Best cities for a software development engineer lead
The best cities for software development engineers lead are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software development engineers lead vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software development engineers lead in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software development engineer lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software development engineers lead to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software development engineers lead. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software development engineer lead. While the absolute best city for software development engineers lead is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software development engineers lead in 2024.
If you're looking for a software development engineer lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software development engineers lead in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $154,047 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 23.18 2. San Francisco, CA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $152,047 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 15.66 3. San Jose, CA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $150,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 5.07 4. Austin, TX
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $110,484 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 5.86 5. Charlotte, NC
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $108,379 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 7.70 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $137,201 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 5.33 7. Portland, OR
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $129,667 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 3.83 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $107,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 3.37 9. Oakland, CA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Sacramento, CA
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for software development engineers lead
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- Los Angeles, CA
- Portland, OR
- Philadelphia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- (60 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (48 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (11 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (12 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (14 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (14 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (4 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (5 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (0 software development engineer lead jobs)
- (0 software development engineer lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software development engineer lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $154,047 | $116,000 | 704,352 | 60 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $152,047 | $115,000 | 870,887 | 48 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $150,881 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $110,484 | $84,000 | 947,890 | 12 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $108,379 | $84,000 | 842,051 | 14 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,201 | $103,000 | 3,976,322 | 14 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $129,667 | $97,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,521 | $82,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $151,797 | $114,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $151,324 | $114,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $151,260 | $114,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $110,310 | $84,000 | 2,303,482 | 13 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $109,588 | $84,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $135,607 | $102,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $109,502 | $84,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $150,890 | $113,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $147,752 | $111,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $117,571 | $88,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 19 | Chandler, AZ | $110,485 | $83,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 20 | Greensboro, NC | $109,033 | $84,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $143,025 | $107,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 22 | El Paso, TX | $112,537 | $86,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,240 | $82,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 24 | Winston-Salem, NC | $108,810 | $84,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 25 | Laredo, TX | $110,783 | $85,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 26 | North Las Vegas, NV | $110,116 | $82,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $110,736 | $85,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $99,729 | $77,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $104,165 | $80,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 30 | Corpus Christi, TX | $110,520 | $85,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $108,622 | $83,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 32 | Long Beach, CA | $136,264 | $103,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 33 | New York, NY | $124,088 | $95,000 | 8,537,673 | 104 |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $109,804 | $84,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Irving, TX | $108,569 | $83,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $136,083 | $103,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Santa Ana, CA | $135,839 | $102,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 38 | Henderson, NV | $109,324 | $82,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 39 | Fort Worth, TX | $108,857 | $83,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 40 | Omaha, NE | $100,187 | $77,000 | 446,970 | 12 |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | $135,672 | $102,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 42 | Arlington, TX | $108,828 | $83,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 43 | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,893 | $81,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $110,968 | $84,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Phoenix, AZ | $110,917 | $84,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $133,662 | $101,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 47 | Scottsdale, AZ | $110,818 | $84,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 48 | Cleveland, OH | $100,936 | $77,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 49 | Anchorage, AK | $118,213 | $98,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $108,308 | $83,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for software development engineers lead
| Rank | City | Avg. software development engineer lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $154,047 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $152,047 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,190 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $129,667 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,088 |
| 6 | Newark, DE | $120,862 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $116,001 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $115,614 |
| 9 | Columbia, SC | $115,146 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $110,484 |
| 11 | Cary, NC | $109,503 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $108,047 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,521 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $104,650 |
| 15 | Brookfield, WI | $103,382 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $103,283 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $102,261 |
| 18 | OFallon, MO | $101,253 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $100,187 |
| 20 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $100,070 |
Software development engineer lead best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025