Paycheck Atlas

Computer Programmers salary in California

The median computer programmers in California earns $116,760 a year, 16% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $6,900 a month.

10th percentile
$70,310
25th percentile
$83,490
Median percentile
$116,760
75th percentile
$148,740
90th percentile
$172,300

Based on 11,340 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$82,797 take-home a year
Gross pay$116,760
Federal income tax−$16,857
Social Security + Medicare−$8,932
California income tax (approx.)−$8,173
Monthly take-home$6,900
Every two weeks$3,185

Does it go far here?

$105,455Median pay in California is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.7 vs 100).
30%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,036 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in California

JobMedian pay
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$400,150
Neurologists$357,080
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,900
Psychiatrists$353,500
General Internal Medicine Physicians$313,890
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$301,240
Nurse Anesthetists$292,410
Physicians, All Other$281,590

All computer programmers salaries · Take-home pay in California