Best cities for a senior development engineer
The best cities for senior development engineers are San Jose, CA, Fremont, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior development engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior development engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior development engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior development engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior development engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior development engineer. While the absolute best city for senior development engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior development engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior development engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior development engineers in 2026
1. San Jose, CA
Total senior development engineer jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $141,588 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 20.19 2. Fremont, CA
Total senior development engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $141,738 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 8.73 3. San Francisco, CA
Total senior development engineer jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $142,160 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 6.27 4. Austin, TX
Total senior development engineer jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $111,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 10.32 5. Oakland, CA
Total senior development engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $141,990 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 5.25 6. Memphis, TN
Total senior development engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $110,300 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 3.17 7. Chandler, AZ
Total senior development engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $112,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 8.85 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total senior development engineer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $113,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 4.63 9. Washington, DC
Total senior development engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $150,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 2.61 10. Boston, MA
Total senior development engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $125,674 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 3.16
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Best cities for senior development engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Austin, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Chandler, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- (114 senior development engineer jobs)
- (14 senior development engineer jobs)
- (50 senior development engineer jobs)
- (55 senior development engineer jobs)
- (4 senior development engineer jobs)
- (5 senior development engineer jobs)
- (7 senior development engineer jobs)
- (23 senior development engineer jobs)
- (12 senior development engineer jobs)
- (18 senior development engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior development engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $141,588 | $104,000 | 1,025,350 | 114 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $141,738 | $104,000 | 233,136 | 14 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $142,160 | $104,000 | 870,887 | 50 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $111,270 | $82,000 | 947,890 | 55 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $141,990 | $104,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $110,300 | $84,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | $112,980 | $83,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,340 | $84,000 | 1,615,017 | 23 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $150,152 | $114,000 | 681,170 | 12 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $125,674 | $95,000 | 673,184 | 18 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $113,252 | $83,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $129,820 | $95,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $111,372 | $82,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $111,170 | $82,000 | 2,303,482 | 25 |
| 15 | Long Beach, CA | $130,395 | $96,000 | 470,130 | 5 |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $108,209 | $81,000 | 238,289 | 13 |
| 17 | Irvine, CA | $129,439 | $95,000 | 266,122 | 25 |
| 18 | Nashville, TN | $110,677 | $84,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 19 | Plano, TX | $107,572 | $81,000 | 286,057 | 11 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $125,901 | $93,000 | 1,406,630 | 67 |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $141,177 | $103,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 22 | Portland, OR | $111,187 | $82,000 | 639,863 | 22 |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $125,440 | $93,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 24 | Durham, NC | $100,167 | $76,000 | 263,016 | 20 |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ | $111,861 | $83,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,026 | $81,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $102,145 | $78,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $112,779 | $82,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $141,249 | $103,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $111,979 | $83,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $95,723 | $73,000 | 252,551 | 63 |
| 32 | Greensboro, NC | $99,154 | $75,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $139,747 | $102,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,735 | $97,000 | 3,976,322 | 20 |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $110,731 | $81,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Corpus Christi, TX | $110,677 | $81,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $108,306 | $81,000 | 1,317,929 | 9 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $108,028 | $83,000 | 2,704,958 | 32 |
| 39 | Glendale, AZ | $113,387 | $84,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 40 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,692 | $80,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 41 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $103,191 | $75,000 | 260,999 | 7 |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $112,955 | $83,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | Pittsburgh, PA | $102,690 | $78,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $112,920 | $83,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $109,323 | $81,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $136,660 | $100,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $108,606 | $81,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $93,053 | $71,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,596 | $80,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $108,588 | $81,000 | 392,772 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior development engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior development engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $142,160 |
| 2 | Woonsocket, RI | $128,695 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $125,674 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $114,586 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,340 |
| 6 | Manassas, VA | $113,031 |
| 7 | Hillsboro, OR | $111,294 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $111,270 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $108,578 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $108,028 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $105,331 |
| 12 | Boulder, CO | $104,449 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $102,238 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $100,336 |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $95,723 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $94,950 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $94,813 |
| 18 | Anderson, SC | $92,716 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $92,416 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $86,941 |
Senior development engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025