Technology San Diego, CA Pop. 1,386,932

Software Engineer Salary in San Diego, California

The median software engineer salary in San Diego, CA is $194,994 per year, which is 57.0% above the national median and 2.6% above the California state average.

City Median
$194,994
vs State Avg
+$4,968
vs National
+$70,794
Cost of Living
142%

Software Engineer Salary in San Diego by Experience

In San Diego, an entry-level software engineer earns around $122,460, while experienced professionals earn up to $290,450 per year. The local cost of living index is 142% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$122,460
+$44,460 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$196,250
+$71,250 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$290,450
+$105,450 vs national

Salary Percentiles in San Diego, CA

Percentile San Diego
10th Percentile $117,122
25th Percentile $154,174
Median (50th) $194,994
75th Percentile $248,374
90th Percentile $311,771

Software Engineer Salary in Other California Cities

San Francisco, CA
$244,674
Pop. 873,965
San Jose, CA
$227,286
Pop. 1,013,240
Los Angeles, CA
$199,962
Pop. 3,898,747
Sacramento, CA
$165,186
Pop. 524,943

How to Become a Software Engineer in San Diego

Education

Most software engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. San Diego and the surrounding California area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonJavaScriptSQLGitCloud PlatformsSystem Design

Job Outlook

Nationally, software engineer employment is projected to grow 25% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in San Diego may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

Browse open software engineer positions in San Diego, CA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in San Diego

How much does a Software Engineer make in San Diego, CA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in San Diego, California is $194,994 per year, which is 57.0% above the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $117,122 (10th percentile) to $311,771 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in San Diego? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $194,994, a software engineer in San Diego earns approximately $94 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does San Diego compare to the California state average for software engineer pay? ▼
San Diego's median software engineer salary of $194,994 is 2.6% above the California state average of $190,026. The local cost of living index is 142% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in San Diego, CA? ▼
San Diego has a cost of living index of 142% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $194,994 in San Diego has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a software engineer in San Diego? ▼
Most software engineer positions in San Diego require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git. The job market is projected to grow 25% nationally over the next decade.