Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Soquel, Felton.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,000 |
| 25th | $142,200 |
| 50th (median) | $148,400 |
| 75th | $149,600 |
| 90th | $152,156 |
Cost of living
Santa Cruz's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $148,400 is worth about $135,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Santa Cruz = 109.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Santa Cruz, CA area earned a median of $156,910 in May 2025 (540 employed). The H-1B median here is $148,400, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $148,400 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $139,720 | 22 |
| Senior · Level III | $158,099 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 | $96,221 | $148,400 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,650 | $139,720 | 22 |
| Senior · Level III | $147,181 | $158,099 | 20 |
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.