Best cities for an applications programmer
The best cities for applications programmers are Durham, NC, Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for applications programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for applications programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an applications programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for applications programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for applications programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an applications programmer. While the absolute best city for applications programmers is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for applications programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for an applications programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for applications programmers in 2026
1. Durham, NC
Total applications programmer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $95,017 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 88.15 2. Charlotte, NC
Total applications programmer jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $93,303 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 184.99 3. Raleigh, NC
Total applications programmer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $95,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 16.31 4. Greensboro, NC
Total applications programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $94,369 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 20.90 5. Fort Wayne, IN
Total applications programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $79,778 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 27.38 6. Oakland, CA
Total applications programmer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $100,680 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 58.33 7. Lexington, KY
Total applications programmer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $88,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 17.07 8. Nashville, TN
Total applications programmer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $78,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 13.16 9. Atlanta, GA
Total applications programmer jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $82,997 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 43.46 10. Columbus, OH
Total applications programmer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $79,525 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 10.73
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Best cities for applications programmers
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Oakland, CA
- Lexington, KY
- Nashville, TN
- Atlanta, GA
- Columbus, OH
- (54 applications programmer jobs)
- (157 applications programmer jobs)
- (16 applications programmer jobs)
- (6 applications programmer jobs)
- (6 applications programmer jobs)
- (21 applications programmer jobs)
- (4 applications programmer jobs)
- (13 applications programmer jobs)
- (151 applications programmer jobs)
- (18 applications programmer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an applications programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $95,017 | $71,000 | 263,016 | 54 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $93,303 | $69,000 | 842,051 | 157 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $95,223 | $71,000 | 458,880 | 16 |
| 4 | Greensboro, NC | $94,369 | $70,000 | 287,027 | 6 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $79,778 | $59,000 | 264,488 | 6 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $100,680 | $71,000 | 420,005 | 21 |
| 7 | Lexington, KY | $88,048 | $65,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $78,960 | $58,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $82,997 | $61,000 | 472,522 | 151 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $79,525 | $59,000 | 860,090 | 18 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $77,070 | $57,000 | 595,047 | 19 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $79,383 | $59,000 | 302,398 | 18 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $100,671 | $71,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $79,619 | $59,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $81,698 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $100,885 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 37 |
| 17 | Louisville, KY | $86,875 | $64,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $92,564 | $69,000 | 614,664 | 20 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $78,559 | $58,000 | 298,800 | 6 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $79,111 | $59,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $84,949 | $64,000 | 281,764 | 59 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $100,751 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | 22 |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,914 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | 66 |
| 24 | Jacksonville, FL | $76,236 | $54,000 | 880,619 | 124 |
| 25 | Chicago, IL | $80,420 | $60,000 | 2,704,958 | 89 |
| 26 | Memphis, TN | $75,969 | $55,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,572 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 28 | Winston-Salem, NC | $93,978 | $70,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 29 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,011 | $64,000 | 264,152 | 66 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $103,746 | $75,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $99,053 | $69,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $84,092 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 15 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $78,692 | $59,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $75,491 | $53,000 | 2,303,482 | 70 |
| 35 | Virginia Beach, VA | $88,220 | $66,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,304 | $58,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 37 | North Las Vegas, NV | $83,950 | $58,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $83,258 | $59,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $89,035 | $62,000 | 324,722 | 18 |
| 40 | New York, NY | $88,232 | $66,000 | 8,537,673 | 133 |
| 41 | Henderson, NV | $83,741 | $58,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 42 | Dallas, TX | $70,912 | $50,000 | 1,317,929 | 249 |
| 43 | Los Angeles, CA | $90,913 | $64,000 | 3,976,322 | 75 |
| 44 | Sacramento, CA | $97,211 | $69,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $88,402 | $62,000 | 266,122 | 39 |
| 46 | Detroit, MI | $77,848 | $58,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,358 | $59,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 48 | Austin, TX | $75,692 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 21 |
| 49 | Plano, TX | $70,564 | $50,000 | 286,057 | 46 |
| 50 | Norfolk, VA | $88,065 | $66,000 | 245,115 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for applications programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. applications programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $100,884 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $95,243 |
| 3 | Cary, NC | $95,127 |
| 4 | Greenwich, CT | $92,542 |
| 5 | Quincy, MA | $89,542 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $88,232 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $87,301 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $87,243 |
| 9 | Middletown, NJ | $85,208 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $82,997 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $80,420 |
| 12 | Bloomington, MN | $79,295 |
| 13 | Dearborn, MI | $77,809 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,914 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $76,236 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $75,692 |
| 17 | Monroe, LA | $72,838 |
| 18 | Overland Park, KS | $71,109 |
| 19 | Colorado Springs, CO | $69,161 |
| 20 | Bentonville, AR | $67,776 |
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Updated January 8, 2025