Software Developer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Software Developers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $160,920 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,427 take-home, or $9,036 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,355
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,977
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,333
- California income tax$10,736
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,092
- Take-home pay$108,427
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,270 | $47.25 | $71,776 | $5,981 |
| 25th percentile | $127,530 | $61.31 | $89,144 | $7,429 |
| Median (50th) | $160,920 | $77.37 | $108,427 | $9,036 |
| 75th percentile | $191,540 | $92.09 | $126,546 | $10,546 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,150 | $107.28 | $146,131 | $12,178 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $160,920 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 software developer's $108,427 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,475 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #86 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 86 | Los Angeles, CA | $160,920 | $108,427 | $95,475 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $213,110
- San Francisco, CA — $186,640
- Santa Maria, CA — $158,290
- San Diego, CA — $163,270
- Oxnard, CA — $159,430
- Santa Cruz, CA — $156,910
- Santa Rosa, CA — $148,630
- Stockton, CA — $138,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median software developer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $160,920 a year, or about $77.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,530 and $191,540.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $160,920 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,427 a year ($9,036 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,828 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,475 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #86 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 25% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- 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
- Computer Programmer — $107,090