Best cities for a senior software engineer manager
The best cities for senior software engineer managers are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior software engineer managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior software engineer managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior software engineer manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior software engineer managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior software engineer managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior software engineer manager. While the absolute best city for senior software engineer managers 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 engineer managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior software engineer manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior software engineer managers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 249 Average annual salary: $197,683 Lowest 10 percent warn: $137,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $284,000 Location quotient: 12.75 2. Oakland, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $197,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $137,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $283,000 Location quotient: 8.57 3. Fremont, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $196,917 Lowest 10 percent warn: $136,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $283,000 Location quotient: 6.62 4. San Jose, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $196,739 Lowest 10 percent warn: $136,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $282,000 Location quotient: 4.48 5. Seattle, WA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $175,180 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 5.03 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $173,056 Lowest 10 percent warn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 1.74 7. San Diego, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $178,785 Lowest 10 percent warn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $258,000 Location quotient: 4.39 8. Portland, OR
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $170,639 Lowest 10 percent warn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 1.95 9. Columbus, OH
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $120,831 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 1.72 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total senior software engineer manager jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $184,158 Lowest 10 percent warn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $265,000 Location quotient: 1.07
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Best cities for senior software engineer managers
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Diego, CA
- Portland, OR
- Columbus, OH
- Los Angeles, CA
- (249 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (16 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (26 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (62 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (83 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (8 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (52 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (13 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (15 senior software engineer manager jobs)
- (18 senior software engineer manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior software engineer manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $197,683 | $137,000 | 870,887 | 249 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $197,296 | $137,000 | 420,005 | 16 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $196,917 | $136,000 | 233,136 | 26 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $196,739 | $136,000 | 1,025,350 | 62 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $175,180 | $120,000 | 704,352 | 83 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $173,056 | $119,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $178,785 | $123,000 | 1,406,630 | 52 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $170,639 | $117,000 | 639,863 | 13 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $120,831 | $90,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $184,158 | $127,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $119,978 | $86,000 | 947,890 | 71 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $130,726 | $90,000 | 1,615,017 | 18 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $118,451 | $89,000 | 263,016 | 14 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,022 | $87,000 | 1,567,872 | 25 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $180,900 | $124,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $172,781 | $119,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $118,511 | $89,000 | 458,880 | 22 |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $194,971 | $135,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 19 | Long Beach, CA | $183,108 | $126,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $172,344 | $119,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $182,065 | $126,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $115,891 | $84,000 | 286,057 | 75 |
| 23 | Stockton, CA | $195,409 | $135,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 24 | Oklahoma City, OK | $122,829 | $90,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $192,335 | $133,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $116,459 | $85,000 | 1,317,929 | 34 |
| 27 | Indianapolis, IN | $116,349 | $87,000 | 855,164 | 11 |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $188,327 | $130,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $182,738 | $126,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 30 | Santa Ana, CA | $182,422 | $126,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $116,538 | $88,000 | 842,051 | 30 |
| 32 | Irving, TX | $116,462 | $85,000 | 238,289 | 17 |
| 33 | Riverside, CA | $181,941 | $125,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $157,524 | $115,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Chula Vista, CA | $178,267 | $123,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $130,817 | $90,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 37 | Islip, NY | $128,231 | $96,000 | 335,543 | 2 |
| 38 | Cleveland, OH | $122,312 | $91,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,980 | $93,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $131,004 | $91,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Scottsdale, AZ | $130,549 | $90,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $121,130 | $91,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $118,922 | $89,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 44 | Pittsburgh, PA | $114,962 | $86,000 | 303,625 | 8 |
| 45 | Chandler, AZ | $130,017 | $90,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 46 | Mesa, AZ | $129,974 | $90,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $129,891 | $90,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Tulsa, OK | $121,381 | $89,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $116,027 | $87,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $109,047 | $82,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
Highest paying cities for senior software engineer managers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior software engineer manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bruno, CA | $197,784 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $175,180 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $170,639 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $135,755 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $131,919 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $130,726 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $128,048 |
| 8 | Hoboken, NJ | $125,109 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $121,824 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $119,978 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $118,511 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $117,599 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,022 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $116,349 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $112,103 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $111,988 |
| 17 | McLean, VA | $110,890 |
| 18 | Wilmington, DE | $108,577 |
| 19 | Bentonville, AR | $108,091 |
| 20 | Eden Prairie, MN | $101,776 |
Senior software engineer manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025