Best cities for a software director
The best cities for software directors are San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software director. While the absolute best city for software directors is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a software director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software directors in 2026
1. San Jose, CA
Total software director jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $198,713 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 11.28 2. San Francisco, CA
Total software director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $199,458 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 2.28 3. Reno, NV
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $165,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $261,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $199,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $198,778 Lowest 10 percent warn: $128,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Stockton, CA
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $197,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $126,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $307,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $158,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Chandler, AZ
Total software director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $133,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 23.01 9. Sacramento, CA
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $197,238 Lowest 10 percent warn: $126,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $307,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. North Las Vegas, NV
Total software director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $157,668 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for software directors
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Reno, NV
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Chandler, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- (7 software director jobs)
- (2 software director jobs)
- (0 software director jobs)
- (0 software director jobs)
- (0 software director jobs)
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- (2 software director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a software director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $198,713 | $128,000 | 1,025,350 | 7 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $199,458 | $128,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $165,824 | $105,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $199,103 | $128,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $198,778 | $128,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $197,425 | $126,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $158,112 | $99,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $133,511 | $83,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $197,238 | $126,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 10 | North Las Vegas, NV | $157,668 | $99,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $157,163 | $99,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $195,302 | $125,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $191,535 | $122,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $184,955 | $116,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 15 | Anchorage, AK | $165,828 | $106,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $186,503 | $118,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 17 | Anaheim, CA | $184,544 | $116,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 18 | Lubbock, TX | $132,672 | $83,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $184,062 | $116,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $183,629 | $115,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $134,452 | $83,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $183,556 | $115,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $148,810 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $134,270 | $83,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $178,605 | $112,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 26 | Chula Vista, CA | $177,865 | $111,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $142,685 | $88,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Portland, OR | $139,297 | $87,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $133,472 | $83,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $133,355 | $83,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $130,109 | $81,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 32 | Fort Wayne, IN | $125,767 | $86,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 33 | Cleveland, OH | $121,399 | $83,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $134,554 | $84,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 35 | Jersey City, NJ | $150,372 | $105,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $150,330 | $105,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 37 | Laredo, TX | $129,575 | $80,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 38 | Dallas, TX | $125,975 | $80,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $125,022 | $80,000 | 286,057 | 2 |
| 40 | Boston, MA | $140,588 | $99,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 41 | Houston, TX | $128,133 | $80,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 42 | San Antonio, TX | $130,343 | $81,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $121,180 | $83,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $130,013 | $80,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $126,792 | $80,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 46 | Philadelphia, PA | $119,591 | $83,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $126,574 | $80,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 48 | Corpus Christi, TX | $128,016 | $79,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $125,973 | $80,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $125,304 | $80,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for software directors
| Rank | City | Avg. software director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $199,458 |
| 2 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $150,289 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $140,588 |
| 4 | Hillsboro, OR | $139,899 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $135,410 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $134,452 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $130,109 |
| 8 | Germantown, MD | $128,697 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $126,059 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $121,365 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $119,591 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $115,916 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $112,572 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $111,700 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $111,527 |
| 16 | Marietta, GA | $109,074 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $108,752 |











