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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. Staff Codec Engineer/
  4. Sacramento

Staff Codec Engineer.

Sacramento.

$264,000

median salary, 10% above the national average

$206,000 to $343,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a Staff Codec Engineer offer in Sacramento, CA, here is the reality: $206,000 to $343,000, with $264,000 as the midpoint. 10% above the national average. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$206,000

per year

Median

$264,000

per year

75th Percentile

$343,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$206,000$343,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $237,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$172,000

to $211,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$224,000

to $277,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$290,000

to $343,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$330,000

to $409,000

Salary trend

+5% YoY
$217,000
2022
$228,000
2023
$239,000
2024
$251,000
2025
$264,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $66,000 to the total package.

Base

$264,000

Equity

$37,000

Bonus

$24,000

Signing

$5,000

Estimated total: $330,000

How Sacramento compares

Sacramento, CA

$264,000

Cost of living: 10% above average

National Average

$240,000

Sacramento is $24,000 above

Staff Codec Engineer salary by city

Staff Codec Engineer salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$331,000$258,000 – $431,0001.38x$240,000
San Francisco, CA$330,000$257,000 – $430,0001.35x$244,000
New York, NY$310,000$242,000 – $403,0001.28x$242,000
Honolulu, HI$300,000$233,000 – $389,0001.30x$231,000
Boston, MA$299,000$233,000 – $388,0001.22x$245,000
Washington DC, DC$297,000$231,000 – $386,0001.25x$238,000
Seattle, WA$295,000$230,000 – $383,0001.24x$238,000
Jersey City, NJ$288,000$224,000 – $374,0001.20x$240,000
Arlington, VA$287,000$224,000 – $373,0001.22x$235,000
Sacramento, CA$264,000$206,000 – $343,0001.10x$240,000

See all 81 cities for Staff Codec Engineer →

Salary by role in Sacramento

Salary comparison by role in Sacramento
RoleMedianRange
Technical Fellow$393,000$306,000 – $511,000
Principal Quantitative Researcher$389,000$303,000 – $506,000
Senior VP of Security$381,000$297,000 – $495,000
Staff Codec Engineer$264,000$206,000 – $343,000
VP of Sales$264,000$198,000 – $352,000
Head of AI Partnerships$264,000$196,000 – $348,000
Principal DevOps Engineer$264,000$206,000 – $344,000
Staff Streaming Data Engineer$264,000$205,000 – $342,000

What you should know

Sacramento is California's capital with a growing tech presence as Bay Area companies and remote workers seek lower costs. State government is the largest employer, but healthcare, clean energy, and ag-tech are expanding rapidly. Salaries are lower than the Bay Area but the cost of living difference more than compensates. That is the backdrop for every Staff Codec Engineer offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. California's 13.3% top state rate applies. Sacramento has no city income tax. Despite the high state rate, the significantly lower housing costs compared to the Bay Area improve take home purchasing power. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

On negotiation: Position yourself as Bay Area talent seeking Sacramento quality of life. Employers here are accustomed to offering 80 to 90% of Bay Area rates to attract relocating professionals. The range for Staff Codec Engineers in Sacramento runs from $206,000 to $343,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Staff Codec Engineer offer to see where you stand in Sacramento.

$

25th

$206,000

Median

$264,000

75th

$343,000

Considering a related role?

  • A Staff ML Engineer in Sacramento earns $265,000 (0% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Sacramento is Technical Fellow at $393,000

Common questions.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Staff Codec Engineer's base salary in Sacramento. Industry recognized credentials signal commitment and expertise to employers. In a market where the range spans $206,000 to $343,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

In Sacramento, large enterprises typically pay Staff Codec Engineers 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Total compensation at top companies often doubles the base through equity and bonuses. The $206,000 to $343,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Sacramento is California's capital with a growing tech presence as Bay Area companies and remote workers seek lower costs. State government is the largest employer, but healthcare, clean energy, and ag-tech are expanding rapidly. For Staff Codec Engineers specifically, the breadth of hiring across sectors signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $206,000 to $343,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Sacramento's economy is driven by Government, Healthcare, Clean Energy, and Agriculture Technology. Staff Codec Engineers are hired across these sectors, though compensation can vary 15 to 25% between industries. Company size and funding stage also influence total packages significantly.

Sacramento is California's capital with a growing tech presence as Bay Area companies and remote workers seek lower costs. State government is the largest employer, but healthcare, clean energy, and ag-tech are expanding rapidly. For Staff Codec Engineers specifically, the median salary of $264,000 reflects that demand.

Staff Codec Engineers in Sacramento earn a median of $264,000, which positions this role among the higher paid professions in the market. Related roles may pay 10 to 25% more or less depending on specialization depth. Use Orbyt's Salary Explorer to compare specific roles side by side in Sacramento.

Staff Codec Engineer salary in other cities

Austin$250,000
Atlanta$252,000
Anchorage$263,000
Albuquerque$215,000
Arlington$287,000
Albany$228,000

Other salaries in Sacramento

Blockchain Developer$177,000
Behavioral Health Tech$41,000
Business Analyst$94,000
Brand Strategist$105,000

Related

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Staff Codec Engineer Salary in Sacramento, CA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/staff-codec-engineer/sacramento

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