Software Engineer salary in Modesto, CA

Based on 18 certified H-1B filings in the Modesto, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Patterson, Turlock, Newman.

Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE

Median salary$135,000
Middle 50%$121.4k–$142.9k
vs. national median−3%comparison median $139,194
Filings18FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $81,952 and $161,849.
PercentileSalary
10th$95,986
25th$121,389
50th (median)$135,000
75th$142,948
90th$151,690

Cost of living

Modesto's median Software Engineer salary of $135,000 is worth about $129,700 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Modesto = 104.1).

Compared with all workers here

All Software Developers in the Modesto, CA area earned a median of $119,770 in May 2025 (300 employed). The H-1B median here is $135,000, 13% higher.

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

EmployerMedianFilings
Network Labstoo few3
Fractal Analyticstoo few2
Save Mart Supermarketstoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II too few 2
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.