Best cities for a senior software engineer/architect
The best cities for senior software engineers/architect are Sacramento, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior software engineers/architect vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior software engineers/architect in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior software engineer/architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior software engineers/architect to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior software engineers/architect. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior software engineer/architect. While the absolute best city for senior software engineers/architect is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior software engineers/architect in 2024.
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10 best cities for senior software engineers/architect in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $158,126 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 2.93 2. San Francisco, CA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $158,828 Lowest 10 percent warn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 2.24 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $122,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 11.76 4. Fremont, CA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $158,218 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 2.03 5. Chandler, AZ
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $122,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 8.22 6. San Jose, CA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $157,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 2.01 7. Boston, MA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $138,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 1.71 8. Seattle, WA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $147,398 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.72 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,724 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $149,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 1.90
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Best cities for senior software engineers/architect
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Fremont, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Boston, MA
- Seattle, WA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- (3 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (11 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (6 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (2 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (4 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (7 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (6 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (3 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (0 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
- (8 senior software engineer/architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior software engineer/architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $158,126 | $116,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $158,828 | $117,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $122,935 | $91,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $158,218 | $116,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $122,818 | $91,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $157,904 | $116,000 | 1,025,350 | 7 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $138,647 | $105,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $147,398 | $108,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $138,724 | $102,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $149,255 | $110,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $145,187 | $106,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 12 | North Las Vegas, NV | $138,543 | $102,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $138,153 | $102,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $113,046 | $86,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $158,625 | $117,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $157,859 | $116,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,340 | $85,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $117,789 | $89,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $115,939 | $87,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $114,851 | $87,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $114,384 | $87,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $155,428 | $114,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $146,588 | $108,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 24 | Irvine, CA | $148,152 | $109,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,011 | $91,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 26 | Lincoln, NE | $116,611 | $89,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 27 | Austin, TX | $115,722 | $86,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $114,262 | $87,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $135,294 | $99,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $152,817 | $112,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $123,048 | $91,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 32 | Greensboro, NC | $113,669 | $87,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $148,634 | $109,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Fort Worth, TX | $114,584 | $86,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 35 | Anaheim, CA | $148,499 | $109,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $114,164 | $87,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 37 | Detroit, MI | $113,795 | $86,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $122,781 | $91,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $148,327 | $109,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $122,775 | $91,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | Plano, TX | $114,216 | $86,000 | 286,057 | 6 |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $148,195 | $109,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 43 | Houston, TX | $115,561 | $86,000 | 2,303,482 | 8 |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $122,275 | $90,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 45 | Tulsa, OK | $115,599 | $88,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 46 | Pittsburgh, PA | $111,401 | $84,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 47 | Omaha, NE | $116,629 | $89,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 48 | Miami, FL | $123,127 | $89,000 | 453,579 | 2 |
| 49 | Laredo, TX | $116,529 | $86,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | $117,458 | $87,000 | 683,080 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior software engineers/architect
| Rank | City | Avg. senior software engineer/architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $158,828 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $147,398 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $138,647 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $133,444 |
| 5 | Boca Raton, FL | $123,196 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $122,935 |
| 7 | Bowie, MD | $119,053 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $118,950 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $116,072 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $115,722 |
| 11 | Lehi, UT | $114,662 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $114,262 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $113,340 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $113,309 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $111,984 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $111,773 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $98,708 |