Full Stack Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026: FAANG, Unicorns & Startups
Senior base $150K–$195K, total comp $200K–$320K+ — but California's 13.3% tax and $4K rent change the math
# Full Stack Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026: FAANG, Unicorns & Startups
San Francisco remains the global benchmark for full stack engineering compensation in 2026. The city that built Google, Airbnb, Stripe, and Meta continues to set the ceiling for what software engineers can earn — and full stack engineers sit at the heart of that market. Senior full stack engineers in San Francisco earn $150,000–$195,000 in base salary, with total compensation packages at top employers frequently reaching $200,000–$320,000+ when equity and bonuses are included.
This guide breaks down exactly what full stack engineers earn in San Francisco by seniority, employer, tech stack, and — critically — what the California tax reality means for your actual take-home. For a global perspective, see the Full Stack Developer Salary Guide 2026.
Full Stack Engineer Salary by Level in San Francisco (2026)
| Level | Experience | Base Salary | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 years | $110,000–$140,000 | $115,000–$150,000 |
| Mid-Level | 2–5 years | $140,000–$175,000 | $160,000–$220,000 |
| Senior | 5–9 years | $150,000–$195,000 | $200,000–$320,000 |
| Staff / Principal | 9+ years | $190,000–$240,000+ | $280,000–$500,000+ |
---
Top SF Employers for Full Stack Engineers
San Francisco's full stack market is defined by a dense concentration of global tech leaders and high-growth unicorns competing for the same engineering talent.
FAANG and Big Tech:---
Stack Premiums in San Francisco (2026)
| Tech Stack | Premium Over Base Full Stack | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| React + Node.js + TypeScript | +10–15% | Default premium stack in SF |
| Go backend + React | +15–25% | High demand at Stripe, infrastructure companies |
| Next.js + AWS/GCP | +8–12% | Product companies, Vercel ecosystem |
| GraphQL + React | +8–12% | Meta, Airbnb, product unicorns |
| TypeScript (strict) | +5–10% | Table stakes at top employers |
TypeScript fluency is no longer optional at SF's top employers — it is the baseline expectation. Engineers who understand TypeScript at depth, generics, discriminated unions, type-safe API contracts, command an additional premium above the TypeScript baseline.
---
SF vs NYC vs Seattle vs Remote: Full Stack Salary Comparison
| Market | Junior | Mid | Senior | Staff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $110K–$140K | $140K–$175K | $150K–$195K | $190K–$240K+ | Highest base; CA 13.3% tax |
| New York City | $90K–$120K | $120K–$155K | $140K–$185K | $175K–$230K+ | Finance bonus culture |
| Seattle | $95K–$125K | $115K–$150K | $135K–$175K | $165K–$210K+ | No state income tax |
| Remote (US) | $80K–$110K | $105K–$140K | $125K–$165K | $155K–$200K | HQ location drives band |
SF leads on nominal base salary, but the California tax burden and cost of living materially affect net purchasing power. A Seattle engineer earning $160,000 base with zero state income tax frequently takes home more than an SF engineer earning $175,000 base after California's 9.3%–13.3% state income tax bracket applies.
See Full Stack Engineer Salary New York 2026 and Tech Salaries San Francisco 2026 for broader market context.
---
FAANG vs Startup Equity: What the Numbers Actually Mean
The compensation structure at FAANG companies versus SF startups is fundamentally different — and the right choice depends on your risk tolerance and timeline.
FAANG equity (RSUs at public companies): A senior full stack engineer at Google or Meta might receive $180,000 base + $30,000 bonus + $250,000 in RSUs vesting over 4 years = approximately $310,000 per year in total comp. RSUs at public companies have a predictable value from grant date — they vest into real shares of publicly traded stock. Annual refresh grants at high-performers can compound significantly: after 4–5 years of strong performance reviews, the RSU stack grows well above the initial grant. Startup equity (options and preferred shares): A senior engineer at a pre-IPO unicorn like Stripe or Notion might earn $180,000–$200,000 base with options representing 0.05%–0.2% of the company. If the company reaches a $20 billion valuation, 0.1% = $20 million pre-dilution pre-tax — life-changing upside. But most startups do not reach that outcome. Options have a strike price, exercise window (typically 90 days after leaving), and liquidity depends entirely on an IPO or acquisition. The risk-reward is asymmetric in ways that require careful modelling, not assumption.In 2026, the most sophisticated SF engineers run a parallel track: FAANG or late-stage company offers for predictable wealth-building, versus early-stage startup offers when the product, team, and market are compelling enough to justify the risk.
