Salary Index · All Industries
Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
A mid-level Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA earns a median $186,640, ranging $163,500 (P25) to $273,400 (P90).
Software Engineer salary percentiles in San Francisco, CA
Mid-level (L3) annual base pay. The live page lets you switch seniority from intern to executive.
| Percentile | Annual base |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $163,500 |
| Median (50th) | $186,640 |
| 75th percentile | $219,670 |
| 90th percentile | $273,400 |
| Mean | $193,430 |
H-1B prevailing wage
In San Francisco, CA, across 14,629 H-1B filings for this occupation, the average wage is $194,313 (DOL OFLC records).
Job outlook
Nationally, Software Developers is projected to grow +25.7% with ~136,300 annual openings (BLS projections) — the same figure applies across metros since BLS doesn't publish occupational growth projections below the national level.
Methodology
These Software Engineer bands for San Francisco, CA draw from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), supplemented by Department of Labor OFLC H-1B prevailing-wage filings. Every percentile traces to a named public source — no anonymous self-reported numbers, no forum threads.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this software engineer salary data for San Francisco, CA come from?
Every percentile for software engineer roles in San Francisco, CA is sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) data and Department of Labor OFLC H-1B prevailing-wage filings — public government records, not anonymous self-reported figures.
Are San Francisco, CA software engineer salaries self-reported?
No. Unlike crowd-sourced salary sites, every band for this San Francisco, CA figure traces to a named public source (BLS OES, DOL OFLC) — no forum threads, no unverified user submissions.
How are the P25–P90 percentiles calculated for San Francisco, CA?
They come from BLS OES percentile wage estimates for software engineer roles in the San Francisco, CA metropolitan area, supplemented by DOL prevailing-wage data where employer sponsorship is common.
How current is the San Francisco, CA data?
BLS OES is updated annually and DOL OFLC filings are released through the year; the software engineer figures for San Francisco, CA refresh on a quarterly cadence.
Related pages
Software Engineer salary in other metros
Sources: BLS OES, DOL OFLC public filings. Updated quarterly.