Best cities for a computer software engineer
The best cities for computer software engineers are San Jose, CA, Fremont, CA, and Santa Ana, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for computer software engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for computer software engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a computer software engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for computer software engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for computer software engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a computer software engineer. While the absolute best city for computer software engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for computer software engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a computer software engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for computer software engineers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $134,172 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 146.81 2. Fremont, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $134,404 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 106.84 3. Santa Ana, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $121,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 99.29 4. Long Beach, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $122,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 59.08 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $86,532 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 221.11 6. Irvine, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $121,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 81.04 7. Seattle, WA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $131,514 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 43.82 8. San Diego, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $114,018 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 114.47 9. San Francisco, CA
Total computer software engineer jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $134,889 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 40.45 10. Reno, NV
Total computer software engineer jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $114,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 37.90
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Best cities for computer software engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Irvine, CA
- Seattle, WA
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Reno, NV
- (139 computer software engineer jobs)
- (143 computer software engineer jobs)
- (92 computer software engineer jobs)
- (67 computer software engineer jobs)
- (217 computer software engineer jobs)
- (155 computer software engineer jobs)
- (175 computer software engineer jobs)
- (10 computer software engineer jobs)
- (239 computer software engineer jobs)
- (53 computer software engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a computer software engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $134,172 | $100,000 | 1,025,350 | 139 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $134,404 | $100,000 | 233,136 | 143 |
| 3 | Santa Ana, CA | $121,698 | $90,000 | 334,217 | 92 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $122,320 | $90,000 | 470,130 | 67 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,532 | $67,000 | 303,625 | 217 |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $121,198 | $90,000 | 266,122 | 155 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,514 | $99,000 | 704,352 | 175 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $114,018 | $85,000 | 1,406,630 | 10 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $134,889 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 239 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $114,409 | $85,000 | 245,255 | 53 |
| 11 | Islip, NY | $103,796 | $80,000 | 335,543 | 4 |
| 12 | Henderson, NV | $111,911 | $83,000 | 292,969 | 17 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $85,743 | $66,000 | 263,016 | 41 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $122,240 | $90,000 | 351,043 | 37 |
| 15 | Scottsdale, AZ | $88,953 | $66,000 | 246,645 | 138 |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $134,709 | $101,000 | 420,005 | 58 |
| 17 | Chandler, AZ | $88,092 | $66,000 | 247,477 | 126 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $86,291 | $67,000 | 385,809 | 98 |
| 19 | Irving, TX | $86,035 | $66,000 | 238,289 | 80 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $90,367 | $67,000 | 947,890 | 228 |
| 21 | Glendale, AZ | $88,983 | $66,000 | 245,895 | 26 |
| 22 | Houston, TX | $89,953 | $67,000 | 2,303,482 | 24 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,692 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 50 |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $86,089 | $66,000 | 1,317,929 | 112 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $84,524 | $65,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,522 | $95,000 | 376,380 | 22 |
| 27 | New York, NY | $103,137 | $80,000 | 8,537,673 | 6 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $102,022 | $80,000 | 673,184 | 124 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $133,531 | $100,000 | 495,234 | 79 |
| 30 | Corpus Christi, TX | $89,586 | $66,000 | 325,733 | 11 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,849 | $92,000 | 3,976,322 | 101 |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,955 | $66,000 | 1,615,017 | 89 |
| 33 | Las Vegas, NV | $112,586 | $83,000 | 632,912 | 67 |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI | $83,040 | $65,000 | 595,047 | 197 |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $131,886 | $98,000 | 522,053 | 19 |
| 36 | Detroit, MI | $84,938 | $66,000 | 672,795 | 101 |
| 37 | Omaha, NE | $83,298 | $65,000 | 446,970 | 18 |
| 38 | Arlington, TX | $86,427 | $66,000 | 392,772 | 29 |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,865 | $73,000 | 264,152 | 168 |
| 40 | Lexington, KY | $81,494 | $63,000 | 318,449 | 56 |
| 41 | Plano, TX | $85,521 | $65,000 | 286,057 | 58 |
| 42 | Portland, OR | $118,055 | $89,000 | 639,863 | 98 |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $82,749 | $65,000 | 252,551 | 176 |
| 44 | Raleigh, NC | $85,753 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 119 |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | $85,494 | $66,000 | 278,508 | 12 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $92,899 | $70,000 | 683,080 | 19 |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH | $83,331 | $64,000 | 298,800 | 100 |
| 48 | Chicago, IL | $86,909 | $68,000 | 2,704,958 | 243 |
| 49 | Nashville, TN | $79,933 | $61,000 | 660,388 | 136 |
| 50 | Stockton, CA | $133,926 | $100,000 | 307,072 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for computer software engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. computer software engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $134,889 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $131,514 |
| 3 | Troy, NY | $104,993 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $102,022 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $95,371 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,865 |
| 7 | Newark, DE | $91,364 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $90,367 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,692 |
| 10 | Reston, VA | $89,411 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,955 |
| 12 | Schaumburg, IL | $86,958 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $85,743 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $85,055 |
| 15 | Newark, OH | $84,834 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $83,298 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $81,445 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $78,180 |
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Updated January 8, 2025