Computer Programmers Salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Computer Programmers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $134,130. BLS estimates approximately 1,600 people work in this occupation in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is 33.6% above the national median ($100,390).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $71,010 | $34.14 |
| 25th percentile | $101,360 | $48.73 |
| Median (50th) | $134,130 | $64.49 |
| 75th percentile | $163,990 | $78.84 |
| 90th percentile | $178,930 | $86.03 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 2.2% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 4% — Very reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.04
- Location quotient
- 1.75
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA’s regional price level is above the national average (index 111.887, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $119,880 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.