Phd Computer Science

Phd Computer Science Salary in California

$55.8K

$82.4K

$97.2K

$82,020

/year

$39.43

/hour

Phd Computer Science Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$83,109

California

California

$82,020

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    How much does a Phd Computer Science make in California?

    As of Aug 28, 2026, the average annual pay for a Phd Computer Science in California is $82,020 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $39.43 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,577/week or $6,835/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $97,211 and as low as $55,760, the majority of Phd Computer Science salaries currently range between $76,500 (25th percentile) to $92,300 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $96,223 annually in California. The average pay range for a Phd Computer Science varies greatly (by as much as 15800), 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 Phd Computer Science salaries.

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

    Find your next high paying job as a Phd Computer Science on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Phd Computer Science Jobs in California

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Phd Computer Science job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is Cupertino, , with Berkeley, and Belmont, close behind in the second and third positions. Belmont, beats the average in California by $18,494 (22.5%), and Cupertino, furthers that trend with another $20,515 (25.0%) above the $82,020 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Phd Computer Science appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 5% between Cupertino, and San Jose, , 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 a Phd Computer Science role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Cupertino

    $102,535

    $49.30

    Berkeley

    $101,318

    $48.71

    Belmont

    $100,514

    $48.32

    San Carlos

    $100,353

    $48.25

    Menlo Park

    $97,940

    $47.09

    San Francisco

    $97,916

    $47.08

    Palo Alto

    $97,696

    $46.97

    Sunnyvale

    $97,541

    $46.89

    Livermore

    $97,485

    $46.87

    San Jose

    $97,403

    $46.83

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Phd Computer Science Jobs in California

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Phd Computer Science job category in California, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $82020 state average for Phd Computer Science jobs.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Nasa Financial Analyst

    $86,957

    $41.81

    Entry Level Aerospace Engineering

    $68,454

    $32.91

    Boeing Finance

    $52,710

    $25.34

    Aeronautics

    $30,062

    $14.45

    Web Developer Intern

    $25,714

    $12.36

    About Our Data

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

    Infographic detailing Phd Computer Science salary in California as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $76,500 to $96,223 annually, with the California average at $82,020 per year or $39.43 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in California for Phd Computer Science jobs, with Cupertino leading at $102,535 annually.