Updated 2026-05-11 · BLS OEWS May 2024

Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA

191 software engineers employed in metro (BLS May 2024) · $191,705 median · 47% above the national median.

  • Direct ATS apply — no login walls.
  • Pay-by-metro, not a national average.
  • Pay data sourced from BLS OEWS May 2024.

Software Engineer pay in San Francisco, CA

The band below shows the 25th–75th percentile range for this occupation in the San Francisco metro. Half of Software Engineers earn inside that band.

25th pct MEDIAN 75th pct $141,782 $191,705 $235,073
25th$141,782 Median$191,705 75th$235,073 vs US47% above the national median

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024 OEWS estimates. Full Software Engineer salary guide →

What is a Software Engineer salary in San Francisco?

The median software engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $191,705 per year, with a typical range of $141,782 to $235,073 based on BLS OEWS May 2024 data. BLS reports approximately 191 software engineers employed in the San Francisco metro area.

Software Engineer pay bands in San Francisco by seniority

The cards below are illustrative pay-band examples — not live postings. Each shows the typical salary range you can expect at that seniority level, derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro. When Jobeezy matches you to a real opening, we auto-apply on your behalf.

Mid Level Software Engineer

Typical mid level band in San Francisco
Example (illustrative)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Typical pay range
$183,078–$238,481
Common on
iCIMS

Illustrative pay-band example. Not a live posting — figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro.

Senior Software Engineer

Typical senior band in San Francisco
Example (illustrative)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Typical pay range
$157,198–$238,481
Common on
Workday

Illustrative pay-band example. Not a live posting — figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro.

Entry Level Software Engineer

Typical entry level band in San Francisco
Example (illustrative)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Typical pay range
$183,078–$221,227
Common on
Greenhouse

Illustrative pay-band example. Not a live posting — figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro.

Mid Level Software Engineer

Typical mid level band in San Francisco
Example (illustrative)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Typical pay range
$171,575–$214,326
Common on
Lever

Illustrative pay-band example. Not a live posting — figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro.

Mid Level Software Engineer

Typical mid level band in San Francisco
Example (illustrative)
Location
San Francisco, CA
Typical pay range
$180,202–$224,678
Common on
Ashby

Illustrative pay-band example. Not a live posting — figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 medians for this metro.

Software Engineer Career Ladder — San Francisco Metro

Expected pay at each step, scaled to San Francisco’s median. Your actual offer depends on employer, sub-specialty, and interview performance.

  1. Entry Software Engineer0–2 yrs$138,027
  2. Mid Software Engineer2–5 yrs$182,119
  3. Senior Software Engineer5–8 yrs$230,046
  4. Staff Software Engineer8–12 yrs$277,972
  5. Lead Software Engineer12+ yrs$325,898

Multipliers calibrated against BLS OEWS May 2024 occupational percentiles for 15-xxxx codes.

Employers in the Software Engineer hiring market in San Francisco

  • Deloitte Digital
  • Cognizant
  • Accenture
  • IBM
  • SAIC

Representative large employers for this occupation industry. Jobeezy auto-applies when any qualifying opening posts at these or other employers on Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Ashby, or iCIMS.

How employers in San Francisco post Software Engineer jobs

Employers in the San Francisco metro typically post Software Engineer roles through one of five applicant tracking systems. Pick the guide that matches where you’re applying:

What San Francisco Employers Actually Ask Software Engineers

Pulled from O*NET work-activities and real interview patterns for this occupation. Practice all four with Jobeezy’s InterviewRide drills.

  • Technical

    How do you approach debugging a production issue with no error logs available?

    Tests systematic diagnosis: metrics, tracing, reproduce locally, bisect. Interviewers want methodical thinking, not panic.

  • Technical

    Describe your process for reviewing a pull request from a junior engineer.

    Evaluates mentorship and code quality standards. Look for: correctness, readability, tests, security, then style.

  • Technical

    How do you decide between building something in-house vs. using a third-party library?

    Tests build-vs-buy reasoning: maintenance burden, licensing, security, team velocity, long-term ownership.

  • Technical

    Walk me through how you'd design a rate limiter for a public API.

    Classic system design. Token bucket or leaky bucket, Redis for distributed state, per-user vs per-IP, sliding window.

Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA — Common Questions

How much does a Software Engineer earn in San Francisco, CA?
Median $191,705/yr. 25th–75th percentile runs $141,782–$235,073. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
How many Software Engineer jobs are there in San Francisco?
BLS OEWS May 2024 reports approximately 191 Software Engineer roles employed in the San Francisco metro. Openings turn over regularly — Jobeezy watches Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Ashby, and iCIMS for new postings here.
Which ATS platforms do San Francisco employers use for Software Engineer?
Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Ashby, and iCIMS account for the vast majority. Jobeezy reads all five directly so you can apply in one tap.
Does Jobeezy apply to Software Engineer jobs for me?
Yes. Jobeezy matches your profile to Software Engineer openings in San Francisco and submits on your behalf — no resume uploads, no repeat forms.

People also ask about Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA

What is the fastest way to get hired as a Software Engineer in San Francisco?
Use Jobeezy to auto-apply to every new Software Engineer posting the moment it goes live on Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Ashby, or iCIMS. Most hires happen within the first 48 hours of a job being posted.
Do Software Engineer employers in San Francisco hire remote workers?
Many San Francisco employers list hybrid or remote options. Jobeezy filters by work arrangement so you only see roles that match your preference.
What skills do Software Engineer employers in San Francisco look for?
Jobeezy scans every posting and highlights which skills appear most often in Software Engineer roles in San Francisco. Upload your resume to see your match score.
How long does the Software Engineer interview process take in San Francisco?
Typical timelines range from 1–3 weeks for initial screening to 4–6 weeks for offer. Jobeezy tracks your status so you know when to follow up.
Should I negotiate salary for a Software Engineer role in San Francisco?
Always negotiate. The data above shows the 25th–75th percentile band — if you are above median experience, ask for the upper half. Jobeezy's negotiation coach helps you script the conversation.
Is now a good time to apply for Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco?
Hiring is year-round, but Q1 and Q3 typically see the most new postings. Jobeezy monitors all five major ATS platforms 24/7 and alerts you the moment a matching role opens.

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