Software Development Manager

Software Development Manager Salary in California

$78.5K

$146.1K

$176.2K

$140,241

/year

$67.42

/hour

Software Development Manager Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$142,102

California

California

$140,241

    Do you get a good deal as a Software Development Manager?

    Take The Breakroom Quiz to find out if your job offers fair pay and conditions. The 3-minute quiz lets you compare your pay, hours, benefits, and more.

    Take The Breakroom Quiz

    Breakroom banner

    How much does a Software Development Manager make in California?

    As of Aug 31, 2026, the average annual pay for a Software Development Manager in California is $140,241 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $67.42 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,696/week or $11,686/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $176,162 and as low as $78,459, the majority of Software Development Manager salaries currently range between $121,900 (25th percentile) to $160,900 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $170,734 annually in California. The average pay range for a Software Development Manager varies greatly (by as much as 39000), 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 Software Development Manager salaries.

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

    Find your next high paying job as a Software Development Manager on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Software Development Manager Jobs in California

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Software Development Manager job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is Soledad, , with Saratoga, and Cupertino, close behind in the second and third positions. Cupertino, beats the average in California by $35,076 (25.0%), and Soledad, furthers that trend with another $72,329 (51.6%) above the $140,241 average.

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

    However, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies modestly at 23% between Soledad, and Novato, , suggesting it may be difficult to see much positive wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may help determine the balance between location and salary for a Software Development Manager role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Soledad

    $212,570

    $102.20

    Saratoga

    $189,130

    $90.93

    Cupertino

    $175,317

    $84.29

    Berkeley

    $173,995

    $83.65

    Redwood City

    $173,983

    $83.65

    South San Francisco

    $170,761

    $82.10

    Sunnyvale

    $169,060

    $81.28

    Bodega Bay

    $168,641

    $81.08

    Los Altos

    $168,292

    $80.91

    Novato

    $168,127

    $80.83

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Software Development Manager Jobs in California

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Software Development Manager job category in California, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $140241 state average for Software Development Manager jobs.

    Nevertheless Wing Commander, It Compliance Specialist, or Cpe may still be interesting positions to explore.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Wing Commander

    $136,053

    $65.41

    It Compliance Specialist

    $66,753

    $32.09

    Cpe

    $51,625

    $24.82

    It Technician 2

    $47,369

    $22.77

    Entry Level Medical Transcription

    $42,162

    $20.27

    About Our Data

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

    Infographic detailing Software Development Manager salary in California as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $121,900 to $170,734 annually, with the California average at $140,241 per year or $67.42 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in California for Software Development Manager jobs, with Soledad leading at $212,570 annually.