Best cities for a software development specialist
The best cities for software development specialists are Fremont, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Anaheim, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software development specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software development specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software development specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software development specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software development specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software development specialist. While the absolute best city for software development specialists is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software development specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a software development specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software development specialists in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Total software development specialist jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $138,920 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 129.76 2. San Francisco, CA
Total software development specialist jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $139,556 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 34.80 3. Anaheim, CA
Total software development specialist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $124,186 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 150.23 4. Chandler, AZ
Total software development specialist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $100,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 76.71 5. Detroit, MI
Total software development specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $98,254 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 12.87 6. San Jose, CA
Total software development specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $138,719 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 8.44 7. Santa Ana, CA
Total software development specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $123,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 21.79 8. Seattle, WA
Total software development specialist jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $115,972 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 18.67 9. Phoenix, AZ
Total software development specialist jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $101,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 33.99 10. Plano, TX
Total software development specialist jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $97,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 407.13
Best cities for software development specialists
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Plano, TX
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- (14 software development specialist jobs)
- (5 software development specialist jobs)
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- (246 software development specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software development specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $138,920 | $103,000 | 233,136 | 48 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $139,556 | $103,000 | 870,887 | 64 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $124,186 | $93,000 | 351,043 | 14 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $100,843 | $76,000 | 247,477 | 14 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $98,254 | $75,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $138,719 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 7 | Santa Ana, CA | $123,891 | $93,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $115,972 | $88,000 | 704,352 | 29 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,011 | $76,000 | 1,615,017 | 39 |
| 10 | Plano, TX | $97,285 | $74,000 | 286,057 | 246 |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $97,455 | $74,000 | 238,289 | 98 |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $97,554 | $74,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $123,627 | $93,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $97,378 | $75,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $139,277 | $103,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $116,419 | $86,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $105,353 | $80,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $107,145 | $81,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $138,042 | $102,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,081 | $81,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 21 | Durham, NC | $92,318 | $70,000 | 263,016 | 24 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $138,017 | $102,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 23 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,937 | $81,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $109,341 | $81,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $91,294 | $69,000 | 842,051 | 91 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $135,307 | $100,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Bakersfield, CA | $131,608 | $97,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $124,346 | $93,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,505 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $122,098 | $92,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $98,407 | $75,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $96,987 | $75,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 33 | Winston-Salem, NC | $91,738 | $70,000 | 242,203 | 6 |
| 34 | El Paso, TX | $101,034 | $77,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $123,825 | $93,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $101,054 | $76,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $97,444 | $74,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,342 | $72,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 39 | Memphis, TN | $84,458 | $64,000 | 652,717 | 31 |
| 40 | Lubbock, TX | $98,730 | $74,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $98,680 | $75,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $92,176 | $70,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $100,913 | $76,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $104,289 | $81,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $86,537 | $66,000 | 860,090 | 38 |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $100,796 | $76,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Houston, TX | $97,880 | $75,000 | 2,303,482 | 9 |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $84,325 | $64,000 | 660,388 | 31 |
| 49 | Chula Vista, CA | $121,955 | $92,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $100,795 | $76,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for software development specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. software development specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $139,556 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $115,972 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $108,686 |
| 4 | Quincy, MA | $104,382 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $103,358 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,011 |
| 7 | Sterling, VA | $99,146 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $98,407 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $97,025 |
| 10 | Providence, RI | $94,878 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $94,611 |
| 12 | Eden Prairie, MN | $94,471 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $92,565 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $92,318 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $88,838 |
| 16 | Topeka, KS | $87,867 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $86,537 |
| 18 | Knoxville, TN | $85,056 |
| 19 | Frankfort, KY | $81,758 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $77,894 |
Software development specialist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025