Software Engineer pay in San Francisco, by the numbers
After a simplified 18% national tax estimate that is about US$12,800 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
San Francisco vs the national and CA picture
San Jose leads at US$213,110, 14% above San Francisco, while San Antonio sits at US$128,430. The neighbours in the ranking are San Jose and Seattle.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$181,000, and San Francisco comes 2nd, +3% against it; elsewhere in the state: Los Angeles (US$160,920), San Diego (US$163,270) and San Jose (US$213,110).
Cost of living and take-home in San Francisco
Price levels in San Francisco (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$186,600.
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 2nd of 21 either way.
After a simplified 18% effective national income tax, the median nets about US$12,800 a month. A modeled 1-bedroom (US$1,650) takes 13% of that, leaving around US$9,260 after modeled living costs.
Other CA options for software engineers
A software engineer moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles (also in CA) would see the median fall 14% to US$160,920, with US$1,630 less left over monthly in our model.
In San Diego — also in CA — the median is US$163,270 (-13% vs San Francisco), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,480 less each month.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$166,830 (-11% vs San Francisco), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,250 less each month.
Other San Francisco jobs compared with software engineer
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in San Francisco at US$212,500; software engineer comes 2nd of 9.
Closest neighbours in the San Francisco list: Registered Nurse at US$186,610 (0%).
How San Francisco ranks at the low and high end
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Francisco: 2nd of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +6% against San Francisco.
Spread between low and high software engineer pay in San Francisco
Pay is spread out: US$128,090 at the 10th percentile to US$273,400 at the 90th (2.1×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.