Computer Programmers pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,480 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Modesto earn between $77,820 and $112,700.
- $65K10th
- $78K25th
- $103KMedian
- $113K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,650 | $8,138 | $46.95 |
| Median | $103,250 | $8,604 | $49.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,820 | $6,485 | $37.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,700 | $9,392 | $54.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Modesto earn 19% less than the California average ($119,900) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $97,650 | $103,250 | $64,930 | $131,480 | 50 |
| California | $119,900 | $116,760 | $70,310 | $172,300 | 11,340 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $97,650, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $72,537 a year, or $6,045 a month and $2,790 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $97,650 buys what about $93,797 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 15th of 16 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($150,780).
- San Jose$150,780
- San Diego$129,530
- Santa Cruz$128,360
- San Francisco$127,030
- San Luis Obispo$113,250
- Sacramento$112,710
- Santa Rosa$112,410
- Santa Maria$108,440
- Los Angeles$108,020
- Modesto$97,650
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Modesto: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Modesto?
$46.95 an hour on average, and $49.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Modesto?
About $72,537 a year ($6,045 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,650. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do computer programmers earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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