Software Engineer salary in Riverside, CA
Based on 418 certified H-1B filings in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redlands, Ontario, Corona, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,242 |
| 25th | $115,981 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $152,027 |
| 90th | $170,238 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $84,600 | $114,925 | 132 |
| FY2021 | $104,000 | $87,879 | $121,670 | 176 |
| FY2022 | $111,000 | $93,900 | $135,000 | 208 |
| FY2023 | $115,000 | $94,994 | $140,000 | 217 |
| FY2024 | $116,500 | $107,245 | $147,713 | 214 |
| FY2025 | $127,540 | $111,530 | $150,000 | 245 |
| FY2026 | $133,350 | $116,000 | $160,368 | 173 |
Cost of living
Riverside's median Software Engineer salary of $130,000 is worth about $122,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Riverside = 106.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Riverside, CA area earned a median of $133,270 in May 2025 (4,150 employed). The H-1B median here is $130,000, 2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Systems Research Institute | $131,040 | 75 |
| Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri) | $141,000 | 25 |
| Monster Energy | too few | 7 |
| Molina Healthcare | too few | 6 |
| Eldorado National (California) | too few | 5 |
| Evolent Specialty Services | too few | 5 |
| EY | too few | 3 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 3 |
| Experian Information Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Infinite Computer Solutions | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $100,000 | 81 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $120,000 | 186 |
| Senior · Level III | $141,440 | 57 |
| Expert · Level IV | $170,000 | 71 |
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 | $88,899 | $100,000 | 81 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,981 | $120,000 | 186 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,181 | $141,440 | 57 |
| Expert · Level IV | $165,214 | $170,000 | 71 |
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.