Software Developer Salary in San Jose, CA
Software Developers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $213,110 a year — 57% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $140,222 take-home, or $11,685 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$39,880
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,208
- California income tax$15,590
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,770
- Take-home pay$140,222
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $138,420 | $66.55 | $95,433 | $7,953 |
| 25th percentile | $173,650 | $83.49 | $115,778 | $9,648 |
| Median (50th) | $213,110 | $102.46 | $140,222 | $11,685 |
| 75th percentile | $226,080 | $108.69 | $147,744 | $12,312 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $289,150+ | $139.01 | $181,959 | $15,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $213,110 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 software developer's $140,222 take-home pay has the buying power of $126,987 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 7.1× 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 Jose, CA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $186,640
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median software developer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $213,110 a year, or about $102.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $173,650 and $226,080.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $213,110 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $140,222 a year ($11,685 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $18,360 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 57% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $126,987 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 25% of a median software developer’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
- 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
- Computer Programmer — $154,920
- Database Administrator — $138,620