Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Detailed compensation breakdown, percentiles, and market demand for Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA.
Data Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS Survey), DOL Certified H-1B Disclosures & Public SEC 10-K Filings. Learn about our formula →
Salary Progression by Experience Level in San Francisco, CA
Estimated pay progression across career stages for Software Engineer
Junior Software Engineer
Recent graduates and early career entrants.
Software Engineer
Autonomous execution and domain proficiency.
Senior Software Engineer
System architecture, mentorship, and project leadership.
Staff / Principal
Strategic direction and cross-functional technical decisions.
Top Paying Employers for Software Engineer
Verified total compensation packages by employer
| Company | Level | Experience | Base Salary | Stock / Year | Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | IC5 (Principal) | 9+ yrs | $280,000 | $420,000 | $50,000 | $750,000 |
| Netflix | Staff Software Engineer | 9+ yrs | $620,000 | $80,000 | $0 | $700,000 |
| Meta Platforms | E6 (Staff) | 8-12 yrs | $275,000 | $310,000 | $65,000 | $650,000 |
| Google (Alphabet) | L6 (Staff) | 8-12 yrs | $260,000 | $260,000 | $65,000 | $585,000 |
| Netflix | Senior Software Engineer | 5-9 yrs | $480,000 | $50,000 | $0 | $530,000 |
| Apple | ICT5 (Staff) | 8-12 yrs | $250,000 | $220,000 | $55,000 | $525,000 |
| NVIDIA | IC4 (Senior GPU) | 5-9 yrs | $225,000 | $240,000 | $35,000 | $500,000 |
| Meta Platforms | E5 (Senior) | 5-8 yrs | $220,000 | $175,000 | $42,000 | $437,000 |
| Google (Alphabet) | L5 (Senior) | 5-8 yrs | $215,000 | $150,000 | $45,000 | $410,000 |
| Amazon | SDE III (L6 Senior) | 6-10 yrs | $210,000 | $165,000 | $30,000 | $405,000 |
| Uber Technologies | Senior | 5-8 yrs | $205,000 | $140,000 | $35,000 | $380,000 |
| Airbnb | Senior | 5-8 yrs | $205,000 | $140,000 | $35,000 | $380,000 |
| Apple | ICT4 (Senior) | 5-8 yrs | $205,000 | $125,000 | $35,000 | $365,000 |
| Citadel & Citadel Securities | Graduate / Entry | 0-2 yrs | $200,000 | $0 | $150,000 | $350,000 |
| Jane Street | Graduate / Entry | 0-2 yrs | $200,000 | $0 | $150,000 | $350,000 |
| Microsoft | Senior SDE 63/64 | 5-9 yrs | $195,000 | $105,000 | $40,000 | $340,000 |
| Meta Platforms | E4 (Mid-Level) | 2-5 yrs | $178,000 | $98,000 | $28,000 | $304,000 |
| Google (Alphabet) | L4 (Mid-Level) | 2-5 yrs | $175,000 | $85,000 | $30,000 | $290,000 |
| Amazon | SDE II (L5) | 2-6 yrs | $172,000 | $88,000 | $22,000 | $282,000 |
| Uber Technologies | Mid-Level | 2-5 yrs | $165,000 | $75,000 | $20,000 | $260,000 |
| Airbnb | Mid-Level | 2-5 yrs | $165,000 | $75,000 | $20,000 | $260,000 |
| Apple | ICT3 (Mid-Level) | 2-5 yrs | $165,000 | $65,000 | $20,000 | $250,000 |
| Microsoft | SDE II 61/62 (Mid) | 2-5 yrs | $155,000 | $55,000 | $25,000 | $235,000 |
| Meta Platforms | E3 (Rotational / Entry) | 0-2 yrs | $142,000 | $50,000 | $18,000 | $210,000 |
| Google (Alphabet) | L3 (Entry / Junior) | 0-2 yrs | $145,000 | $42,000 | $22,000 | $209,000 |
| Amazon | SDE I (L4) | 0-2 yrs | $138,000 | $38,000 | $18,000 | $194,000 |
| Microsoft | SDE 59/60 (Entry) | 0-2 yrs | $128,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 | $173,000 |
Software Engineer Salary in Other US Locations
Compare regional earnings and cost-of-living adjustments
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
New York, NY
Seattle, WA
Hawaii
Oakland, CA
Boston, MA
California
Role Profile & Career Requirements
Software Engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and systems. They write robust, scalable code, collaborate in Agile teams, and utilize cloud and modern frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Software Engineer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median annual salary for a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $200,100, with entry-level professionals earning around $131,100 and top 10% senior specialists earning up to $331,200.
What is the average hourly rate for a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA?
On average, a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA makes approximately $96.20 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year.
