Best cities for a senior stack engineer
The best cities for senior stack engineers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Austin, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior stack engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior stack engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior stack engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior stack engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior stack engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior stack engineer. While the absolute best city for senior stack engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior stack engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior stack engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior stack engineers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $152,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 10.45 2. Seattle, WA
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $137,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 4.26 3. Austin, TX
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $121,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 3.64 4. Phoenix, AZ
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $123,176 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 3.90 5. Irving, TX
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $120,985 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 3.27 6. Nashville, TN
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $113,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 2.71 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $122,657 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 2.29 8. Dallas, TX
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $121,003 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 2.50 9. San Jose, CA
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $151,067 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 2.46 10. Boston, MA
Total senior stack engineer jobs: 241 Average annual salary: $128,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 7.26
Best cities for senior stack engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Irving, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Dallas, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Boston, MA
- (229 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (167 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (113 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (113 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (60 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (33 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (25 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (71 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (81 senior stack engineer jobs)
- (241 senior stack engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior stack engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $152,112 | $110,000 | 870,887 | 229 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $137,267 | $99,000 | 704,352 | 167 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $121,898 | $90,000 | 947,890 | 113 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,176 | $90,000 | 1,615,017 | 113 |
| 5 | Irving, TX | $120,985 | $90,000 | 238,289 | 60 |
| 6 | Nashville, TN | $113,572 | $87,000 | 660,388 | 33 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $122,657 | $89,000 | 632,912 | 25 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $121,003 | $90,000 | 1,317,929 | 71 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $151,067 | $110,000 | 1,025,350 | 81 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $128,503 | $97,000 | 673,184 | 241 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $151,928 | $110,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $125,172 | $90,000 | 639,863 | 40 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $140,665 | $103,000 | 3,976,322 | 175 |
| 14 | Plano, TX | $120,675 | $90,000 | 286,057 | 28 |
| 15 | Scottsdale, AZ | $123,077 | $90,000 | 246,645 | 9 |
| 16 | Fort Worth, TX | $121,178 | $90,000 | 854,113 | 12 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,839 | $84,000 | 1,567,872 | 69 |
| 18 | Durham, NC | $108,296 | $82,000 | 263,016 | 75 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $129,668 | $94,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $121,588 | $90,000 | 2,303,482 | 53 |
| 21 | Memphis, TN | $114,061 | $87,000 | 652,717 | 10 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $151,543 | $110,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $121,929 | $90,000 | 1,492,510 | 11 |
| 24 | Fremont, CA | $151,459 | $110,000 | 233,136 | 8 |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $122,742 | $90,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $108,543 | $82,000 | 458,880 | 40 |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $124,169 | $92,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $138,813 | $101,000 | 266,122 | 38 |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $108,137 | $82,000 | 672,795 | 21 |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $122,519 | $89,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $121,140 | $90,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | Stockton, CA | $151,287 | $110,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $121,907 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Garland, TX | $120,792 | $90,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $123,230 | $90,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $122,767 | $92,000 | 264,152 | 54 |
| 37 | Lubbock, TX | $122,394 | $91,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $110,906 | $84,000 | 472,522 | 133 |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | $103,387 | $78,000 | 860,090 | 48 |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $111,817 | $85,000 | 2,704,958 | 168 |
| 41 | Laredo, TX | $121,554 | $89,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $105,976 | $81,000 | 855,164 | 35 |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $122,716 | $90,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $122,673 | $90,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $105,768 | $81,000 | 597,337 | 15 |
| 46 | Corpus Christi, TX | $121,309 | $88,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 47 | Washington, DC | $133,690 | $100,000 | 681,170 | 92 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $123,642 | $93,000 | 8,537,673 | 192 |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $135,901 | $99,000 | 1,406,630 | 55 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $110,409 | $83,000 | 638,367 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for senior stack engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior stack engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $152,133 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $137,267 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $133,690 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,503 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $125,172 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $123,642 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,176 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $122,767 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $121,898 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $121,807 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $119,270 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $116,969 |
| 13 | Portland, ME | $116,665 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $114,350 |
| 15 | Newark, DE | $112,851 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,839 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $111,817 |
| 18 | Columbus, GA | $111,792 |
| 19 | Boulder, CO | $110,415 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $108,543 |
Senior stack engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025