Software Developer salary in Modesto, CA
Software Developers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $119,770 a year ($57.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,220 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 31% lower than the California statewide median of $174,410. There are 1.5 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.14). The average (mean) salary is $122,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| 25th percentile | $98,250 | $47.24 |
| Median | $119,770 | $57.58 |
| 75th percentile | $138,070 | $66.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,220 | $83.76 |
| Average (mean) | $122,860 | $59.07 |
Half of software developers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,980.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,990.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,606.54 |
| Weekly | $2,303.27 |
| Hourly | $57.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,110 | 87,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | 69,030 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | 20,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | 55,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $159,430 | 2,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,290 | 1,680 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $156,910 | 540 |
| Napa, CA | $153,130 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $148,630 | 560 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,640 | 7,460 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,550 | 570 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,930 | 330 |
| Salinas, CA | $135,160 | 290 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $135,020 | 520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,270 | 4,150 |
| Merced, CA | $132,120 | 80 |
| Yuba City, CA | $132,120 | 80 |
| Chico, CA | $131,360 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $130,330 | 740 |
| Redding, CA | $129,230 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,060 | 740 |
| Visalia, CA | $126,170 | 230 |
| El Centro, CA | $125,930 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $101,720 | $48.90 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,000 | $47.60 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Computer Network Architect | $120,870 | $58.11 |
| Computer Programmer | $103,250 | $49.64 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Database Administrator | $97,850 | $47.05 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $87,650 | $42.14 |
| Data Scientist | $104,990 | $50.47 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $80,240 | $38.58 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Modesto, CA?
The median salary for software developers in the Modesto, CA metro area is $119,770 a year, or $57.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of software developers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $174,220 a year. The top 25% earn $138,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,540 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $98,250 or less.
How many software developers work in Modesto, CA?
About 300 software developers are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.