---
California 13.3% Tax Reality: Take-Home Examples
California's state income tax system is progressive, with the 9.3% bracket starting at $68,350 for single filers and the 13.3% rate applying to income above $1 million.
| Base Salary | Effective State Tax Rate | ~Annual Take-Home (after fed + CA + FICA) |
|---|---|---|
| $120,000 | ~7.5% state | ~$80,000–$85,000 |
| $160,000 | ~9.1% state | ~$103,000–$110,000 |
| $195,000 | ~10.3% state | ~$120,000–$128,000 |
| $240,000 (staff) | ~11.2% state | ~$143,000–$152,000 |
A senior full stack engineer earning $170,000 base in San Francisco clears approximately $107,000–$113,000 after taxes. After a $3,500–$4,500 per month San Francisco apartment, the monthly discretionary income for savings and lifestyle is significantly tighter than the headline number suggests. Engineers maximizing pre-tax contributions, 401(k) at $23,500 (2026 limit), HSA, and commuter benefits can reduce effective tax rates by 2–4 percentage points.
---
Negotiating Your SF Full Stack Offer
SF employers expect negotiation. The standard playbook in 2026:
1. Get to competing offers. A Stripe offer materially strengthens your position at Airbnb and vice versa. FAANG offers anchor negotiation with startups. 2. Negotiate total comp, not just base. RSU quantity, vesting schedule, sign-on bonus, and annual refresh grants are all negotiable — especially at Series B+ startups. 3. Ask about refresh grants explicitly. At FAANG, annual RSU refresh (top-up) grants are standard for strong performers. Ask what the refresh cadence looks like for an engineer at your target level. 4. Account for vest cliffs. Most equity packages have a 1-year cliff. Ensure your sign-on bonus covers the period where RSUs have not yet vested to avoid a compensation gap if you leave before the cliff.
For European context, see Full Stack Engineer Salary London 2026 and Full Stack Engineer Salary Amsterdam 2026.
San Francisco's full stack engineering market in 2026 continues to offer the highest compensation ceiling in the world for engineers who combine TypeScript depth, full-stack product ownership, and the ability to operate in fast-moving, high-stakes engineering environments. California taxes are real, cost of living is real — but so is the compounding value of equity at companies like Stripe, Airbnb, and Notion that are still on growth trajectories that justify the premium SF commands.
Check your current salary against live SF market benchmarks: full stack engineer salary data →See How You Stack Up
Wondering if your experience matches what employers are paying? Our free AI analysis tool compares your resume against real job postings — salary expectations, skill gaps, and fit score in seconds.
Keep Reading
Full Stack Engineer Salary New York 2026: What to Expect
Full stack engineers in New York City earn $90,000–$230,000+ in 2026. Senior engineers at FAANG and top fintechs clear $140,000–$185,000 in base salary, with total compensation packages often exceeding $250,000. Here is the complete breakdown by seniority, employer type, tech stack, and market sector.
DevOps Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026: Bay Area Rates
DevOps engineers in San Francisco earn $130,000–$290,000+ in total compensation in 2026. Senior engineers at FAANG and top cloud companies clear $165,000–$220,000 in base salary, with total compensation packages often exceeding $300,000. Here is the complete breakdown by seniority, employer, tech stack, and role type — SRE, Platform, and DevOps.
Product Manager Salary San Francisco 2026: FAANG, Unicorns & Startups
San Francisco product managers earn $140K–$220K base and $220K–$500K+ in total comp depending on level and employer. Here is what each level actually takes home in 2026.
Get more career tips
Subscribe for weekly job search strategies and resume tips that actually work.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
About CareerCheck: We help job seekers understand exactly how they match job postings before they apply. Our AI analyzes your profile against real job requirements, identifying gaps and opportunities so you can focus on roles where you'll actually get interviews.