Best cities for a contract developer
The best cities for contract developers are San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contract developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contract developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contract developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contract developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contract developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contract developer. While the absolute best city for contract developers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contract developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a contract developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contract developers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $128,622 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 3.81 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total contract developer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $93,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 18.37 3. San Jose, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $127,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 2.69 4. Oakland, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $128,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $128,019 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $127,995 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $127,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Reno, NV
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,414 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Fresno, CA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $124,736 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Seattle, WA
Total contract developer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,424 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for contract developers
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Reno, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Seattle, WA
- (6 contract developer jobs)
- (14 contract developer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a contract developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,622 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,320 | $68,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $127,671 | $91,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $128,449 | $91,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $128,019 | $91,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $127,995 | $91,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $127,841 | $91,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $97,414 | $69,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $124,736 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $105,424 | $75,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $109,831 | $79,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $92,828 | $65,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $118,885 | $84,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $92,743 | $65,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,111 | $65,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $91,917 | $65,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | $110,444 | $79,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 18 | Anaheim, CA | $110,372 | $79,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $110,192 | $79,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,578 | $80,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $89,186 | $64,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Santa Ana, CA | $110,076 | $79,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $86,371 | $62,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $102,957 | $75,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Islip, NY | $102,726 | $75,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 26 | Oyster Bay, NY | $102,479 | $75,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 27 | Hempstead, NY | $102,339 | $75,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $86,535 | $62,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $102,060 | $74,000 | 8,537,673 | 11 |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $85,962 | $62,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $85,933 | $62,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | San Diego, CA | $107,824 | $78,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 33 | Chula Vista, CA | $107,605 | $78,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $85,477 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 35 | Corpus Christi, TX | $85,408 | $61,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 36 | Portland, OR | $93,298 | $67,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,789 | $62,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | $94,333 | $69,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 39 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $88,420 | $63,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $85,818 | $62,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Norfolk, VA | $94,104 | $69,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 42 | Tampa, FL | $88,184 | $63,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | $97,999 | $72,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 44 | Chesapeake, VA | $94,002 | $69,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 45 | Miami, FL | $86,866 | $62,000 | 453,579 | 4 |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,731 | $61,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | Dallas, TX | $83,167 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 48 | Chandler, AZ | $85,609 | $61,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $83,772 | $60,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 50 | Jacksonville, FL | $87,840 | $64,000 | 880,619 | - |
Highest paying cities for contract developers
| Rank | City | Avg. contract developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,622 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $105,424 |
| 3 | Brentwood, NY | $102,700 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $94,443 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,320 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $93,298 |
| 7 | Spring Valley, NV | $92,475 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $87,740 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $87,452 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $86,866 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $86,371 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,789 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $84,283 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $79,385 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $77,425 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $76,941 |
| 17 | Ann Arbor, MI | $76,184 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $75,072 |
| 19 | Chattanooga, TN | $73,898 |
| 20 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,805 |
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Updated January 8, 2025