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Staff Software Engineers in San Diego earn $155K–$211K. Median: $194K. Based on 16 public job postings (2025–2026).
Median: $194K · Based on 16 public San Diego job postings · Updated June 10, 2026
This Staff Software Engineer salary benchmark for San Diego is built from public job postings at high-growth and AI-native companies — no private placement data. Figures reflect base salary and are refreshed as new postings are collected.
San Diego Staff Software Engineer pay runs 24% below the national median.
Staff Software Engineers are engineers who design, build, and operate the core software systems. This benchmark reflects Staff-level base compensation for San Diego-based roles at high-growth and AI-native companies.
What is the average Staff Software Engineer salary in San Diego?
The median base salary is $194K, with a typical range of $155K–$211K, based on 16 public San Diego job postings collected in 2025–2026.
How does San Diego compare to the national Staff Software Engineer salary?
The national median is $255K; San Diego is shown above.
Where does this data come from?
Public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. Minimum 15 San Diego postings.
USD base salary aggregated from 16 public job postings located in San Diego (2025–2026). Range = 25th–75th percentile; median = 50th percentile. At least 15 San Diego postings required to publish. Last refreshed June 10, 2026.
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