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Lead Coder Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Cone Health

$19 - $25.25/hr

The Professional Physician Coder II accurately and efficiently accesses wide range primary care and ... Notifies Team Lead, Manager, and/or Compliance department of any compliance violations that are ...

cosm

Lead Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$180K - $200K/yr

Set forth quality code guidelines and standards, lead code reviews, and ensure solutions are aligned to pre-defined architectural specifications. * Contribute to high-level strategic decisions with ...

cosm

Lead Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

Set forth quality code guidelines and standards, lead code reviews, and ensure solutions are aligned to pre-defined architectural specifications. * Contribute to high-level strategic decisions with ...

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All JobsLead Coder JobsLead Coder Jobs in California

Lead Coder information

See California salary details

$10

$23

$40

How much do lead coder jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead coder in California is $23.01, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $26.35 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying coder?

Lead coders or senior software developers typically earn the highest salaries among coding roles, especially those with expertise in high-demand areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or cybersecurity. Compensation varies based on experience, industry, location, and technical skills, with top-tier professionals earning six-figure salaries or more in some regions and companies.

What are the main responsibilities of a Lead Coder in managing software development projects?

As a Lead Coder, you'll oversee the technical aspects of software projects, including designing system architecture, reviewing code, and ensuring coding standards are met. You will coordinate with other developers, assign tasks, and provide mentorship to junior team members. Regular collaboration with project managers and stakeholders is also essential to align technical solutions with business goals and timelines. This role requires balancing hands-on coding with leadership and communication responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Coder, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Coder, you need advanced programming expertise, a deep understanding of software development lifecycles, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with code versioning tools like Git, familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, and certifications such as AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer are highly valuable. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help a Lead Coder effectively guide teams and manage complex projects. These competencies ensure high-quality code delivery, efficient team collaboration, and the successful execution of software projects.

What is the highest paid coding job?

Lead software engineers and technical directors are among the highest-paid coding roles, often earning six-figure salaries or more, especially in industries like finance, technology, and consulting. These roles typically require advanced skills, extensive experience, and knowledge of programming languages, system architecture, and project management.

What are Lead Coders?

Lead Coders are experienced software developers who oversee and guide a team of programmers on a project. They are responsible for setting coding standards, reviewing code, and ensuring that the team follows best practices throughout the development process. In addition to writing code themselves, Lead Coders mentor junior developers, coordinate tasks, and act as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Their leadership helps ensure that projects are completed efficiently, on time, and to a high standard of quality.

Will a medical coder be replaced by AI?

Medical coders perform detailed coding of healthcare diagnoses and procedures, and while AI tools can assist with coding accuracy and efficiency, they are unlikely to fully replace human coders in the near future due to the need for clinical judgment and understanding of complex cases. Coders with strong knowledge of coding systems like ICD and CPT, along with certification, remain essential in healthcare settings.

What pays more, CCS or CPC?

As a Lead Coder, pay differences between CCS (Cognos Content Store) and CPC (Cost Per Click) are not directly comparable since CCS is a software component and CPC is an advertising pricing model. If referring to coding or technical roles, pay depends on the specific industry, skills, and experience rather than these terms. Clarifying the context is essential for accurate salary comparisons.

What is the difference between Lead Coder vs Software Developer?

AspectLead CoderSoftware Developer
CredentialsTypically requires coding certifications and experience in specific languagesRequires a degree in computer science or related field, with or without certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads coding teams, reviews code, and sets coding standardsFocuses on writing, testing, and maintaining software code
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, software firms, and development teamsWidely used across all software development sectors
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for leadership roles in coding teamsCompared for general software development roles

The main difference is that a Lead Coder oversees coding projects and guides team members, while a Software Developer primarily focuses on writing and maintaining code. Lead Coders have leadership responsibilities, whereas Software Developers concentrate on technical tasks.

What cities in California are hiring for Lead Coder jobs? Cities in California with the most Lead Coder job openings:
Lead Coder jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Coder job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 6% Summer. Highlights an 62% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 37% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,866 per year, or $23 per hour.
Strategic Projects Lead, Coding

Strategic Projects Lead, Coding

Handshake

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Handshake is a company dedicated to providing pathways to great careers for job seekers and employers. They are seeking a Strategic Projects Lead, Coding to manage coding data initiatives, coordinate teams, and ensure quality deliverables in the AI domain.
Responsibilities:
• Multi-million ARR-equivalent program scope and delivery metrics.
• End-to-end delivery of coding-data programs: scoping → assessment design → Fellow selection → annotation → QA → customer feedback.
• Design and run technical screens (take-homes, unit-test driven tasks, live coding) that populate the SWE Talent Bench
• Create rubrics, audit processes and tooling to ensure code annotations/model labels meet production quality.
• Create scripts/infrastructure (Python/TypeScript/SQL) to automate QA, analytics and reporting.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 2+ years of experience in technical or analytical roles such as software engineering, data, analytics, or technical product.
• A technical degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or similar and/or hands-on experience with coding (Python, SQL, or similar).
• Strong coding skills (Python, TypeScript/Node, Java or equivalent) and practical experience with unit tests, CI, version control, and basic infra.
• Strong analytical and data driven problem solver, with a first principles approach to scaling and operational challenges.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, able to work closely with technical teams and customers while juggling multiple high priority projects.
• Entrepreneurial, high ownership mindset, with a high degree of agency, comfort with ambiguity, and pride in end to end outcomes.
• Fast learner with deep curiosity about AI, able to quickly pick up complex and technical concepts and stay up to date on LLMs and AI trends.
Company:
Handshake is a college career network that helps students and recent graduates find their next opportunity. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, USA, with a team of 501-1000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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