Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA

IQ Team
Written by IQ Team
IQ Team
Published March 24, 2022
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents

$151,040

Average Base Salary

$172,176

Average Total Compensation

Min: $74K
Max: $225K
Base Salary
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $151K
Data points: 45,655
The average base salary for a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $151,040
based on 45,655 data points.
Adjusting the average for more recent salary data points, the average recency weighted base salary is $155,592.

The estimated average total compensation is $172,176
based on 26,510 data points.
The average recency weighted total compensation is $180,517.

Normalized Software Engineer Salaries in San Francisco, CA


Average total compensation
0% - Low
15%85%
Cost of living
0% - Low
15%85%
Years of experience
0% - Low
15%85%

The average base salary for Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is in the top 98% compared to all other cities salaries.

The average base salary for Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is $151,040 while the average Software Engineer base salary is $116,059.

If we normalize the salaries in San Francisco, CA by the cost of living, then the average base salary for Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is in the top 81% compared to all other cities.

If we normalize the salaries in San Francisco, CA by the years of experience, then the average base salary for Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA is in the top 97% compared to all other cities.

Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA by Seniority Levels

Executive
$99K
$433K
Executive
Median: $137K
Mean (Average): $218K
Data points: 8
Manager
$150K
$300K
Manager
Median: $210K
Mean (Average): $221K
Data points: 1,396
Senior
$135K
$265K
Senior
Median: $182K
Mean (Average): $192K
Data points: 8,926
Mid-Level
$120K
$195K
Mid-Level
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $152K
Data points: 5,872
Entry Level
$101K
$165K
Entry Level
Median: $130K
Mean (Average): $131K
Data points: 1,179
Intern*
$92K
Intern
Median: $92K
Mean (Average): $92K
Data points: 1
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Seniority can increase the pay of a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA. Here are the base salaries of a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA grouped into 6 seniority categories.

Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA Compared to other Positions

Product Manager
$120K
$260K
Product Manager
Median: $180K
Mean (Average): $183K
Data points: 2,283
Machine Learning Engineer
$110K
$240K
Machine Learning Engineer
Median: $170K
Mean (Average): $170K
Data points: 1,936
Software Engineer
$74K
$225K
Software Engineer
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $151K
Data points: 45,655
Data Scientist
$92K
$200K
Data Scientist
Median: $142K
Mean (Average): $144K
Data points: 8,899
Data Engineer
$83K
$194K
Data Engineer
Median: $135K
Mean (Average): $139K
Data points: 4,714
Research Scientist
$66K
$202K
Research Scientist
Median: $138K
Mean (Average): $137K
Data points: 2,521
Product Analyst
$73K
$160K
Product Analyst
Median: $110K
Mean (Average): $113K
Data points: 343
Business Intelligence
$63K
$164K
Business Intelligence
Median: $110K
Mean (Average): $110K
Data points: 1,184
Growth Marketing Analyst
$51K
$185K
Growth Marketing Analyst
Median: $100K
Mean (Average): $108K
Data points: 403
Data Analyst
$54K
$153K
Data Analyst
Median: $95K
Mean (Average): $99K
Data points: 4,012
Business Analyst
$61K
$150K
Business Analyst
Median: $95K
Mean (Average): $98K
Data points: 4,124
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Most data science positions fall under different position titles depending on the actual role.

From the graph we can see that on average the Product Manager role pays the most with a $183,338 base salary while the Business Analyst role on average pays the least with a $98,374 base salary.

