How much does a Software Engineer make in San Francisco, CA?
In San Francisco, a Software Engineer can expect to earn a competitive salary. The average yearly salary for this role is around $189,777. This figure reflects the high demand for skilled software professionals in the tech hub. Salaries can vary based on experience, skills, and the specific company.
The salary distribution shows a wide range of earnings. For instance, the lowest 10% of earners make about $95,200 per year. On the other hand, the top 10% earn over $347,500 annually. This range highlights the potential for growth and advancement in the field. Factors such as education, certifications, and specific technical skills can influence where one falls within this salary spectrum.
What are the highest paying cities for a Software Engineer near San Francisco, CA?

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San Mateo, CA
Average Salary: $188,829
San Mateo offers a vibrant tech scene with many opportunities. Companies like Google and Salesforce are nearby. The area provides a mix of urban and suburban living.
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Menlo Park, CA
Average Salary: $185,963
Menlo Park is a hub for tech innovation. Home to Facebook, it attracts top talent. The city offers a great quality of life with its parks and community events.
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Mountain View, CA
Average Salary: $185,435
Mountain View is known for its tech giants like Google. It offers a dynamic work environment. The city provides a good balance of work and leisure activities.
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Sunnyvale, CA
Average Salary: $182,196
Sunnyvale has a growing tech industry. Companies like Adobe and eBay are present. The city offers a diverse community with many cultural events.
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Santa Clara, CA
Average Salary: $181,126
Santa Clara is home to tech companies like Intel and Apple. It offers a strong job market. The city provides a mix of urban amenities and suburban peace.
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Palo Alto, CA
Average Salary: $179,286
Palo Alto is a tech powerhouse with companies like Hewlett Packard. It offers a high standard of living. The city is known for its beautiful parks and outdoor activities.
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Daly City, CA
Average Salary: $168,508
Daly City offers a mix of tech jobs and a quieter lifestyle. Companies like Salesforce are nearby. The city provides a diverse community with many cultural events.
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Mill Valley, CA
Average Salary: $164,643
Mill Valley offers a scenic backdrop with tech jobs nearby. Companies like Oracle are in the area. The city provides a relaxed lifestyle with beautiful natural surroundings.
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San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $161,737
San Jose is a major tech center with companies like Cisco and eBay. It offers a vibrant job market. The city is known for its cultural diversity and tech events.
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Livermore, CA
Average Salary: $160,421
Livermore offers a mix of tech jobs and a quieter lifestyle. Companies like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are present. The city provides a family-friendly environment with good schools.
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What are the best paying companies for a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA?

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OpenAI
Average Salary: $334,000
OpenAI offers exciting Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA. The company focuses on creating safe and beneficial AI. It operates globally with offices in various locations.
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Anthropic
Average Salary: $325,667
Anthropic provides rewarding Software Engineer positions in San Francisco, CA. The company works on developing safe and reliable AI systems. It has offices in multiple cities.
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Waymo
Average Salary: $267,429
Waymo offers competitive Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA. The company is at the forefront of autonomous driving technology. It operates in several cities across the US.
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Intuit
Average Salary: $255,750
Intuit provides attractive Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA. The company creates financial software for individuals and small businesses. It has offices in many locations worldwide.
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reddit
Average Salary: $253,787
Reddit offers good Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA. The company is a popular social news and entertainment platform. It operates globally with offices in various cities.
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ThousandEyes
Average Salary: $244,994
ThousandEyes provides competitive Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA. The company focuses on digital experience monitoring. It has offices in multiple locations worldwide.
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Alchemy
Average Salary: $242,500
Alchemy offers attractive Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA. The company specializes in digital experience management. It operates in several cities across the US.
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Lambda
Average Salary: $240,667
Lambda provides good Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA. The company focuses on cloud-native application services. It has offices in multiple locations worldwide.
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Sigma Computing
Average Salary: $237,045
Sigma Computing offers competitive Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA. The company specializes in business intelligence and analytics. It operates in several cities across the US.
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Cisco
Average Salary: $231,800
Cisco provides attractive Software Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA. The company is a global leader in networking and cybersecurity. It has offices in many locations worldwide.
What are the best paying Software Engineer related jobs in San Francisco, CA?

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Environment Artist
Average Salary: $207,031
This role creates visual elements for games and apps. Artists work with designers to bring concepts to life. Companies like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts offer exciting opportunities.
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Machine Learning Engineer
Average Salary: $204,764
These professionals build models to analyze data. They work with large datasets to improve systems. Google and Salesforce are known for hiring talented machine learning experts.
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Security Engineer
Average Salary: $194,265
Security engineers protect systems from threats. They develop strategies to keep data safe. Firms like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks seek skilled security engineers.
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Site Reliability Engineer
Average Salary: $189,666
SREs ensure systems run smoothly. They work to fix issues and improve performance. Companies like Amazon and Netflix hire SREs to maintain their services.
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Technical Architect
Average Salary: $178,462
Technical architects design system structures. They plan how different parts of a system will work together. Firms like Oracle and IBM look for experienced technical architects.
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Product Manager
Average Salary: $172,268
Product managers lead the development of new products. They work with teams to bring ideas to market. Companies like Apple and Tesla hire product managers to drive innovation.
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Data Engineer
Average Salary: $171,209
Data engineers build systems for data storage and processing. They work with large datasets to support analysis. Google and LinkedIn hire data engineers to manage their data infrastructure.
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Systems Engineer
Average Salary: $162,628
Systems engineers manage and maintain IT systems. They ensure everything runs smoothly. Companies like Cisco and IBM seek skilled systems engineers.
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Solution Architect
Average Salary: $161,416
Solution architects design technical solutions. They create plans for how systems will work. Firms like Amazon and Microsoft hire solution architects to design their systems.
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UI/UX Designer
Average Salary: $155,750
UI/UX designers create user-friendly interfaces. They focus on how users interact with products. Companies like Google and Adobe hire talented UI/UX designers.
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