What is the average Software Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA?
Software Engineers in Los Angeles earn a median of $152,100 per year — about 15% above the national average. Pay ranges from $109,500 (25th percentile) to $235,800 (90th percentile).
Software Engineer salary by experience level
How Los Angeles pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the Los Angeles salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.
5-year salary trend
Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.
Software Engineer job market in Los Angeles
LA is the entertainment and aerospace capital of the US, with strong tech and healthcare sectors. Salaries run 15–30% above national average; California state taxes are among the highest.
An estimated 13,900 software engineers work in the Los Angeles metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:
- Write and review code
- Design system architecture
- Debug production issues
- Collaborate with product and design
- Run code reviews
Related job salaries in Los Angeles
Software Engineer salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Software Engineer make in Los Angeles, CA?+
Software Engineers in Los Angeles earn a median of $152,100 per year — about 15% above the national average of $132,270.
What's the entry-level Software Engineer salary in Los Angeles?+
Entry-level Software Engineers in Los Angeles typically earn around $98,900 per year. Salaries scale to about $220,500 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $152,100 a good Software Engineer salary in Los Angeles?+
$152,100 is the median, meaning half of Software Engineers in Los Angeles earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 173, that's roughly $87,900 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Software Engineer pay growing in Los Angeles?+
Software Engineer salaries in Los Angeles grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +25%.
Where do Software Engineers in Los Angeles get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Software Engineer salary in Los Angeles is around $235,800. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in Los Angeles?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Los Angeles median.
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