Technology San Jose, CA Pop. 1,013,240

Software Engineer Salary in San Jose, California

The median software engineer salary in San Jose, CA is $227,286 per year, which is 83.0% above the national median and 19.6% above the California state average.

City Median
$227,286
vs State Avg
+$37,260
vs National
+$103,086
Cost of Living
168%

Software Engineer Salary in San Jose by Experience

In San Jose, an entry-level software engineer earns around $142,740, while experienced professionals earn up to $338,550 per year. The local cost of living index is 168% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$142,740
+$64,740 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$228,750
+$103,750 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$338,550
+$153,550 vs national

Salary Percentiles in San Jose, CA

Percentile San Jose
10th Percentile $136,518
25th Percentile $179,706
Median (50th) $227,286
75th Percentile $289,506
90th Percentile $363,401

Software Engineer Salary in Other California Cities

San Francisco, CA
$244,674
Pop. 873,965
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 Jose

Education

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

Find Software Engineer Jobs in San Jose

Browse open software engineer positions in San Jose, CA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in San Jose

How much does a Software Engineer make in San Jose, CA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in San Jose, California is $227,286 per year, which is 83.0% above the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $136,518 (10th percentile) to $363,401 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in San Jose? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $227,286, a software engineer in San Jose earns approximately $109 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does San Jose compare to the California state average for software engineer pay? ▼
San Jose's median software engineer salary of $227,286 is 19.6% above the California state average of $190,026. The local cost of living index is 168% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in San Jose, CA? ▼
San Jose has a cost of living index of 168% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $227,286 in San Jose 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 Jose? ▼
Most software engineer positions in San Jose 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.