Software Engineer Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
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San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Software Engineer Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
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Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator
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Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
Software Engineer in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
Software Engineer in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: Market Snapshot
Software Engineer roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA report a median annual wage of $213,110, 56.7% above the national median of $135,980. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $138,420 to $289,150, and HUD’s $2,778 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 15.6% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $43.92 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Software Engineer
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | -12.4% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,280 | -21.5% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | -21.7% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $166,090 | -22.1% |
| Boulder, CO | $164,560 | -22.8% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | -23.4% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $162,650 | -23.7% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $162,090 | -23.9% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | -24.5% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $159,430 | -25.2% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $291,660 | $140.22/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $263,810 | $126.83/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $234,590 | $112.78/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner | $231,560 | $111.33/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $231,370 | $111.24/hr |
| Training and Development Managers | $230,020 | $110.59/hr |
| Financial Manager | $225,280 | $108.31/hr |
| Physician Assistant | $223,640 | $107.52/hr |
| Human Resources Managers | $220,460 | $105.99/hr |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $216,740 | $104.20/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 377 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network
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Related Technology Roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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Other Metros for Software Engineer
Regional metropolitan labor markets within commuter or relocation distance with local BLS wages and living costs.
Software Engineer median pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $213,110 a year ($102.46/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles. Official 2026 economic data for Software Engineer in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $213,110 ($102.46 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $138,420 and $289,150. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $213,110, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $140,382 a year ($11,699 a month) after $72,728 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 34.13%, using 2026 tax rules.