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Computer Programmers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 11,340 Computer Programmers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
11,340
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
11.34
workers
Location Quotient
5.96
vs national avg
Average Salary
$119K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.96 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Computer Programmers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
11,340
National: 91,270
12.4% of national
Jobs per 1,000
11.34
National: 1.9
+496.8%
Average Salary
$119K
National: $100K
+19.3%

Top States by Computer Programmers Employment

#1
11,340
11,340
employed
#2
7,620
7,620
employed
#3
7,020
7,020
employed
#4
4,760
4,760
employed
#5
4,400
4,400
employed
#6
4,120
4,120
employed
#7
3,930
3,930
employed
#8
3,120
3,120
employed
#9
Wisconsin
3,080
3,080
employed
#10
3,070
3,070
employed

What Does a Computer Programmers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Computer Programmers in California is $119,900. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Computer Programmers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 11,340 Computer Programmers professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Computer Programmers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Computer Programmers jobs (LQ: 5.96). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Computer Programmers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Computer Programmers in California is $119900/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Computer Programmers professionals?

The top state for Computer Programmers employment is California with 11,340 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

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Computer Programmers Employment in Other States

Compare Computer Programmers labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Computer Programmers & California Resources

Drill deeper into Computer Programmers pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Computer Programmers (SOC 151251) in California.

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