Best cities for a software development engineer
The best cities for software development engineers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software development engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software development engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software development engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software development engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software development engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software development engineer. While the absolute best city for software development engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software development engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software development engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software development engineers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Software development engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal software development engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $128,246 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 31.01 2. Seattle, WA
Software development engineer jobs in SeattleTotal software development engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $113,416 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 429.05 3. San Jose, CA
Software development engineer jobs in San JoseTotal software development engineer jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $126,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 23.45 4. Fremont, CA
Software development engineer jobs in FremontTotal software development engineer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $127,484 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 16.94 5. Philadelphia, PA
Software development engineer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal software development engineer jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $84,300 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 21.18 6. Irvine, CA
Software development engineer jobs in IrvineTotal software development engineer jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $108,328 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 34.77 7. Henderson, NV
Software development engineer jobs in HendersonTotal software development engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $93,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 10.80 8. Scottsdale, AZ
Software development engineer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal software development engineer jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $88,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 13.26 9. Oakland, CA
Software development engineer jobs in OaklandTotal software development engineer jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $128,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 5.39 10. Portland, OR
Software development engineer jobs in PortlandTotal software development engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $100,566 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 9.05
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Best cities for software development engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Irvine, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Oakland, CA
- Portland, OR
- (25 software development engineer jobs)
- (1 software development engineer jobs)
- (105 software development engineer jobs)
- (28 software development engineer jobs)
- (86 software development engineer jobs)
- (24 software development engineer jobs)
- (25 software development engineer jobs)
- (115 software development engineer jobs)
- (43 software development engineer jobs)
- (1 software development engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software development engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,246 | $93,000 | 870,887 | 25 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $113,416 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $126,993 | $92,000 | 1,025,350 | 105 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $127,484 | $92,000 | 233,136 | 28 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,300 | $62,000 | 1,567,872 | 86 |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $108,328 | $79,000 | 266,122 | 24 |
| 7 | Henderson, NV | $93,409 | $67,000 | 292,969 | 25 |
| 8 | Scottsdale, AZ | $88,830 | $65,000 | 246,645 | 115 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $128,073 | $93,000 | 420,005 | 43 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $100,566 | $73,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $83,923 | $62,000 | 947,890 | 87 |
| 12 | Glendale, AZ | $88,897 | $65,000 | 245,895 | 23 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $104,614 | $77,000 | 1,406,630 | 230 |
| 14 | Chandler, AZ | $88,323 | $65,000 | 247,477 | 56 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $128,007 | $93,000 | 495,234 | 50 |
| 16 | Gilbert, AZ | $88,256 | $64,000 | 237,133 | 13 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $98,121 | $72,000 | 8,537,673 | 73 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $92,475 | $68,000 | 673,184 | 16 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $75,710 | $56,000 | 263,016 | 107 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,219 | $81,000 | 3,976,322 | 208 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $78,321 | $58,000 | 672,795 | 184 |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $81,121 | $60,000 | 238,289 | 124 |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $109,364 | $80,000 | 470,130 | 13 |
| 24 | Newark, NJ | $87,847 | $64,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 25 | El Paso, TX | $85,685 | $63,000 | 683,080 | 17 |
| 26 | San Antonio, TX | $84,130 | $62,000 | 1,492,510 | 80 |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,865 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 124 |
| 28 | Plano, TX | $80,514 | $60,000 | 286,057 | 246 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $123,927 | $90,000 | 522,053 | 8 |
| 30 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,356 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 166 |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $109,302 | $79,000 | 351,043 | 8 |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $81,171 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 82 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $74,658 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 95 |
| 34 | Nashville, TN | $73,340 | $55,000 | 660,388 | 164 |
| 35 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,763 | $79,000 | 334,217 | 8 |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $87,901 | $64,000 | 264,152 | 221 |
| 37 | Arlington, TX | $81,487 | $60,000 | 392,772 | 23 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $73,393 | $55,000 | 446,970 | 194 |
| 39 | Madison, WI | $76,130 | $57,000 | 252,551 | 116 |
| 40 | Raleigh, NC | $75,776 | $56,000 | 458,880 | 136 |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $101,195 | $73,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $94,544 | $68,000 | 632,912 | 25 |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $78,389 | $58,000 | 385,809 | 30 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $127,594 | $92,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | Mesa, AZ | $88,340 | $65,000 | 484,587 | 6 |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $75,781 | $56,000 | 860,090 | 84 |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $81,556 | $61,000 | 854,113 | 39 |
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | $74,742 | $56,000 | 472,522 | 25 |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $119,054 | $86,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $94,403 | $68,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for software development engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. software development engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,246 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $113,416 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $100,566 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $98,121 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $92,475 |
| 6 | Tempe, AZ | $88,491 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $87,901 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $85,977 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $85,036 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,300 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $83,923 |
| 12 | Newark, DE | $82,739 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $82,554 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $78,321 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,906 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $75,710 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $75,666 |
| 18 | Englewood, CO | $75,574 |
| 19 | Alpharetta, GA | $74,778 |
| 20 | Bellevue, NE | $73,343 |
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Updated January 8, 2025