Technology San Francisco, CA Pop. 873,965

Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, California

The median software engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $244,674 per year, which is 97.0% above the national median and 28.8% above the California state average.

City Median
$244,674
vs State Avg
+$54,648
vs National
+$120,474
Cost of Living
182%

Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco by Experience

In San Francisco, an entry-level software engineer earns around $153,660, while experienced professionals earn up to $364,450 per year. The local cost of living index is 182% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$153,660
+$75,660 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$246,250
+$121,250 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$364,450
+$179,450 vs national

Salary Percentiles in San Francisco, CA

Percentile San Francisco
10th Percentile $146,962
25th Percentile $193,454
Median (50th) $244,674
75th Percentile $311,654
90th Percentile $391,203

Software Engineer Salary in Other California Cities

San Jose, CA
$227,286
Pop. 1,013,240
Los Angeles, CA
$199,962
Pop. 3,898,747
San Diego, CA
$194,994
Pop. 1,386,932
Sacramento, CA
$165,186
Pop. 524,943

How to Become a Software Engineer in San Francisco

Education

Most software engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. San Francisco 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 Francisco may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in San Francisco

Browse open software engineer positions in San Francisco, CA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco

How much does a Software Engineer make in San Francisco, CA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in San Francisco, California is $244,674 per year, which is 97.0% above the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $146,962 (10th percentile) to $391,203 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in San Francisco? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $244,674, a software engineer in San Francisco earns approximately $118 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does San Francisco compare to the California state average for software engineer pay? ▼
San Francisco's median software engineer salary of $244,674 is 28.8% above the California state average of $190,026. The local cost of living index is 182% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in San Francisco, CA? ▼
San Francisco has a cost of living index of 182% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $244,674 in San Francisco 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 Francisco? ▼
Most software engineer positions in San Francisco 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.