Best cities for a lead software developer
The best cities for lead software developers are Pittsburgh, PA, Fremont, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead software developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead software developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead software developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead software developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead software developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead software developer. While the absolute best city for lead software developers is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead software developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead software developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead software developers in 2026
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total lead software developer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $110,489 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 10.20 2. Fremont, CA
Total lead software developer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $144,602 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 5.55 3. San Jose, CA
Total lead software developer jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $144,236 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 5.47 4. Sacramento, CA
Total lead software developer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $143,931 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 5.04 5. Oakland, CA
Total lead software developer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $145,232 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 4.12 6. Henderson, NV
Total lead software developer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $113,888 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 4.73 7. Cleveland, OH
Total lead software developer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $108,412 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 3.72 8. San Francisco, CA
Total lead software developer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $145,622 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 3.54 9. San Antonio, TX
Total lead software developer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $109,678 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 4.92 10. Fort Worth, TX
Total lead software developer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $107,667 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 6.35
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Best cities for lead software developers
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Cleveland, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- (47 lead software developer jobs)
- (17 lead software developer jobs)
- (59 lead software developer jobs)
- (16 lead software developer jobs)
- (6 lead software developer jobs)
- (2 lead software developer jobs)
- (9 lead software developer jobs)
- (54 lead software developer jobs)
- (22 lead software developer jobs)
- (16 lead software developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead software developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $110,489 | $84,000 | 303,625 | 47 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $144,602 | $103,000 | 233,136 | 17 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $144,236 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 59 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $143,931 | $103,000 | 495,234 | 16 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $145,232 | $104,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $113,888 | $83,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $108,412 | $82,000 | 385,809 | 9 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $145,622 | $104,000 | 870,887 | 54 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $109,678 | $83,000 | 1,492,510 | 22 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $107,667 | $82,000 | 854,113 | 16 |
| 11 | Chandler, AZ | $108,107 | $81,000 | 247,477 | 22 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $109,591 | $83,000 | 947,890 | 50 |
| 13 | Plano, TX | $107,196 | $81,000 | 286,057 | 33 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,619 | $86,000 | 1,567,872 | 23 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $107,547 | $82,000 | 1,317,929 | 40 |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $97,033 | $74,000 | 660,388 | 40 |
| 17 | Scottsdale, AZ | $108,126 | $80,000 | 246,645 | 9 |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $139,891 | $101,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $103,484 | $79,000 | 298,800 | 11 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $114,728 | $84,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $109,493 | $83,000 | 2,303,482 | 55 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $122,117 | $92,000 | 8,537,673 | 111 |
| 23 | Indianapolis, IN | $110,493 | $85,000 | 855,164 | 14 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,242 | $81,000 | 1,615,017 | 40 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $105,777 | $81,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $132,436 | $95,000 | 704,352 | 16 |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $124,254 | $88,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 28 | Irving, TX | $107,482 | $82,000 | 238,289 | 19 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $112,375 | $86,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $121,258 | $92,000 | 673,184 | 32 |
| 31 | Atlanta, GA | $105,179 | $81,000 | 472,522 | 89 |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $110,633 | $84,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 33 | Arlington, TX | $107,675 | $82,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 34 | Louisville, KY | $106,911 | $82,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $99,030 | $76,000 | 842,051 | 178 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $143,603 | $102,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | North Las Vegas, NV | $114,475 | $84,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $106,099 | $81,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 39 | Lexington, KY | $107,853 | $83,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 40 | Winston-Salem, NC | $99,787 | $77,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $109,502 | $84,000 | 2,704,958 | 69 |
| 42 | Madison, WI | $102,140 | $78,000 | 252,551 | 9 |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $109,950 | $83,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $108,050 | $80,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 45 | Laredo, TX | $109,518 | $82,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 46 | Corpus Christi, TX | $109,400 | $82,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $97,096 | $74,000 | 311,404 | 35 |
| 48 | Lubbock, TX | $107,795 | $81,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 49 | Lincoln, NE | $95,185 | $72,000 | 280,364 | 14 |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $128,332 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 39 |
Highest paying cities for lead software developers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead software developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $145,622 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | $132,120 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $122,117 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $121,258 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $117,915 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $116,856 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,619 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,934 |
| 9 | Farmington Hills, MI | $110,334 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $109,678 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $109,502 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $108,412 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,242 |
| 14 | Columbus, GA | $105,303 |
| 15 | Monroe, LA | $102,589 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,143 |
| 17 | Littleton, CO | $100,150 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $100,077 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $99,030 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $97,096 |
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Updated January 8, 2025