Software Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 4,532 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Irvine, Santa Monica, Culver City, El Segundo, Pasadena.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $110,000 |
| 25th | $129,667 |
| 50th (median) | $151,549 |
| 75th | $176,134 |
| 90th | $195,334 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $113,000 | $94,000 | $132,445 | 4,890 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $99,632 | $140,000 | 4,313 |
| FY2022 | $123,000 | $99,998 | $147,410 | 4,266 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $103,000 | $150,000 | 3,208 |
| FY2024 | $141,884 | $121,222 | $164,700 | 2,673 |
| FY2025 | $150,100 | $126,942 | $174,000 | 2,697 |
| FY2026 | $157,123 | $129,667 | $184,558 | 1,835 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Software Engineer salary of $151,549 is worth about $133,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $160,920 in May 2025 (55,540 employed). The H-1B median here is $151,549, 6% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $152,600 | 345 |
| $164,000 | 167 | |
| Snap | $173,019 | 84 |
| Deloitte | $175,100 | 67 |
| Capgemini America | $151,900 | 63 |
| ADP | $151,549 | 56 |
| Capital Group Companies Global | $178,496 | 54 |
| Rivian | $171,000 | 52 |
| ServiceTitan | $202,600 | 49 |
| TikTok | $176,110 | 44 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $105,000 | 717 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $132,120 | 1,635 |
| Senior · Level III | $159,946 | 898 |
| Expert · Level IV | $187,431 | 822 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $102,357 | $105,000 | 717 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $129,667 | $132,120 | 1,635 |
| Senior · Level III | $151,549 | $159,946 | 898 |
| Expert · Level IV | $184,558 | $187,431 | 822 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.