salary$186,640 a year$90 an hour · median pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$128,090per year
Top pay (top 10%)$273,400per year
Jobs in the area69,030people work this job
Can a software developer afford San Francisco?
OK. Rent of $3,201 a month takes 20.6% of the median software developer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Software Developer pay in similar cities
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pay for a software developer in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area is $186,640 a year ($90 an hour). Most earn between $128,090 and $273,400.
Can a software developer afford to live in San Francisco?
Typical rent of $3,201 a month takes 20.6% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area.