Best cities for a senior/lead developer
The best cities for senior/lead developers are Durham, NC, Pittsburgh, PA, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior/lead developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior/lead developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior/lead developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior/lead developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior/lead developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior/lead developer. While the absolute best city for senior/lead developers is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior/lead developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior/lead developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior/lead developers in 2026
1. Durham, NC
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $130,009 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 10.80 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $129,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 9.69 3. Raleigh, NC
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $129,915 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 6.74 4. Charlotte, NC
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $127,376 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 10.37 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $145,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 22.26 6. New York, NY
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $150,970 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 5.99 7. Buffalo, NY
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $148,706 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 8.58 8. Cleveland, OH
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $112,548 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 23.97 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $132,561 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 4.24 10. Boston, MA
Total senior/lead developer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $137,095 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 6.14
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Best cities for senior/lead developers
- Durham, NC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Raleigh, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Jersey City, NJ
- New York, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
- (6 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (10 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (6 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (21 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (25 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (67 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (3 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (13 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (7 senior/lead developer jobs)
- (15 senior/lead developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior/lead developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $130,009 | $89,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $129,824 | $90,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $129,915 | $89,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $127,376 | $87,000 | 842,051 | 21 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $145,449 | $101,000 | 264,152 | 25 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $150,970 | $105,000 | 8,537,673 | 67 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $148,706 | $103,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $112,548 | $78,000 | 385,809 | 13 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $132,561 | $92,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $137,095 | $95,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $124,769 | $86,000 | 2,704,958 | 27 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $160,500 | $110,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $110,298 | $76,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $170,826 | $118,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 15 | Brookhaven, NY | $151,589 | $105,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $129,426 | $89,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Islip, NY | $151,416 | $105,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $129,060 | $88,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 19 | Oyster Bay, NY | $151,285 | $105,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $124,364 | $88,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $124,295 | $88,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 22 | Hempstead, NY | $151,142 | $105,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $116,140 | $79,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $160,248 | $110,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $159,890 | $110,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 26 | Jacksonville, FL | $119,001 | $80,000 | 880,619 | 14 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $116,296 | $81,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 28 | Irving, TX | $116,121 | $79,000 | 238,289 | 7 |
| 29 | Fremont, CA | $159,725 | $109,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $159,378 | $109,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $108,167 | $74,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 32 | Stockton, CA | $159,328 | $109,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $136,706 | $94,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $115,238 | $77,000 | 947,890 | 12 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $145,401 | $101,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Los Angeles, CA | $144,780 | $98,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $156,236 | $106,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $124,667 | $85,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $110,776 | $77,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $152,143 | $103,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $117,032 | $79,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $116,350 | $79,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $116,719 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Plano, TX | $115,944 | $79,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 45 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,228 | $77,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
| 46 | Fort Worth, TX | $116,241 | $79,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 47 | Houston, TX | $114,695 | $77,000 | 2,303,482 | 15 |
| 48 | Arlington, TX | $116,224 | $79,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $112,205 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 23 |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $116,118 | $78,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior/lead developers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior/lead developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $160,500 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $150,970 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $145,449 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $143,258 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $140,888 |
| 6 | Natick, MA | $137,168 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $136,706 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $132,561 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $131,057 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $130,009 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $126,556 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $124,769 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $124,295 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $121,853 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $120,086 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $119,001 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $116,296 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $116,140 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,228 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $112,548 |
Senior/lead developer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025