Best cities for a software engineer/architect
The best cities for software engineers/architect are Raleigh, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Indianapolis, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineers/architect vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineers/architect in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineer/architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineers/architect to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineers/architect. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineer/architect. While the absolute best city for software engineers/architect is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software engineers/architect in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineer/architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineers/architect in 2025
1. Raleigh, NC
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $127,720 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 3.39 2. San Francisco, CA
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $153,918 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 5.16 3. Indianapolis, IN
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $122,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.62 4. San Jose, CA
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $153,852 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 3.02 5. Austin, TX
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $107,192 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 3.20 6. Santa Ana, CA
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $145,313 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 2.95 7. Long Beach, CA
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $145,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 2.41 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $106,997 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 2.67 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $108,256 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 4.96 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total software engineer/architect jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $111,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 2.76
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Best cities for software engineers/architect
- Raleigh, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- Santa Ana, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Albuquerque, NM
- (12 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (70 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (14 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (29 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (29 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (2 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (2 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (6 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (7 software engineer/architect jobs)
- (5 software engineer/architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineer/architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $127,720 | $91,000 | 458,880 | 12 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $153,918 | $107,000 | 870,887 | 70 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $122,699 | $88,000 | 855,164 | 14 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $153,852 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 29 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $107,192 | $75,000 | 947,890 | 29 |
| 6 | Santa Ana, CA | $145,313 | $100,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 7 | Long Beach, CA | $145,891 | $101,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $106,997 | $75,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $108,256 | $75,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $111,133 | $77,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 11 | Greensboro, NC | $127,019 | $91,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | $102,951 | $74,000 | 403,090 | 4 |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $99,465 | $71,000 | 660,388 | 9 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $126,343 | $90,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $133,356 | $94,000 | 704,352 | 14 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $131,406 | $91,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $114,350 | $82,000 | 472,522 | 22 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $130,182 | $90,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $106,789 | $75,000 | 1,317,929 | 14 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $130,019 | $90,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $121,679 | $88,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,177 | $78,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $127,573 | $91,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $123,030 | $88,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $106,574 | $75,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 26 | Henderson, NV | $129,755 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $126,753 | $90,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $140,469 | $97,000 | 1,406,630 | 9 |
| 29 | Memphis, TN | $98,452 | $71,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $153,777 | $107,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $153,776 | $107,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 32 | Oklahoma City, OK | $104,649 | $75,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $152,917 | $106,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $147,099 | $102,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $152,554 | $106,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | Sacramento, CA | $152,302 | $106,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $106,642 | $76,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 38 | Irvine, CA | $144,893 | $100,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $151,051 | $105,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 40 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,331 | $75,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $145,741 | $101,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $145,362 | $100,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 43 | Lincoln, NE | $102,032 | $73,000 | 280,364 | 4 |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $106,928 | $75,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 45 | Irving, TX | $106,808 | $75,000 | 238,289 | 2 |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $121,650 | $84,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 47 | Chula Vista, CA | $139,919 | $97,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 48 | Garland, TX | $106,636 | $75,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $106,907 | $74,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $129,122 | $92,000 | 681,170 | 28 |
Highest paying cities for software engineers/architect
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineer/architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $154,010 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $133,356 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $129,122 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $127,720 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $122,699 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $122,570 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $121,679 |
| 8 | Annapolis, MD | $119,886 |
| 9 | Alpharetta, GA | $114,426 |
| 10 | Dover, DE | $113,618 |
| 11 | Concord, NH | $113,367 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,331 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $107,484 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $107,192 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $103,993 |
| 16 | Middletown, NJ | $103,898 |
| 17 | Lakewood, CO | $103,779 |
| 18 | Hartford, CT | $103,259 |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $102,951 |
| 20 | Helena, MT | $102,938 |
Software engineer/architect best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025