Backend Software Engineer salary in San Francisco
Employer-stated pay · updated Oct 13, 2026
Live backend software engineer jobs in San Francisco All backend software engineer ranges New YorkRemote
Backend Software Engineer pay in San Francisco is measured from 11 postings where the employer stated pay. The best-evidenced figure is senior, where 6 postings put the middle half between $191,438 and $221,813, with a median of $200,250.
Every range here rests on fewer than 10 postings, so read them as a strong hint rather than a benchmark; the sample column shows exactly what backs each number.
17 backend software engineer roles are open in San Francisco right now, 17 listing pay.
| Level | Market range | Median | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | $230,000 – $355,500 | $300,000 | 5hint |
| Senior | $191,438 – $221,813 | $200,250 | 6hint |
Entry is junior titles. Mid is mid-level and manager titles. Senior is senior titles. Lead is director, VP and above. Rows marked hint rest on fewer than 10 postings: read them as a hint, not a benchmark.
Ranges span the 25th to 75th percentile of employer-stated base pay for the level. Median is the 50th percentile. Sample is the number of postings measured.
Open backend software engineer roles in San Francisco · 17 with stated pay
this job's paywhere most pay sits here, $160,000–$385,000scale $90,000–$540,000
Backend Software Engineer, Cooperative AI (Evals) OpenAI · San Francisco $266,000–$445,000 2w ago 
Backend Software Engineer (Senior/Staff) Cardless · San Francisco $160,000–$295,000 4w ago 
Backend Software Engineer, Airports Lyft · San Francisco $128,000–$160,000 5w ago Backend Software Engineer, ChatGPT ImageGen OpenAI · San Francisco $185,000–$305,000 6w ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer - Core Backend, Cloud Customer Experience Crusoe · San Francisco $170,000–$205,000 7w ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer Regard · New York $175,000–$230,000 2mo ago 
Backend Software Engineer (YC experience) Pragmatike · San Francisco $200,000–$400,000 2mo ago Backend Software Engineer - Codex for Finance OpenAI · San Francisco $347,000–$385,000 2mo ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer, Solve Voice Zendesk · Austin $145,000–$217,000 2mo ago 
Backend Software Engineer Outset · San Francisco $160,000–$300,000 2mo ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer CHAOS Industries · San Francisco $140,000–$240,000 3mo ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer Alpaca Health · New York $200,000–$250,000 4mo ago Backend Software Engineer, Applied Foundations OpenAI · San Francisco $266,000–$445,000 5mo ago Backend Software Engineer, GTM Innovation OpenAI · San Francisco $347,000–$445,000 8mo ago 
Senior Backend Software Engineer Semgrep · San Francisco $163,000–$246,500 8mo ago Staff Backend Software Engineer Semgrep · San Francisco $230,000–$288,000 8mo ago Backend Software Engineer, Gov OpenAI · Washington $207,000–$385,000 1y ago