Best cities for a lead developer
The best cities for lead developers are Cleveland, OH, Columbus, OH, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead developer. While the absolute best city for lead developers is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead developers in 2026
1. Cleveland, OH
Lead developer jobs in ClevelandTotal lead developer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $110,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 3.89 2. Columbus, OH
Lead developer jobs in ColumbusTotal lead developer jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $109,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 3.84 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Lead developer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal lead developer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $113,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 9.13 4. Phoenix, AZ
Lead developer jobs in PhoenixTotal lead developer jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $114,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 6.73 5. Glendale, AZ
Lead developer jobs in GlendaleTotal lead developer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $114,127 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 6.03 6. San Francisco, CA
Lead developer jobs in San FranciscoTotal lead developer jobs: 198 Average annual salary: $139,305 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 4.70 7. Philadelphia, PA
Lead developer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal lead developer jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $113,306 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 3.39 8. Nashville, TN
Lead developer jobs in NashvilleTotal lead developer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $105,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 2.99 9. Winston-Salem, NC
Lead developer jobs in Winston-SalemTotal lead developer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $107,403 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 6.35 10. Charlotte, NC
Lead developer jobs in CharlotteTotal lead developer jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $106,334 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 7.57
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Best cities for lead developers
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Nashville, TN
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Charlotte, NC
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $110,295 | $77,000 | 385,809 | 26 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $109,632 | $77,000 | 860,090 | 72 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $113,960 | $79,000 | 246,645 | 40 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,073 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 177 |
| 5 | Glendale, AZ | $114,127 | $80,000 | 245,895 | 7 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $139,305 | $97,000 | 870,887 | 198 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,306 | $79,000 | 1,567,872 | 69 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $105,632 | $75,000 | 660,388 | 33 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem, NC | $107,403 | $76,000 | 242,203 | 13 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $106,334 | $76,000 | 842,051 | 189 |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $107,088 | $75,000 | 238,289 | 107 |
| 12 | Plano, TX | $106,716 | $75,000 | 286,057 | 81 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $108,374 | $77,000 | 298,800 | 21 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $107,208 | $75,000 | 672,795 | 23 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $107,125 | $75,000 | 1,317,929 | 127 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $118,681 | $82,000 | 632,912 | 21 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $108,048 | $76,000 | 1,492,510 | 46 |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $113,740 | $79,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $108,240 | $76,000 | 947,890 | 95 |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $108,164 | $77,000 | 263,016 | 20 |
| 21 | Atlanta, GA | $108,623 | $77,000 | 472,522 | 199 |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $118,016 | $82,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $109,705 | $77,000 | 303,625 | 25 |
| 24 | Fort Worth, TX | $107,317 | $76,000 | 854,113 | 23 |
| 25 | Raleigh, NC | $108,143 | $77,000 | 458,880 | 29 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $124,253 | $86,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $129,824 | $91,000 | 704,352 | 67 |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $115,101 | $80,000 | 264,152 | 110 |
| 29 | Chandler, AZ | $113,796 | $79,000 | 247,477 | 10 |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $138,487 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 20 |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $138,669 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 60 |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $118,547 | $82,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $108,898 | $76,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $115,670 | $81,000 | 673,184 | 115 |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,181 | $73,000 | 855,164 | 40 |
| 36 | Oakland, CA | $139,117 | $97,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 37 | Norfolk, VA | $117,164 | $83,000 | 245,115 | 9 |
| 38 | New York, NY | $116,430 | $81,000 | 8,537,673 | 245 |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $113,636 | $80,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 40 | Lexington, KY | $102,797 | $73,000 | 318,449 | 6 |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $101,135 | $72,000 | 280,364 | 16 |
| 42 | Louisville, KY | $101,973 | $72,000 | 597,337 | 18 |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $98,789 | $70,000 | 252,551 | 29 |
| 44 | Jacksonville, FL | $105,097 | $75,000 | 880,619 | 43 |
| 45 | Fremont, CA | $138,830 | $97,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $117,325 | $83,000 | 452,602 | 8 |
| 47 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $103,790 | $73,000 | 260,999 | 14 |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $129,974 | $90,000 | 3,976,322 | 99 |
| 49 | Greensboro, NC | $107,687 | $76,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $103,419 | $74,000 | 652,717 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for lead developers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $139,305 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $129,824 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $120,996 |
| 4 | Rockville, MD | $118,181 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $117,610 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $116,430 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $115,670 |
| 8 | Edison, NJ | $115,270 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,073 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,306 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $109,632 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $108,822 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $108,240 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $108,143 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $107,826 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $105,097 |
| 17 | Columbus, IN | $103,274 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $100,812 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $100,803 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,617 |
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Updated January 8, 2025