Software Engineer pay in San Jose, by the numbers
After a simplified 19% national tax estimate that is about US$14,400 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Software Engineer pay in San Jose: national and in-state ranking
Second place goes to San Francisco at US$186,640, 12% lower; at the other end, San Antonio pays US$128,430.
Inside CA, San Jose is the best-paying of 4 observed metros, 18% above their US$181,000 average. For comparison: Los Angeles (US$160,920), San Diego (US$163,270) and San Francisco (US$186,640).
What the San Jose median is worth after tax and rent
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$213,100, is near its face value.
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for San Jose: 1st of 21.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (19% effective) and about US$14,400 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 11% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$10,930 remains.
Other CA options for software engineers
In Los Angeles — also in CA — the median is US$160,920 (-24% vs San Jose), and the modeled budget leaves US$3,300 less each month.
San Diego (also in CA) pays US$163,270, 23% less than San Jose; modeled monthly leftover is US$3,150 lower.
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$166,830, 22% less than San Jose; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,920 lower.
Where Software Engineer ranks among San Jose jobs
Software Engineer ranks 3rd of 9 occupations with observed San Jose data. Lawyer leads the city at US$301,320.
Closest neighbours in the San Jose list: Registered Nurse at US$216,740 (+2%) and Data Scientist at US$185,080 (-13%).
Entry-level vs senior software engineer pay in San Jose
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Jose: 1st of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
No observed metro has a higher 90th percentile for this role than San Jose.
The software engineer pay range in San Jose
Pay is spread out: US$138,420 at the 10th percentile to US$289,150 at the 90th (2.1×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.