.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $154,920 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $104,962 a year ($8,747 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,192 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,054 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $218,420
- Software Developer — $213,110
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $201,260
- Database Architect — $197,960
- Computer Network Architect — $186,110
- Data Scientist — $185,080
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $184,430
- Information Security Analyst — $176,120
- Web Developer — $166,670
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $166,530
- Computer Systems Analyst — $157,140
- Database Administrator — $138,620