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
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
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 #46 of 72 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 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $123,413 | $106,747 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $134,120 | $102,937 | $104,967 |
| 46 | 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 72 metros →
About the job: software developers
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +10.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $213,110
- San Francisco, CA — $186,640
- San Diego, CA — $163,270
- Sacramento, CA — $139,640
- Riverside, CA — $133,270
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 #46 of 72 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 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
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,700
- Computer Programmer — $107,090
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $106,550
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $106,290
- Operations Research Analyst — $98,270
- Computer User Support Specialist — $75,070
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $57,220