Salaries in Redwood City, CA

Here’s the thing about Redwood City in 2026: you’ll find more software developers than baristas, and that’s not an exaggeration. With a median household income of $151,234, this place runs on code and spreadsheets, not lattes.

Let’s talk real money. That headline median income looks great until you factor in the cost of living, which sits at 118.2—nearly 20% above the national average. A one-bedroom apartment will set you back $2,304 a month. So while the raw numbers feel Bay Area wealthy, the purchasing power tells a more complicated story. The COL-adjusted average salary here is just $48,521, which feels shockingly low when you’re paying that kind of rent.

Who actually thrives? It’s the tech crowd, obviously. The top-paying job is a software developer at $134,208, though that adjusts down to a more modest $113,543 after cost of living. You’ve also got solid earners in accounting and nursing, but the real story is the dominance of the tech sector. You can’t talk about Redwood City without mentioning the giants that anchor the local economy—Oracle has a major campus here, and Electronic Arts isn’t far away. They pull in talent from all over, but they also drive up the price of everything.

Here’s my honest take: wages aren’t keeping pace with the cost of living for most people. The unemployment rate is a low 5.2%, but that average salary of $57,352 doesn’t stretch as far as you’d hope. This city works well if you’re in one of those top-tier tech or professional roles. For everyone else, it’s a squeeze.

The data below will break down exactly how your profession stacks up in this expensive, high-achieving city.