Best cities for a programmer
The best cities for programmers are Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a programmer. While the absolute best city for programmers is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for a programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for programmers in 2025
1. Durham, NC
Programmer jobs in DurhamTotal programmer jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $73,227 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 19.06 2. Greensboro, NC
Total programmer jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $73,054 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 14.93 3. Las Vegas, NV
Programmer jobs in Las VegasTotal programmer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $76,243 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 7.83 4. Atlanta, GA
Programmer jobs in AtlantaTotal programmer jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $73,283 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 16.76 5. Scottsdale, AZ
Total programmer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $74,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 12.45 6. Minneapolis, MN
Programmer jobs in MinneapolisTotal programmer jobs: 120 Average annual salary: $73,702 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 12.49 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Programmer jobs in PittsburghTotal programmer jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $73,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 7.40 8. Columbus, OH
Programmer jobs in ColumbusTotal programmer jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $68,602 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 9.43 9. Chandler, AZ
Programmer jobs in ChandlerTotal programmer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $74,306 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 10.28 10. Memphis, TN
Programmer jobs in MemphisTotal programmer jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $67,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 9.53
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Best cities for programmers
- Durham, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Las Vegas, NV
- Atlanta, GA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Minneapolis, MN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Columbus, OH
- Chandler, AZ
- Memphis, TN
Detailed list of the best cities for a programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $73,227 | $55,000 | 263,016 | 79 |
| 2 | Greensboro, NC | $73,054 | $55,000 | 287,027 | 29 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $76,243 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 47 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $73,283 | $54,000 | 472,522 | 138 |
| 5 | Scottsdale, AZ | $74,407 | $54,000 | 246,645 | 33 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,702 | $55,000 | 413,651 | 120 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $73,223 | $55,000 | 303,625 | 57 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $68,602 | $52,000 | 860,090 | 107 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $74,306 | $54,000 | 247,477 | 26 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $67,902 | $50,000 | 652,717 | 48 |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $69,192 | $51,000 | 238,289 | 234 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $68,559 | $52,000 | 385,809 | 34 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $68,678 | $51,000 | 252,551 | 46 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,422 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | 74 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $72,616 | $54,000 | 842,051 | 115 |
| 16 | Plano, TX | $68,991 | $51,000 | 286,057 | 158 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $68,333 | $51,000 | 311,404 | 67 |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $86,963 | $63,000 | 233,136 | 66 |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $86,571 | $63,000 | 495,234 | 73 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $70,022 | $50,000 | 947,890 | 238 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $67,588 | $51,000 | 672,795 | 50 |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $75,895 | $55,000 | 292,969 | 3 |
| 23 | San Jose, CA | $86,831 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | 209 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $85,814 | $62,000 | 522,053 | 22 |
| 25 | Raleigh, NC | $73,228 | $55,000 | 458,880 | 31 |
| 26 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,361 | $51,000 | 854,113 | 47 |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $68,750 | $51,000 | 595,047 | 39 |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,426 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | 111 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $69,378 | $49,000 | 2,303,482 | 113 |
| 30 | Reno, NV | $77,220 | $56,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 31 | Winston-Salem, NC | $72,965 | $55,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $69,227 | $51,000 | 1,317,929 | 150 |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $74,436 | $54,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $73,711 | $55,000 | 302,398 | 31 |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $69,347 | $51,000 | 392,772 | 10 |
| 36 | Louisville, KY | $68,541 | $51,000 | 597,337 | 24 |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $70,150 | $53,000 | 264,488 | 6 |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $68,642 | $51,000 | 660,388 | 18 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $68,450 | $51,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $76,129 | $55,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $73,690 | $55,000 | 2,704,958 | 183 |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $68,798 | $52,000 | 318,449 | 8 |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $83,815 | $61,000 | 376,380 | 12 |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $68,403 | $51,000 | 298,800 | 16 |
| 45 | Seattle, WA | $91,918 | $67,000 | 704,352 | 57 |
| 46 | San Francisco, CA | $87,196 | $64,000 | 870,887 | 167 |
| 47 | Irvine, CA | $78,520 | $58,000 | 266,122 | 103 |
| 48 | Jersey City, NJ | $69,733 | $52,000 | 264,152 | 249 |
| 49 | Portland, OR | $81,900 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 23 |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | $69,955 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 35 |
Highest paying cities for programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothell, WA | $91,793 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $87,196 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $77,405 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $74,778 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $74,527 |
| 6 | Middletown, CT | $74,477 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,426 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $74,424 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,422 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,702 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $73,690 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $73,418 |
| 13 | Sterling, VA | $73,308 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $73,227 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $70,022 |
| 16 | Columbus, IN | $69,919 |
| 17 | Middletown, NJ | $69,811 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $68,602 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $68,333 |
| 20 | Farmington Hills, MI | $67,566 |
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Updated January 8, 2025