Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Riverside, CA
Based on 81 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $88,899 |
| 25th | $91,354 |
| 50th (median) | $100,000 |
| 75th | $123,510 |
| 90th | $132,080 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $69,320 | $66,802 | $75,744 | 12 |
| FY2021 | $71,656 | $62,400 | $83,754 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $71,988 | $64,028 | $83,340 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $89,367 | $78,594 | $93,309 | 26 |
| FY2024 | $87,000 | $86,986 | $93,600 | 39 |
| FY2025 | $97,760 | $90,000 | $112,320 | 57 |
| FY2026 | $111,228 | $92,589 | $130,697 | 24 |
Cost of living
Riverside's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $100,000 is worth about $93,900 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 $100,000, 25% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Systems Research Institute | $124,311 | 34 |
| Infinite Computer Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Feathersoft | too few | 2 |
| Indeed | too few | 2 |
| Prime Healthcare Management | too few | 2 |
| Prime Healthcare Services - Montclair | too few | 2 |
| Top Rack Technology | too few | 2 |
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.