High-paying software engineering jobs in San Diego

Software Engineering develops and maintains software applications. Engineers write code, design solutions, and ensure quality. Programming skills and problem-solving abilities are essential.


The 627 software engineering jobs listed below pay well, with salaries between $132,193 and $204,561 per year. Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer and Principal Software Engineer are among the most popular high-paying roles in San Diego, CA.

Job title

Updated Aug 15, 2026
Job title
San Diego, CA
California
Job openings (San Diego)

Staff Software Engineer

San Diego

$204,561 per year

California

$222,253 per year

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego

$183,717 per year

California

$217,965 per year

Machine Learning Engineer

San Diego

$168,469 per year

California

$215,885 per year

Forward Deployed Engineer

San Diego

$167,141 per year

California

$181,585 per year

Firmware Engineer

San Diego

$165,942 per year

California

$176,506 per year

Software Test Engineer

San Diego

$163,410 per year

California

$164,215 per year

Senior Software Engineer

San Diego

$162,693 per year

California

$186,142 per year

AI Developer

San Diego

$148,179 per year

California

$179,109 per year

Software Engineer

San Diego

$133,204 per year

California

$161,244 per year

Data Engineer

San Diego

$132,193 per year

California

$156,067 per year

Job descriptions below are for educational purposes. Please refer to the employer's job description for complete details.