Best cities for a principal developer
The best cities for principal developers are Sacramento, CA, Irvine, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal developer. While the absolute best city for principal developers is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal developers in 2026
1. Sacramento, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $175,850 Lowest 10 percent warn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location quotient: 3.25 2. Irvine, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $161,761 Lowest 10 percent warn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 5.92 3. San Francisco, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $177,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $129,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 1.67 4. San Jose, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $176,355 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 1.69 5. Seattle, WA
Total principal developer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $177,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 0.93 6. Durham, NC
Total principal developer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $114,381 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 7.05 7. Glendale, AZ
Total principal developer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $121,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 1.89 8. San Diego, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $157,457 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 1.80 9. Raleigh, NC
Total principal developer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $114,530 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 4.60 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total principal developer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $164,062 Lowest 10 percent warn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location quotient: 1.40
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Best cities for principal developers
- Sacramento, CA
- Irvine, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Durham, NC
- Glendale, AZ
- San Diego, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Los Angeles, CA
- (13 principal developer jobs)
- (31 principal developer jobs)
- (32 principal developer jobs)
- (23 principal developer jobs)
- (15 principal developer jobs)
- (22 principal developer jobs)
- (1 principal developer jobs)
- (21 principal developer jobs)
- (23 principal developer jobs)
- (23 principal developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $175,850 | $127,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 2 | Irvine, CA | $161,761 | $117,000 | 266,122 | 31 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $177,267 | $129,000 | 870,887 | 32 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $176,355 | $128,000 | 1,025,350 | 23 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $177,011 | $128,000 | 704,352 | 15 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $114,381 | $89,000 | 263,016 | 22 |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $121,717 | $89,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $157,457 | $114,000 | 1,406,630 | 21 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $114,530 | $89,000 | 458,880 | 23 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $164,062 | $119,000 | 3,976,322 | 23 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $125,803 | $93,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 12 | Irving, TX | $117,279 | $89,000 | 238,289 | 21 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,033 | $89,000 | 1,567,872 | 13 |
| 14 | Winston-Salem, NC | $113,543 | $88,000 | 242,203 | 15 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $113,631 | $88,000 | 303,625 | 12 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $121,619 | $89,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $117,274 | $89,000 | 1,317,929 | 24 |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $176,588 | $128,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $143,249 | $103,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $151,289 | $109,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | North Las Vegas, NV | $143,066 | $103,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $119,323 | $90,000 | 947,890 | 17 |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $176,989 | $128,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Jersey City, NJ | $129,240 | $100,000 | 264,152 | 41 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $150,993 | $109,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 26 | Henderson, NV | $142,391 | $103,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 27 | Scottsdale, AZ | $121,422 | $89,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $108,351 | $83,000 | 638,367 | 13 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $175,782 | $127,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $173,015 | $125,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $168,769 | $122,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 32 | Long Beach, CA | $162,882 | $118,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 33 | Houston, TX | $118,780 | $90,000 | 2,303,482 | 18 |
| 34 | Nashville, TN | $104,334 | $81,000 | 660,388 | 12 |
| 35 | Anaheim, CA | $162,545 | $118,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 36 | Santa Ana, CA | $162,169 | $118,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $161,800 | $117,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $119,710 | $90,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 39 | Chula Vista, CA | $156,828 | $114,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $120,472 | $90,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Lexington, KY | $102,966 | $80,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 42 | Cleveland, OH | $102,588 | $79,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 43 | Anchorage, AK | $135,843 | $107,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 44 | Corpus Christi, TX | $119,785 | $90,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $120,653 | $91,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $118,691 | $93,000 | 673,184 | 54 |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $117,599 | $90,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $118,301 | $88,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 49 | Chandler, AZ | $120,904 | $88,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $120,843 | $88,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal developers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $177,267 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $177,011 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $129,240 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $124,327 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $121,619 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $119,323 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $118,691 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,033 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $114,531 |
| 10 | Englewood, CO | $113,410 |
| 11 | Sterling, VA | $112,860 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $110,313 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $109,114 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $109,111 |
| 15 | Merrimack, NH | $109,029 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $107,562 |
| 17 | Columbia, MD | $106,790 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $101,982 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $100,608 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $97,930 |
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Updated January 8, 2025