Engine Programmer

Engine Programmer Salary in California

$24.7K

$75K

$140.6K

$81,158

/year

$39.02

/hour

Engine Programmer Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$82,234

California

California

$81,158

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    How much does an Engine Programmer make in California?

    As of Aug 19, 2026, the average annual pay for an Engine Programmer in California is $81,158 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $39.02 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,560/week or $6,763/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $140,633 and as low as $24,673, the majority of Engine Programmer salaries currently range between $52,800 (25th percentile) to $105,600 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $129,284 annually in California. The average pay range for an Engine Programmer varies greatly (by as much as 52800), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    California ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Engine Programmer salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Engine Programmer jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as an Engine Programmer on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Engine Programmer Jobs in California

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Engine Programmer job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is San Buenaventura, , with Cupertino, and Berkeley, close behind in the second and third positions. Berkeley, beats the average in California by $19,533 (24.1%), and San Buenaventura, furthers that trend with another $27,158 (33.5%) above the $81,158 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Engine Programmer appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 13% between San Buenaventura, and Oakland, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an Engine Programmer role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    San Buenaventura

    $108,316

    $52.08

    Cupertino

    $101,456

    $48.78

    Berkeley

    $100,691

    $48.41

    San Francisco

    $96,886

    $46.58

    Santa Clara

    $96,579

    $46.43

    Livermore

    $96,460

    $46.38

    San Jose

    $96,378

    $46.34

    Foster City

    $95,846

    $46.08

    Daly City

    $95,285

    $45.81

    Oakland

    $94,444

    $45.41

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Engine Programmer Jobs in California

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Engine Programmer job category in California, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $81158 state average for Engine Programmer jobs.

    Nevertheless Boat Inspector, Fleet, or Master Motorcycle Mechanic may still be interesting positions to explore.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Boat Inspector

    $56,159

    $27.00

    Fleet

    $55,481

    $26.67

    Master Motorcycle Mechanic

    $55,417

    $26.64

    Oilfield Dispatcher

    $45,223

    $21.74

    Ambulance Technician

    $44,428

    $21.36

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Engine Programmer salary in California as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $52,800 to $129,284 annually, with the California average at $81,158 per year or $39.02 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in California for Engine Programmer jobs, with San Buenaventura leading at $108,316 annually.