Computer Programmers in California
Want to work as a Computer Programmers in California? Below are the key facts. Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
What do Computer Programmers Make in California?
For computer programmers working in California, wages run about $116,220 per year (or about $55.87/hour).Earnings range from $65,510 at the 10th percentile to $176,990 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,510 | $31.49 |
| 25th percentile | $82,030 | $39.44 |
| Median (50th) | $116,220 | $55.87 |
| 75th percentile | $150,970 | $72.58 |
| 90th percentile | $176,990 | $85.09 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 1.14, indicating that computer programmers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, computer programmers earn a median of $109,892 per year ($52.83/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 596,847 computer programmers in the U.S.. In California alone, around 14,720 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,360 computer programmers.
Top California Metros for Computer Programmers
These are the California metros with the most computer programmers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,750 | $104,410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,780 | $122,000 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,800 | $133,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,440 | $159,250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 620 | $105,030 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 380 | $82,760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 230 | $70,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 140 | $106,210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 100 | $82,680 |
| Fresno, CA | 90 | $86,270 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 80 | $108,330 |
| Modesto, CA | 60 | $100,200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 50 | $108,650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 50 | $91,590 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 50 | $83,480 |
| Chico, CA | 40 | $90,850 |
| Salinas, CA | 40 | $95,920 |
| Vallejo, CA | 40 | $101,760 |
| Visalia, CA | 40 | $111,200 |
| Merced, CA | 30 | $97,590 |
Top States for Computer Programmers Employment
These states have the highest employment of computer programmers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 14,720 |
| Texas | 11,220 |
| New York | 7,090 |
| Michigan | 5,350 |
| Florida | 4,700 |
| Virginia | 4,210 |
| Arizona | 4,170 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,130 |
| New Jersey | 4,000 |
| North Carolina | 3,880 |
| Washington | 3,220 |
| Massachusetts | 3,040 |
| Wisconsin | 3,020 |
| Maryland | 2,360 |
| Georgia | 2,330 |
| Indiana | 2,120 |
| Ohio | 2,030 |
| Minnesota | 1,960 |
| Kentucky | 1,640 |
| Louisiana | 1,640 |
Highest-Paying States for Computer Programmers
These states pay the most for computer programmers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $158,820 |
| Montana | $128,630 |
| Oregon | $126,980 |
| Colorado | $124,880 |
| California | $116,220 |
| Massachusetts | $115,200 |
| Virginia | $111,860 |
| Wisconsin | $109,580 |
| Minnesota | $108,450 |
| Hawaii | $108,040 |
Skills
Top computer programmers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for computer programmers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Computer Programmers typically:
- Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
- Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
- Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
- Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
- Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
- Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
- Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instructions coded in a computer language.
- Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
- Consult with and assist computer operators or system analysts to define and resolve problems in running computer programs.
- Perform systems analysis and programming tasks to maintain and control the use of computer systems software as a systems programmer.
- Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users.
- Investigate whether networks, workstations, the central processing unit of the system, or peripheral equipment are responding to a program's instructions.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Thinking Creatively
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, AJAX, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Web Services AWS software, Ansible software, Apache Cassandra, Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive In-demand technologies: C#, C++, Cascading style sheets CSS
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Computer Science
- Computer Programming
- Computer Software Applications
- Computer Systems Networking
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Related Careers
Related occupations to computer programmers include:
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
Also Known As
.NET Programmer, Analyst Programmer, Application Programmer, Application Programmer Analyst, Applications Programmer, Automation Programmer, Beta Tester, Bug Bounty Hunter, Business Programmer, COBOL Programmer (Common Business Oriented Language Programmer), Certified Ethical Hacker, Client Server Programmer, Cloud Engineer, Computer Game Programmer, Computer Language Coder.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 15-1251.00
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