Software Engineer salary in Sacramento, CA
Based on 1,121 certified H-1B filings in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Rocklin, West Sacramento, Roseville.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,800 |
| 25th | $121,451 |
| 50th (median) | $126,420 |
| 75th | $152,440 |
| 90th | $173,618 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $97,760 | $90,000 | $110,592 | 999 |
| FY2021 | $100,339 | $97,677 | $120,000 | 925 |
| FY2022 | $108,514 | $100,339 | $123,000 | 1,057 |
| FY2023 | $114,358 | $108,514 | $135,000 | 756 |
| FY2024 | $121,451 | $114,358 | $144,501 | 689 |
| FY2025 | $125,000 | $121,451 | $151,600 | 661 |
| FY2026 | $127,321 | $124,592 | $153,855 | 460 |
Cost of living
Sacramento's median Software Engineer salary of $126,420 is worth about $118,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Sacramento = 106.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Sacramento, CA area earned a median of $139,640 in May 2025 (7,460 employed). The H-1B median here is $126,420, 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Intel | $146,245 | 136 |
| Deloitte | $127,000 | 69 |
| Astute Solutions | $121,451 | 41 |
| SK Hynix NAND Product Solutions | $149,115 | 30 |
| Apple | $173,618 | 22 |
| IBM | $130,000 | 20 |
| Nisum Technologies | $128,092 | 19 |
| Williams-Sonoma | $155,765 | 14 |
| Sim Infotech | $124,592 | 12 |
| LinQ Global Group | $124,592 | 11 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $100,090 | 139 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $124,592 | 545 |
| Senior · Level III | $150,000 | 201 |
| Expert · Level IV | $173,618 | 142 |
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 | $96,678 | $100,090 | 139 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $124,592 | $124,592 | 545 |
| Senior · Level III | $149,115 | $150,000 | 201 |
| Expert · Level IV | $173,618 | $173,618 | 142 |
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.