As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Senior Computer Engineer in California is $159,816, equivalent to $77 per hour, $3,073 weekly, or $13,318 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Senior Computer Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Senior Computer Engineer in California vary widely, spanning from $140,282 to $178,933. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($149,591) and 75th percentile ($169,823), while top earners (90th percentile) make $178,933 per year. This $20,232 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Attention to Detail or 3D CAD, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, California Senior Computer Engineer often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 40 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for Senior Computer Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Senior Computer Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Senior Computer Engineer Salary $140,282 CA May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Senior Computer Engineer Salary $149,591 CA May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Senior Computer Engineer Salary $159,816 CA May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Senior Computer Engineer Salary $169,823 CA May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Senior Computer Engineer Salary $178,933 CA May 01, 2026
25% $149,591 10% $140,282 90% $178,933 75% $169,823 $159,816 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Senior Computer Engineer jobs in California

Sr. Associate, Manufacturing Engineer - 2nd Shift

L3Harris Technologies - Porter Ranch, CA

Sr. Associate, Manufacturing Engineer - 2nd Shift

L3Harris Technologies - Porter Ranch, CA

Sr. Associate, Manufacturing Engineer - 2nd Shift

L3Harris Technologies - Manhattan Beach, CA

Sr. Associate, Manufacturing Engineer - 2nd Shift

L3Harris Technologies - Hidden Hills, CA

Search More Senior Computer Engineer Jobs in California

What is a Senior Computer Engineer ?

A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of computer software. Prior to the mid-1970s, software practitioners called themselves computer programmers or software developers, regardless of their actual jobs. Many people prefer to call themselves software developer and programmer, because most widely agree what these terms mean, while the exact meaning of software engineer is still being debated....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Senior Computer Engineer.

Select a city to view specific salary and bonus information for Senior Computer Engineer

Loading results...
Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $179,867 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $191,219 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $191,722 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $185,669 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $181,405 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $191,235 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $184,151 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $180,325 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $217,797 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $211,796 Date Updated May 01, 2026
Job Openings for Senior Computer Engineer in California

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    CAD Drafter IV

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Senior Computer Engineer

    10 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    CAD Supervisor

    3 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Recently searched related titles: Lead Game Designer