Best cities for a software engineer-consultant
The best cities for software engineers-consultant are Raleigh, NC, Fremont, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineers-consultant vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineers-consultant in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineer-consultant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineers-consultant to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineers-consultant. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineer-consultant. While the absolute best city for software engineers-consultant is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software engineers-consultant in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineer-consultant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineers-consultant in 2026
1. Raleigh, NC
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $109,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 113.24 2. Fremont, CA
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $147,866 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 9.46 3. San Jose, CA
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $147,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 10.07 4. San Francisco, CA
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $148,359 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 5.71 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $114,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 8.08 6. Sacramento, CA
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $147,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 6.85 7. Phoenix, AZ
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $117,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 6.86 8. Greensboro, NC
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $108,832 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 18.73 9. Columbus, OH
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $101,987 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 30.98 10. Austin, TX
Total software engineer-consultant jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $107,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 27.76
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Best cities for software engineers-consultant
- Raleigh, NC
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Greensboro, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Austin, TX
- (62 software engineer-consultant jobs)
- (4 software engineer-consultant jobs)
- (15 software engineer-consultant jobs)
- (12 software engineer-consultant jobs)
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- (9 software engineer-consultant jobs)
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- (39 software engineer-consultant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineer-consultant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $109,628 | $81,000 | 458,880 | 62 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $147,866 | $107,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $147,692 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 15 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $148,359 | $107,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $114,818 | $82,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $147,529 | $106,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $117,247 | $84,000 | 1,615,017 | 9 |
| 8 | Greensboro, NC | $108,832 | $80,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $101,987 | $75,000 | 860,090 | 29 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $107,080 | $76,000 | 947,890 | 39 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $104,290 | $77,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $106,603 | $78,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $148,172 | $107,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 14 | Chandler, AZ | $116,665 | $83,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $119,255 | $86,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $114,243 | $81,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Plano, TX | $105,365 | $75,000 | 286,057 | 15 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $147,417 | $106,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,175 | $99,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $114,693 | $82,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $145,540 | $105,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $142,769 | $102,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $117,318 | $84,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $117,117 | $84,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 25 | Mesa, AZ | $116,630 | $83,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $105,874 | $76,000 | 1,317,929 | 12 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $116,565 | $83,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 28 | Tucson, AZ | $114,846 | $82,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $109,575 | $81,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $107,093 | $79,000 | 842,051 | 8 |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $121,579 | $89,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 32 | Atlanta, GA | $102,807 | $75,000 | 472,522 | 24 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $99,747 | $73,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 34 | Long Beach, CA | $136,799 | $98,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 35 | Anaheim, CA | $136,599 | $98,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $95,365 | $70,000 | 660,388 | 6 |
| 37 | Memphis, TN | $94,273 | $69,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,263 | $83,000 | 264,152 | 12 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $102,851 | $75,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Saint Louis, MO | $96,745 | $71,000 | 311,404 | 22 |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $136,179 | $98,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $136,132 | $98,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $135,786 | $98,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $108,429 | $80,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 45 | El Paso, TX | $109,958 | $78,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 46 | Houston, TX | $106,396 | $75,000 | 2,303,482 | 10 |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $105,845 | $76,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $132,277 | $95,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 49 | Boston, MA | $109,042 | $82,000 | 673,184 | 11 |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $107,748 | $77,000 | 252,506 | - |
Highest paying cities for software engineers-consultant
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineer-consultant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster City, CA | $148,157 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $121,579 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $117,247 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $111,886 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $111,531 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,263 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $109,628 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $109,042 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $108,218 |
| 10 | Round Rock, TX | $107,125 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $106,603 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $102,957 |
| 13 | Dublin, OH | $102,003 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,675 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $96,745 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $93,777 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $92,045 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $90,725 |
Software engineer-consultant best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025