Best cities for a senior software engineer lead
The best cities for senior software engineers lead are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior software engineers lead vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior software engineers lead in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior software engineer lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior software engineers lead to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior software engineers lead. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior software engineer lead. While the absolute best city for senior software engineers lead is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior software engineers lead in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior software engineer lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior software engineers lead in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $157,002 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 10.75 2. San Jose, CA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $155,548 Lowest 10 percent warn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 15.64 3. Sacramento, CA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $155,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 4.83 4. Chandler, AZ
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $115,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 16.92 5. Seattle, WA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $159,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 3.58 6. Fremont, CA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $156,001 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 3.34 7. Indianapolis, IN
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $111,401 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 2.56 8. Austin, TX
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $112,355 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 10.05 9. Oakland, CA
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $156,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Reno, NV
Total senior software engineer lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,227 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for senior software engineers lead
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Austin, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Reno, NV
- (32 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (33 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (3 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (5 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (9 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (2 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (3 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (20 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (0 senior software engineer lead jobs)
- (0 senior software engineer lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior software engineer lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $157,002 | $114,000 | 870,887 | 32 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $155,548 | $113,000 | 1,025,350 | 33 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $155,841 | $113,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $115,266 | $85,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $159,475 | $115,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $156,001 | $114,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $111,401 | $85,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $112,355 | $84,000 | 947,890 | 20 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $156,675 | $114,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $129,227 | $94,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $132,789 | $96,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $115,566 | $85,000 | 1,615,017 | 7 |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $155,543 | $113,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $141,558 | $104,000 | 1,406,630 | 8 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $121,906 | $89,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $121,743 | $89,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $151,998 | $111,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Irving, TX | $110,410 | $83,000 | 238,289 | 9 |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $121,209 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $144,664 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | $110,437 | $83,000 | 1,317,929 | 10 |
| 22 | Fort Wayne, IN | $113,151 | $86,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $148,413 | $109,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $113,302 | $85,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $109,986 | $83,000 | 286,057 | 6 |
| 26 | Anaheim, CA | $143,676 | $105,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 27 | Glendale, AZ | $115,629 | $85,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $143,882 | $106,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Santa Ana, CA | $143,479 | $105,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $143,270 | $105,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $115,426 | $85,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $143,235 | $105,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $115,194 | $86,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $115,208 | $85,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Gilbert, AZ | $115,195 | $85,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $141,326 | $104,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | New Orleans, LA | $113,567 | $86,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $109,052 | $82,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,539 | $80,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 40 | Corpus Christi, TX | $112,797 | $84,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $122,039 | $97,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 42 | Tucson, AZ | $114,174 | $85,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 43 | San Antonio, TX | $112,731 | $84,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $100,322 | $76,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $102,068 | $78,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $117,296 | $89,000 | 673,184 | 11 |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $112,259 | $84,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 48 | Philadelphia, PA | $108,312 | $82,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 49 | Houston, TX | $112,033 | $84,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $110,645 | $83,000 | 392,772 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior software engineers lead
| Rank | City | Avg. senior software engineer lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $159,475 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $157,002 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $132,789 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $121,180 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $117,296 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $116,598 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $115,566 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $112,767 |
| 9 | Columbia, MD | $112,761 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $112,355 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $109,706 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $104,909 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,539 |
| 14 | OFallon, MO | $103,728 |
| 15 | Jersey City, NJ | $103,616 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $102,862 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $102,651 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $102,068 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $100,857 |
| 20 | Dublin, OH | $100,326 |











