Best cities for a lead programmer
The best cities for lead programmers are Charlotte, NC, Cleveland, OH, and Jersey City, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead programmer. While the absolute best city for lead programmers is Charlotte, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead programmers in 2026
1. Charlotte, NC
Total lead programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $121,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 12.84 2. Cleveland, OH
Total lead programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $113,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 15.98 3. Jersey City, NJ
Total lead programmer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $133,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 61.75 4. Raleigh, NC
Total lead programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $123,936 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 9.74 5. New York, NY
Total lead programmer jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $137,708 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 15.50 6. Greensboro, NC
Total lead programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $123,221 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Seattle, WA
Total lead programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $140,930 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 3.00 8. Reno, NV
Total lead programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $124,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Winston-Salem, NC
Total lead programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $122,783 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Jacksonville, FL
Total lead programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $121,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 26.34
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Best cities for lead programmers
- Charlotte, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Jersey City, NJ
- Raleigh, NC
- New York, NY
- Greensboro, NC
- Seattle, WA
- Reno, NV
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Jacksonville, FL
- (6 lead programmer jobs)
- (2 lead programmer jobs)
- (16 lead programmer jobs)
- (2 lead programmer jobs)
- (40 lead programmer jobs)
- (0 lead programmer jobs)
- (2 lead programmer jobs)
- (0 lead programmer jobs)
- (0 lead programmer jobs)
- (6 lead programmer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte, NC | $121,164 | $88,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $113,941 | $82,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $133,881 | $98,000 | 264,152 | 16 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $123,936 | $90,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $137,708 | $101,000 | 8,537,673 | 40 |
| 6 | Greensboro, NC | $123,221 | $89,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $140,930 | $96,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $124,033 | $83,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | Winston-Salem, NC | $122,783 | $89,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $121,577 | $86,000 | 880,619 | 6 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $123,924 | $90,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $114,742 | $83,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $112,502 | $81,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $112,327 | $81,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $110,110 | $79,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 16 | Louisville, KY | $106,996 | $77,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $115,317 | $84,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $112,779 | $81,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 19 | Brookhaven, NY | $137,988 | $101,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 20 | Islip, NY | $137,976 | $101,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 21 | Oyster Bay, NY | $137,860 | $101,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $117,289 | $78,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 23 | Hempstead, NY | $137,852 | $101,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $117,157 | $78,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $126,469 | $94,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $112,559 | $81,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 27 | Nashville, TN | $107,523 | $78,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 28 | Portland, OR | $127,083 | $86,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $107,460 | $73,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
| 30 | Atlanta, GA | $108,651 | $78,000 | 472,522 | 23 |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $108,341 | $78,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $115,909 | $77,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Newark, NJ | $133,832 | $98,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 34 | Orlando, FL | $119,301 | $83,000 | 277,173 | - |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $106,789 | $72,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $113,467 | $83,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 37 | Buffalo, NY | $134,734 | $99,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 38 | San Jose, CA | $131,549 | $89,000 | 1,025,350 | 12 |
| 39 | Tampa, FL | $118,394 | $81,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 40 | Milwaukee, WI | $107,787 | $78,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 41 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $118,054 | $81,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 42 | Fresno, CA | $128,817 | $87,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 43 | Irving, TX | $106,433 | $73,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $103,768 | $75,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | $131,026 | $88,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $113,577 | $83,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $106,546 | $77,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 48 | Scottsdale, AZ | $103,455 | $70,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 49 | El Paso, TX | $109,381 | $74,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $109,394 | $79,000 | 2,704,958 | 22 |
Highest paying cities for lead programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue, WA | $140,773 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | $137,736 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $133,881 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $132,349 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $126,469 |
| 6 | Wilmington, DE | $126,143 |
| 7 | Cary, NC | $123,832 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, FL | $121,577 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $119,787 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $118,651 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $115,317 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $113,467 |
| 13 | Danbury, CT | $111,630 |
| 14 | Bloomington, IN | $111,320 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $110,110 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $109,394 |
| 17 | Johns Creek, GA | $109,015 |
| 18 | Frankfort, KY | $108,006 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $107,460 |
| 20 | Draper, UT | $106,570 |
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Updated January 8, 2025