Best cities for a software development manager
The best cities for software development managers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software development managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software development managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software development manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software development managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software development managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software development manager. While the absolute best city for software development managers 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 managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software development manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software development managers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total software development manager jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $167,421 Lowest 10 percent warn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $237,000 Location quotient: 4.95 2. San Jose, CA
Total software development manager jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $166,002 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 17.51 3. Seattle, WA
Total software development manager jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $148,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 59.06 4. Mesa, AZ
Total software development manager jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $118,049 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 10.50 5. Irvine, CA
Total software development manager jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $151,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 4.44 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total software development manager jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $127,438 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.86 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total software development manager jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $118,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 5.40 8. Sacramento, CA
Total software development manager jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $166,020 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location quotient: 2.05 9. Chandler, AZ
Total software development manager jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $118,099 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 4.08 10. Austin, TX
Total software development manager jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $112,770 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 5.95
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Best cities for software development managers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Mesa, AZ
- Irvine, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Austin, TX
- (220 software development manager jobs)
- (40 software development manager jobs)
- (171 software development manager jobs)
- (22 software development manager jobs)
- (54 software development manager jobs)
- (30 software development manager jobs)
- (25 software development manager jobs)
- (19 software development manager jobs)
- (18 software development manager jobs)
- (177 software development manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software development manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $167,421 | $117,000 | 870,887 | 220 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $166,002 | $116,000 | 1,025,350 | 40 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $148,634 | $101,000 | 704,352 | 171 |
| 4 | Mesa, AZ | $118,049 | $84,000 | 484,587 | 22 |
| 5 | Irvine, CA | $151,094 | $107,000 | 266,122 | 54 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $127,438 | $90,000 | 632,912 | 30 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $118,425 | $85,000 | 246,645 | 25 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $166,020 | $116,000 | 495,234 | 19 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $118,099 | $84,000 | 247,477 | 18 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $112,770 | $83,000 | 947,890 | 177 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $136,135 | $95,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $151,934 | $108,000 | 470,130 | 5 |
| 13 | Garland, TX | $110,743 | $82,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | $118,643 | $85,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 15 | Henderson, NV | $126,787 | $89,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $139,366 | $95,000 | 639,863 | 24 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,572 | $85,000 | 1,615,017 | 64 |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $166,417 | $117,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $113,343 | $83,000 | 1,492,510 | 32 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $148,444 | $106,000 | 1,406,630 | 47 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $152,885 | $108,000 | 3,976,322 | 55 |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $110,665 | $82,000 | 286,057 | 38 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $110,922 | $82,000 | 1,317,929 | 57 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $161,662 | $114,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $98,298 | $74,000 | 660,388 | 57 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $104,449 | $78,000 | 672,795 | 18 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,836 | $83,000 | 1,567,872 | 28 |
| 28 | Irving, TX | $110,927 | $82,000 | 238,289 | 28 |
| 29 | Anchorage, AK | $176,084 | $124,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $167,057 | $117,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,316 | $77,000 | 855,164 | 28 |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $151,086 | $107,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $100,890 | $77,000 | 842,051 | 78 |
| 34 | Columbus, OH | $102,406 | $77,000 | 860,090 | 26 |
| 35 | Stockton, CA | $165,631 | $116,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $101,926 | $77,000 | 242,203 | 6 |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $113,447 | $83,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $102,718 | $78,000 | 458,880 | 28 |
| 39 | Boston, MA | $116,023 | $88,000 | 673,184 | 96 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $127,237 | $90,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $99,523 | $74,000 | 280,364 | 20 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $104,033 | $78,000 | 302,398 | 33 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $111,072 | $82,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 44 | Bakersfield, CA | $157,209 | $111,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $151,668 | $108,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Durham, NC | $102,683 | $78,000 | 263,016 | 14 |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $151,391 | $108,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $103,610 | $78,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 49 | Madison, WI | $103,568 | $78,000 | 252,551 | 13 |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | $116,846 | $84,000 | 683,080 | - |
Highest paying cities for software development managers
| Rank | City | Avg. software development manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $167,421 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $149,646 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $139,366 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $127,438 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,682 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $120,492 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $118,572 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $116,023 |
| 9 | Jersey City, NJ | $115,899 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $113,984 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $113,343 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,836 |
| 13 | Providence, RI | $107,399 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $105,821 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $104,033 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $103,906 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $103,071 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $102,718 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,316 |
| 20 | Bellevue, NE | $100,176 |
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Updated January 8, 2025