Best cities for an application software developer
The best cities for application software developers are Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for application software developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for application software developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an application software developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for application software developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for application software developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an application software developer. While the absolute best city for application software developers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for application software developers in 2024.
If you're looking for an application software developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for application software developers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Total application software developer jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $134,467 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 885.14 2. San Jose, CA
Total application software developer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $134,484 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 513.79 3. San Francisco, CA
Total application software developer jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $134,742 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 407.10 4. Seattle, WA
Total application software developer jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $122,651 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 305.74 5. Chandler, AZ
Total application software developer jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $94,660 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 394.52 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Total application software developer jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $94,864 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 351.76 7. Irvine, CA
Total application software developer jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $119,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 340.37 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total application software developer jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $88,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 449.42 9. Columbus, OH
Total application software developer jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $87,635 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 300.82 10. Long Beach, CA
Total application software developer jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $120,978 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 221.29
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Best cities for application software developers
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Chandler, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Irvine, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Columbus, OH
- Long Beach, CA
- (252 application software developer jobs)
- (26 application software developer jobs)
- (211 application software developer jobs)
- (84 application software developer jobs)
- (168 application software developer jobs)
- (157 application software developer jobs)
- (143 application software developer jobs)
- (71 application software developer jobs)
- (63 application software developer jobs)
- (58 application software developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an application software developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $134,467 | $97,000 | 233,136 | 252 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $134,484 | $97,000 | 1,025,350 | 26 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $134,742 | $97,000 | 870,887 | 211 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $122,651 | $89,000 | 704,352 | 84 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $94,660 | $69,000 | 247,477 | 168 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $94,864 | $69,000 | 246,645 | 157 |
| 7 | Irvine, CA | $119,871 | $87,000 | 266,122 | 143 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,891 | $68,000 | 303,625 | 71 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $87,635 | $67,000 | 860,090 | 63 |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $120,978 | $88,000 | 470,130 | 58 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $90,998 | $69,000 | 263,016 | 208 |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,333 | $87,000 | 334,217 | 47 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $106,622 | $77,000 | 292,969 | 21 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $87,485 | $68,000 | 672,795 | 93 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $134,510 | $97,000 | 420,005 | 58 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $89,174 | $69,000 | 385,809 | 120 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,589 | $71,000 | 1,567,872 | 158 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $86,431 | $66,000 | 298,800 | 219 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $115,645 | $84,000 | 1,406,630 | 47 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $89,361 | $68,000 | 842,051 | 10 |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $91,035 | $69,000 | 458,880 | 213 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,952 | $69,000 | 1,615,017 | 212 |
| 23 | Louisville, KY | $83,037 | $63,000 | 597,337 | 74 |
| 24 | Glendale, AZ | $94,993 | $69,000 | 245,895 | 18 |
| 25 | Madison, WI | $87,053 | $67,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 26 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,257 | $77,000 | 632,912 | 100 |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $85,684 | $63,000 | 238,289 | 41 |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $120,871 | $88,000 | 351,043 | 30 |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $89,819 | $66,000 | 947,890 | 93 |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,734 | $89,000 | 3,976,322 | 184 |
| 31 | Sacramento, CA | $131,323 | $95,000 | 495,234 | 102 |
| 32 | Plano, TX | $85,057 | $63,000 | 286,057 | 173 |
| 33 | San Antonio, TX | $90,060 | $66,000 | 1,492,510 | 71 |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $129,037 | $93,000 | 376,380 | 21 |
| 35 | Jersey City, NJ | $98,375 | $75,000 | 264,152 | 136 |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $90,247 | $69,000 | 242,203 | 34 |
| 37 | Houston, TX | $89,175 | $65,000 | 2,303,482 | 96 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $89,832 | $69,000 | 2,704,958 | 123 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $133,048 | $96,000 | 307,072 | 10 |
| 40 | New York, NY | $104,297 | $80,000 | 8,537,673 | 71 |
| 41 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,404 | $68,000 | 595,047 | 160 |
| 42 | Boston, MA | $102,101 | $79,000 | 673,184 | 29 |
| 43 | Dallas, TX | $85,769 | $63,000 | 1,317,929 | 17 |
| 44 | Reno, NV | $105,892 | $77,000 | 245,255 | 21 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $87,992 | $67,000 | 472,522 | 141 |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $81,367 | $62,000 | 660,388 | 227 |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $90,518 | $69,000 | 287,027 | 28 |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $102,271 | $74,000 | 639,863 | 100 |
| 49 | Omaha, NE | $81,958 | $62,000 | 446,970 | 16 |
| 50 | Tampa, FL | $81,152 | $59,000 | 377,165 | 89 |
Highest paying cities for application software developers
| Rank | City | Avg. application software developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park, CA | $134,779 |
| 2 | Redmond, WA | $122,651 |
| 3 | Troy, NY | $104,946 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $102,101 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $98,375 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,952 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $94,393 |
| 8 | Reston, VA | $93,329 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,589 |
| 10 | Schaumburg, IL | $89,853 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $89,819 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $89,361 |
| 13 | Bloomington, MN | $88,986 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $88,098 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $87,635 |
| 16 | Troy, MI | $87,545 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $81,152 |
| 18 | Columbus, IN | $80,367 |
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Updated January 8, 2025