Software Developer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Software Developers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $186,640 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,413 take-home, or $10,284 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$33,528
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,706
- California income tax$13,128
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,426
- Take-home pay$123,413
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $128,090 | $61.58 | $89,468 | $7,456 |
| 25th percentile | $163,500 | $78.61 | $109,917 | $9,160 |
| Median (50th) | $186,640 | $89.73 | $123,413 | $10,284 |
| 75th percentile | $219,670 | $105.61 | $144,215 | $12,018 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,400+ | $131.44 | $173,761 | $14,480 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $186,640 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 software developer's $123,413 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,747 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 2.7× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $123,413 | $106,747 |
*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
- Santa Maria, CA — $158,290
- San Diego, CA — $163,270
- 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 Francisco, CA?
The median software developer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $186,640 a year, or about $89.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $163,500 and $219,670.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $186,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $123,413 a year ($10,284 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $15,554 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,747 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #9 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 25% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- 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
- Computer Programmer — $130,730
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $129,680