Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
California employs 284,390 Software Developers professionals, above the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19
The location quotient (LQ) of 8.59 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Software Developers 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.
The average annual salary for a Software Developers in California is $186,770. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
California employs approximately 284,390 Software Developers professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.
Yes — California has above-average concentration of Software Developers jobs (LQ: 8.59). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Software Developers in California is $186770/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
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.
The top state for Software Developers employment is California with 284,390 jobs.
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Compare Software Developers labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.
Drill deeper into Software Developers pay, hiring, and education data for California.
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 Software Developers (SOC 151252) in California.