Software engineer salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for a Software Engineer is $129,531 per year in San Diego, CA. This figure is based on 567 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 19, 2026.

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Software Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA typically range between a low of $85,439 and a high of $196,378 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Software Engineer in San Diego, CA include Camarillo, CA at $327,875 per year, Menlo Park, CA at $190,675 per year, and San Jose, CA at $187,398 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Software Engineer in San Diego, CA include SAMTEC, INC ($285,000 per year) and Meta ($257,000 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 San Diego, CA compares to related positions:

• Entry Level Software Engineer: Average $91,214 per year
• Junior Software Engineer: Average $83,131 per year
• Principal Software Engineer: Average $186,227 per year
• Senior Software Engineer: Average $159,542 per year
• Software Engineer Intern: Average $35.67 per hour
• Staff Software Engineer: Average $202,855 per year