Software engineer salary in Palo Alto, CA

The average salary for a Software Engineer is $166,339 per year in Palo Alto, CA. This figure is based on 499 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on September 5, 2026.

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Software Engineer salaries in Palo Alto, CA typically range between a low of $95,704 and a high of $289,108 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Software Engineer in Palo Alto, CA include Camarillo, CA at $325,792 per year, Menlo Park, CA at $187,329 per year, and San Francisco, CA at $183,519 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Software Engineer in Palo Alto, CA include CHAI ($381,250 per year) and Netflix ($312,667 per year).

Compensation can vary based on the specific niche and level of responsibility within the field. Here is how the average Software Engineer salary in Palo Alto, CA compares to related positions:

• Entry Level Software Engineer: Average $97,192 per year
• Junior Software Engineer: Average $89,257 per year
• Principal Software Engineer: Average $271,294 per year
• Senior Software Engineer: Average $181,097 per year
• Software Engineer Intern: Average $41.03 per hour
• Staff Software Engineer: Average $216,648 per year