salary$163,270 a year$78 an hour · median pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$95,420per year
Top pay (top 10%)$223,260per year
Jobs in the area20,610people work this job
Can a software developer afford San Diego?
OK. Rent of $3,011 a month takes 22.1% of the median software developer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Software Developer pay in similar cities
Other jobs in San Diego
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in San Diego, CA?
The median pay for a software developer in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area is $163,270 a year ($78 an hour). Most earn between $95,420 and $223,260.
Can a software developer afford to live in San Diego?
Typical rent of $3,011 a month takes 22.1% of the median software developer salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area.