As of November 01, 2025, the average salary for a Systems Programmer in California is $134,517 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.
However, a Systems Programmer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Systems Programmer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $143,066 | $11,922 | $2,751 | $69 |
| Average | $134,517 | $11,210 | $2,587 | $65 |
| 25th Percentile | $123,308 | $10,276 | $2,371 | $59 |
Rockstar - Carlsbad, CA
Triune Infomatics Inc - Pleasant Hill, CA
Mesa Energy Systems, Inc. - Thousand Oaks, CA
Ensono - Los Angeles, CA
A Systems Programmer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Systems Programmer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Systems Programmer | $128,665 |
| Intermediate Level Systems Programmer | $129,542 |
| Senior Level Systems Programmer | $131,296 |
| Specialist Level Systems Programmer | $136,443 |
| Expert Level Systems Programmer | $138,708 |
What Am I Worth?
Salaries can also vary between different cities, even within the same state. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different California cities:
Understanding how a Systems Programmer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $143,066 | $11,922 | $2,751 | $69 |
| Average | $134,517 | $11,210 | $2,587 | $65 |
| 25th Percentile | $123,308 | $10,276 | $2,371 | $59 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Systems Programmer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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