Software Developer Salary in San Diego, CA
Software Developers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $163,270 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,784 take-home, or $9,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,919
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,123
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,367
- California income tax$10,955
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,123
- Take-home pay$109,784
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,420 | $45.88 | $70,073 | $5,839 |
| 25th percentile | $128,590 | $61.82 | $89,756 | $7,480 |
| Median (50th) | $163,270 | $78.50 | $109,784 | $9,149 |
| 75th percentile | $193,980 | $93.26 | $128,107 | $10,676 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,260 | $107.34 | $146,191 | $12,183 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,270 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 software developer's $109,784 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,120 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 1.2× the national concentration of software developer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | San Diego, CA | $163,270 | $109,784 | $98,120 |
*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
- Oxnard, CA — $159,430
- Santa Cruz, CA — $156,910
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,920
- Santa Rosa, CA — $148,630
- Stockton, CA — $138,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in San Diego, CA?
The median software developer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $163,270 a year, or about $78.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,590 and $193,980.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $163,270 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $109,784 a year ($9,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,077 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,120 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #55 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 27% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Network Architect — $157,700
- Computer Programmer — $134,130
- 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