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Staff engineer salary in San Francisco, CA (Updated 2026)

How much does a Staff Engineer make in San Francisco, CA?

Average base salary

$234,935
49%
above national average
Average $234,935
Low $172,220
High $320,488

The average salary for a staff engineer is $234,935 per year in San Francisco, CA. 239 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated November 7, 2026).

Staff Engineer job openings in San Francisco, CA

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Staff Frontend Engineer
LUNAR5out of 5 stars.
San Francisco, CA
$190,000 - $250,000 a year
Full-time
4 months ago

Highest paying companies for Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
VMware
 
$293,333per year
View company
KASTLE
 
$292,500per year
GitHub
 
$286,400per year
Bungalow
 
$275,000per year
HARVEY
 
$275,000per year
Mochi Health
 
$275,000per year

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Highest paying cities for Staff Engineers near San Francisco, CA

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $234,935 per year
  2. Palo Alto, CA
    $216,101 per year
  3. San Mateo, CA
    $206,651 per year
  4. Sunnyvale, CA
    $201,517 per year
  5. Long Beach, CA
    $197,376 per year

Where can a Staff Engineer earn more?

Compare salaries for Staff Engineers in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Staff Engineer

The average salary for a Staff Engineer is $234,935 per year in San Francisco, CA. This figure is based on 239 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on November 7, 2026.

Staff Engineer jobs on Indeed - find your next one today.

Staff Engineer salaries in San Francisco, CA typically range between a low of $172,220 and a high of $320,488 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA include Palo Alto, CA at $216,101 per year, San Mateo, CA at $206,651 per year, and Sunnyvale, CA at $201,517 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Staff Engineer in San Francisco, CA include VMware ($293,333 per year) and KASTLE ($292,500 per year).

How much do similar professions as Staff Engineer get paid in San Francisco, CA?

Senior Staff Engineer

Job openings
Average $242,367 per year