Software engineer salary in San Francisco, CA

The average salary for a Software Engineer is $186,263 per year in San Francisco, CA. This figure is based on 2.2k 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 Francisco, CA typically range between a low of $120,255 and a high of $288,501 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Software Engineer in San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA include MERCOR ($315,000 per year) and Riot Games ($274,350 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 Francisco, CA compares to related positions:

• Entry Level Software Engineer: Average $108,377 per year
• Junior Software Engineer: Average $171,198 per year
• Principal Software Engineer: Average $235,336 per year
• Senior Software Engineer: Average $199,859 per year
• Software Engineer Intern: Average $55.63 per hour
• Staff Software Engineer: Average $237,420 per year