Computer Programmers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $174,770 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in San Francisco earn between $77,710 and $166,830.
- $74K10th
- $78K25th
- $131KMedian
- $167K75th
- $175K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $127,030 | $10,586 | $61.07 |
| Median | $130,730 | $10,894 | $62.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,710 | $6,476 | $37.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,830 | $13,902 | $80.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Computer programmers in San Francisco earn 6% more than the California average ($119,900) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $127,030 | $130,730 | $74,110 | $174,770 | 2,440 |
| California | $119,900 | $116,760 | $70,310 | $172,300 | 11,340 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $127,030, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $90,369 a year, or $7,531 a month and $3,476 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $127,030 buys what about $109,875 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 4th of 16 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($150,780).
- San Jose$150,780
- San Diego$129,530
- Santa Cruz$128,360
- San Francisco$127,030
- San Luis Obispo$113,250
- Sacramento$112,710
- Santa Rosa$112,410
- Santa Maria$108,440
- Los Angeles$108,020
- Visalia$105,690
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in San Francisco?
$61.07 an hour on average, and $62.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $90,369 a year ($7,531 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $127,030. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do computer programmers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.73, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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