Quick answer
Software Developers in California earned a median of $174,410 a year ($83.85 an hour) in May 2025, 28% above the national median of $135,980; 284,390 were employed there, ranking #1 of 51 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $174,410 | $135,980 |
| Mean annual wage | $186,770 | $148,100 |
| Median hourly wage | $83.85 | $65.38 |
| 10th percentile | $105,060 | $82,460 |
| 25th percentile | $136,990 | $105,210 |
| 75th percentile | $216,670 | $171,980 |
| 90th percentile | $272,670 | $214,670 |
| Employment | 284,390 | 1,687,890 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 15.614 | — |
| Location quotient | 1.44 | 1.00 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.