Best cities for a software architect
The best cities for software architects are San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Plano, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software architect. While the absolute best city for software architects is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a software architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software architects in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total software architect jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $137,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 9.49 2. San Francisco, CA
Total software architect jobs: 230 Average annual salary: $138,001 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 6.47 3. Plano, TX
Total software architect jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $102,066 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 13.53 4. Scottsdale, AZ
Total software architect jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $116,286 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 4.87 5. Irving, TX
Total software architect jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $102,348 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 8.48 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total software architect jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $104,884 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 6.75 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total software architect jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $100,702 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 8.09 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total software architect jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $110,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 5.49 9. Austin, TX
Total software architect jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $102,540 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 8.04 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total software architect jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $116,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 3.38
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Best cities for software architects
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Plano, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Irving, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Austin, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- (239 software architect jobs)
- (230 software architect jobs)
- (158 software architect jobs)
- (18 software architect jobs)
- (119 software architect jobs)
- (116 software architect jobs)
- (87 software architect jobs)
- (46 software architect jobs)
- (191 software architect jobs)
- (75 software architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $137,425 | $94,000 | 1,025,350 | 239 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $138,001 | $94,000 | 870,887 | 230 |
| 3 | Plano, TX | $102,066 | $71,000 | 286,057 | 158 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | $116,286 | $80,000 | 246,645 | 18 |
| 5 | Irving, TX | $102,348 | $71,000 | 238,289 | 119 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,884 | $77,000 | 1,567,872 | 116 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,702 | $74,000 | 303,625 | 87 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,659 | $75,000 | 632,912 | 46 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $102,540 | $70,000 | 947,890 | 191 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $116,350 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 75 |
| 11 | Fort Worth, TX | $102,603 | $71,000 | 854,113 | 33 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $97,954 | $71,000 | 263,016 | 55 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $137,539 | $94,000 | 233,136 | 27 |
| 14 | Winston-Salem, NC | $97,178 | $71,000 | 242,203 | 26 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $135,777 | $92,000 | 495,234 | 30 |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $102,479 | $71,000 | 392,772 | 7 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $102,281 | $71,000 | 1,317,929 | 102 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $124,673 | $85,000 | 3,976,322 | 180 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $102,477 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 54 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $118,026 | $81,000 | 639,863 | 41 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $95,223 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 50 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $93,762 | $69,000 | 298,800 | 48 |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $116,108 | $80,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $96,756 | $71,000 | 385,809 | 15 |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $115,633 | $86,000 | 673,184 | 92 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $116,122 | $79,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $96,033 | $70,000 | 842,051 | 149 |
| 28 | Oakland, CA | $137,728 | $94,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $101,094 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 196 |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $123,526 | $85,000 | 266,122 | 52 |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $116,383 | $80,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 32 | Mesa, AZ | $116,091 | $80,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $120,474 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 76 |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $116,063 | $80,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $114,891 | $79,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 36 | San Diego, CA | $122,042 | $84,000 | 1,406,630 | 138 |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $94,820 | $70,000 | 860,090 | 50 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $97,157 | $71,000 | 446,970 | 27 |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $110,490 | $75,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Santa Ana, CA | $123,707 | $85,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 41 | Louisville, KY | $86,792 | $64,000 | 597,337 | 45 |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $109,891 | $75,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $97,926 | $71,000 | 458,880 | 29 |
| 44 | Lincoln, NE | $96,981 | $70,000 | 280,364 | 15 |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $136,338 | $93,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $90,733 | $66,000 | 311,404 | 101 |
| 47 | Fresno, CA | $134,422 | $92,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 48 | Norfolk, VA | $101,568 | $74,000 | 245,115 | 18 |
| 49 | Toledo, OH | $95,560 | $71,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | $107,179 | $74,000 | 683,080 | - |
Highest paying cities for software architects
| Rank | City | Avg. software architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $138,001 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $120,474 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $116,350 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $115,633 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $106,640 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $105,543 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,884 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $102,540 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $102,077 |
| 10 | Jersey City, NJ | $101,498 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $101,134 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $99,066 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $97,954 |
| 14 | Washington, MI | $95,439 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $94,820 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $91,271 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $90,733 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $86,706 |
| 19 | Bentonville, AR | $84,460 |
| 20 | Franklin, TN | $82,464 |
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Updated January 8, 2025