Software Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA Compared to other Cities

Zurich, Switzerland
$119K
$270K
Zurich, Switzerland
Median: $158K
Mean (Average): $169K
Data points: 154
Remote
$95K
$208K
Remote
Median: $151K
Mean (Average): $156K
Data points: 14
Tulsa, OK
$67K
$261K
Tulsa, OK
Median: $144K
Mean (Average): $155K
Data points: 184
Kalamazoo, MI
$97K
$200K
Kalamazoo, MI
Median: $155K
Mean (Average): $151K
Data points: 60
San Francisco, CA
$74K
$225K
San Francisco, CA
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $151K
Data points: 45,655
New York, NY
$77K
$218K
New York, NY
Median: $142K
Mean (Average): $143K
Data points: 10,699
Monterey-Salinas, CA
$73K
$191K
Monterey-Salinas, CA
Median: $154K
Mean (Average): $142K
Data points: 33
Seattle, WA
$68K
$203K
Seattle, WA
Median: $137K
Mean (Average): $136K
Data points: 28,768
Omaha, NE
$75K
$220K
Omaha, NE
Median: $136K
Mean (Average): $136K
Data points: 1,025
Tel Aviv, Israel
$90K
$178K
Tel Aviv, Israel
Median: $127K
Mean (Average): $130K
Data points: 242
Memphis, TN
$65K
$200K
Memphis, TN
Median: $131K
Mean (Average): $127K
Data points: 949
Chattanooga, TN
$86K
$170K
Chattanooga, TN
Median: $120K
Mean (Average): $126K
Data points: 11
New Orleans, LA
$60K
$212K
New Orleans, LA
Median: $114K
Mean (Average): $121K
Data points: 15
Hawaii Area
$79K
$174K
Hawaii Area
Median: $95K
Mean (Average): $120K
Data points: 22
Austin, TX
$67K
$185K
Austin, TX
Median: $115K
Mean (Average): $119K
Data points: 4,086
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)
1
...

The Software Engineer salary in Zurich, Switzerland is the highest paying salary with a $169,105 average base salary. The Software Engineer salary in Manila, Philippines is the lowest paying salary with $42,000 average base salary.

Top Companies for Software Engineer Salaries in San Francisco, CA

Netflix
$283K
$738K
Netflix
Median: $480K
Mean (Average): $491K
Data points: 209
Roku Inc.
$146K
$425K
Roku Inc.
Median: $276K
Mean (Average): $288K
Data points: 83
Smartnews
$210K
$324K
Smartnews
Median: $220K
Mean (Average): $242K
Data points: 5
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
$171K
$270K
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Median: $252K
Mean (Average): $228K
Data points: 9
Roblox
$142K
$328K
Roblox
Median: $190K
Mean (Average): $205K
Data points: 76
Brex
$121K
$411K
Brex
Median: $170K
Mean (Average): $204K
Data points: 53
Chime
$173K
$249K
Chime
Median: $198K
Mean (Average): $201K
Data points: 24
Credit Karma
$153K
$275K
Credit Karma
Median: $203K
Mean (Average): $201K
Data points: 66
Coupang
$148K
$242K
Coupang
Median: $209K
Mean (Average): $200K
Data points: 6
Box
$135K
$262K
Box
Median: $198K
Mean (Average): $200K
Data points: 109
Realtor.Com
$139K
$250K
Realtor.Com
Median: $200K
Mean (Average): $198K
Data points: 5
Airbnb
$131K
$257K
Airbnb
Median: $197K
Mean (Average): $196K
Data points: 215
Wepay
$148K
$296K
Wepay
Median: $175K
Mean (Average): $194K
Data points: 30
Datadog
$166K
$258K
Datadog
Median: $170K
Mean (Average): $194K
Data points: 5
Cruise Automation, Inc.
$140K
$278K
Cruise Automation, Inc.
Median: $190K
Mean (Average): $193K
Data points: 99
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)
1
...

The Software Engineer at Netflix salary is the highest paying salary with a $490,602 average base salary. The Software Engineer at Flipkart salary is the lowest paying salary with $65,000 average base salary.
Position salary guides
Business Analyst Salary in San Francisco, CABusiness Intelligence Salary in San Francisco, CAData Analyst Salary in San Francisco, CAData Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CAData Scientist Salary in San Francisco, CA (Updated for 2024)Growth Marketing Analyst Salary in San Francisco, CAMachine Learning Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CAProduct Analyst Salary in San Francisco, CAProduct Manager Salary in San Francisco, CAResearch Scientist Salary in San Francisco, CA