Best cities for a director of software development
The best cities for directors of software development are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for directors of software development vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for directors of software development in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a director of software development or considering a move, this list of the best cities for directors of software development to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for directors of software development. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a director of software development. While the absolute best city for directors of software development is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for directors of software development in 2024.
If you're looking for a director of software development job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for directors of software development in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $212,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $143,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $316,000 Location quotient: 3.82 2. Sacramento, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $210,232 Lowest 10 percent warn: $141,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $313,000 Location quotient: 2.18 3. Seattle, WA
Total director of software development jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $187,116 Lowest 10 percent warn: $124,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 2.07 4. San Jose, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $211,740 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $314,000 Location quotient: 1.78 5. Oakland, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $212,264 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $315,000 Location quotient: 1.47 6. Irvine, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $199,971 Lowest 10 percent warn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $299,000 Location quotient: 1.99 7. Fremont, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $211,845 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $314,000 Location quotient: 0.96 8. San Diego, CA
Total director of software development jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $196,961 Lowest 10 percent warn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $295,000 Location quotient: 1.73 9. Phoenix, AZ
Total director of software development jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $162,836 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 1.12 10. Mesa, AZ
Total director of software development jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $162,051 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 1.49
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Best cities for directors of software development
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Seattle, WA
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- (218 director of software development jobs)
- (26 director of software development jobs)
- (100 director of software development jobs)
- (72 director of software development jobs)
- (8 director of software development jobs)
- (31 director of software development jobs)
- (11 director of software development jobs)
- (60 director of software development jobs)
- (40 director of software development jobs)
- (4 director of software development jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a director of software development
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $212,694 | $143,000 | 870,887 | 218 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $210,232 | $141,000 | 495,234 | 26 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $187,116 | $124,000 | 704,352 | 100 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $211,740 | $142,000 | 1,025,350 | 72 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $212,264 | $142,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $199,971 | $133,000 | 266,122 | 31 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $211,845 | $142,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $196,961 | $131,000 | 1,406,630 | 60 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $162,836 | $108,000 | 1,615,017 | 40 |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | $162,051 | $108,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $201,952 | $134,000 | 3,976,322 | 46 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $178,869 | $120,000 | 351,792 | 26 |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $201,012 | $134,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,826 | $96,000 | 1,567,872 | 55 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $127,809 | $91,000 | 860,090 | 49 |
| 16 | Scottsdale, AZ | $162,566 | $108,000 | 246,645 | 5 |
| 17 | Plano, TX | $127,089 | $88,000 | 286,057 | 47 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $137,965 | $98,000 | 595,047 | 12 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $140,974 | $101,000 | 673,184 | 118 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $137,284 | $98,000 | 252,551 | 10 |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $131,253 | $89,000 | 947,890 | 72 |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $184,655 | $134,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $115,062 | $82,000 | 660,388 | 33 |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $210,314 | $141,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 25 | Durham, NC | $120,525 | $87,000 | 263,016 | 136 |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $127,701 | $88,000 | 238,289 | 32 |
| 27 | Fresno, CA | $207,917 | $139,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $205,493 | $137,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $200,566 | $133,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 30 | Santa Ana, CA | $200,303 | $133,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $120,559 | $87,000 | 458,880 | 42 |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $199,627 | $133,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $162,959 | $108,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $125,908 | $90,000 | 672,795 | 12 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $138,610 | $99,000 | 281,764 | 41 |
| 36 | Portland, OR | $160,455 | $106,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 37 | Las Vegas, NV | $146,787 | $98,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $162,155 | $108,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $132,122 | $94,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $162,007 | $108,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $138,641 | $99,000 | 264,152 | 55 |
| 42 | Arlington, TX | $128,080 | $88,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $196,490 | $130,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | Lincoln, NE | $114,622 | $81,000 | 280,364 | 24 |
| 45 | Cincinnati, OH | $125,834 | $90,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 46 | Dallas, TX | $127,630 | $88,000 | 1,317,929 | 24 |
| 47 | Saint Paul, MN | $120,991 | $86,000 | 302,398 | 37 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $159,418 | $106,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Reno, NV | $152,783 | $102,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $130,900 | $93,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for directors of software development
| Rank | City | Avg. director of software development salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $212,694 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $187,116 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $162,836 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $157,043 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $143,308 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $140,974 |
| 7 | Englewood, NJ | $138,861 |
| 8 | Englewood, CO | $135,839 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,826 |
| 10 | Hartford, CT | $132,544 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $131,253 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $130,166 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $127,809 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $127,791 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $124,400 |
| 16 | Newark, DE | $124,177 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $121,995 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $120,984 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $120,559 |
| 20 | Bethesda, MD | $117,885 |
Director of software development best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025