Best cities for a software developer
The best cities for software developers are Fremont, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Durham, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software developer. While the absolute best city for software developers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software developers in 2025
1. Fremont, CA
Software developer jobs in FremontTotal software developer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $112,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 21.55 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Software developer jobs in PittsburghTotal software developer jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $82,764 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 30.73 3. Durham, NC
Software developer jobs in DurhamTotal software developer jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $83,566 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 47.36 4. Columbus, OH
Software developer jobs in ColumbusTotal software developer jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $80,126 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 18.78 5. San Jose, CA
Software developer jobs in San JoseTotal software developer jobs: 242 Average annual salary: $112,731 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 14.73 6. San Antonio, TX
Software developer jobs in San AntonioTotal software developer jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $83,174 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 21.89 7. Austin, TX
Software developer jobs in AustinTotal software developer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $82,417 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 28.55 8. Sacramento, CA
Software developer jobs in SacramentoTotal software developer jobs: 181 Average annual salary: $109,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 18.66 9. Charlotte, NC
Software developer jobs in CharlotteTotal software developer jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $81,460 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 25.50 10. Detroit, MI
Software developer jobs in DetroitTotal software developer jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $77,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 28.50
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Best cities for software developers
- Fremont, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Durham, NC
- Columbus, OH
- San Jose, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Austin, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Detroit, MI
Detailed list of the best cities for a software developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $112,619 | $83,000 | 233,136 | 33 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,764 | $64,000 | 303,625 | 218 |
| 3 | Durham, NC | $83,566 | $64,000 | 263,016 | 87 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $80,126 | $62,000 | 860,090 | 248 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $112,731 | $83,000 | 1,025,350 | 242 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $83,174 | $62,000 | 1,492,510 | 32 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $82,417 | $62,000 | 947,890 | 47 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $109,052 | $80,000 | 495,234 | 181 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $81,460 | $63,000 | 842,051 | 104 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $77,715 | $60,000 | 672,795 | 189 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,134 | $62,000 | 246,645 | 27 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $112,631 | $83,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $82,016 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 106 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $83,661 | $64,000 | 458,880 | 41 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $79,012 | $61,000 | 298,800 | 211 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,185 | $66,000 | 1,567,872 | 70 |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $112,889 | $83,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 18 | Norfolk, VA | $88,496 | $68,000 | 245,115 | 20 |
| 19 | Irving, TX | $78,651 | $60,000 | 238,289 | 91 |
| 20 | Chandler, AZ | $83,113 | $62,000 | 247,477 | 141 |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | $78,695 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 22 | Seattle, WA | $106,416 | $79,000 | 704,352 | 170 |
| 23 | Plano, TX | $78,391 | $60,000 | 286,057 | 32 |
| 24 | Irvine, CA | $102,014 | $75,000 | 266,122 | 201 |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,348 | $62,000 | 1,615,017 | 112 |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $80,895 | $63,000 | 385,809 | 123 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $90,583 | $67,000 | 632,912 | 92 |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $82,884 | $64,000 | 287,027 | 185 |
| 29 | Winston-Salem, NC | $82,489 | $64,000 | 242,203 | 121 |
| 30 | Fort Worth, TX | $78,858 | $60,000 | 854,113 | 151 |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $76,590 | $59,000 | 252,551 | 250 |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $89,535 | $69,000 | 264,152 | 252 |
| 33 | Portland, OR | $92,309 | $68,000 | 639,863 | 194 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $83,007 | $62,000 | 484,587 | 108 |
| 35 | Long Beach, CA | $102,755 | $76,000 | 470,130 | 106 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $102,551 | $76,000 | 351,043 | 90 |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $83,437 | $62,000 | 245,895 | 46 |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $91,161 | $67,000 | 245,255 | 38 |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $90,159 | $66,000 | 292,969 | 20 |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $79,378 | $62,000 | 2,704,958 | 158 |
| 41 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,523 | $58,000 | 855,164 | 103 |
| 42 | Santa Ana, CA | $102,287 | $75,000 | 334,217 | 83 |
| 43 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,647 | $76,000 | 3,976,322 | 84 |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $76,880 | $59,000 | 472,522 | 75 |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $73,157 | $56,000 | 660,388 | 163 |
| 46 | Toledo, OH | $80,015 | $62,000 | 278,508 | 21 |
| 47 | Fresno, CA | $110,459 | $81,000 | 522,053 | 29 |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $72,763 | $56,000 | 597,337 | 181 |
| 49 | Omaha, NE | $71,008 | $55,000 | 446,970 | 138 |
| 50 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,940 | $58,000 | 311,404 | 22 |
Highest paying cities for software developers
| Rank | City | Avg. software developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $112,889 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $106,416 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $91,206 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $89,535 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $88,736 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $88,269 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $87,594 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,185 |
| 9 | Jacksonville, NC | $83,935 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,348 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $83,174 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $80,126 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $79,378 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,876 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $77,715 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $77,031 |
| 17 | Richmond, IN | $75,225 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,940 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $74,317 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, AR | $72,217 |
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Updated January 8, 2025