Best cities for a software engineer
The best cities for software engineers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineer. While the absolute best city for software engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Software engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal software engineer jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $126,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 37.55 2. San Jose, CA
Software engineer jobs in San JoseTotal software engineer jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $126,497 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 35.99 3. Fremont, CA
Software engineer jobs in FremontTotal software engineer jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $126,537 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 18.84 4. Seattle, WA
Software engineer jobs in SeattleTotal software engineer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $113,141 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 16.92 5. Oakland, CA
Software engineer jobs in OaklandTotal software engineer jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $126,561 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 10.93 6. Chandler, AZ
Software engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal software engineer jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $83,526 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 24.46 7. San Diego, CA
Software engineer jobs in San DiegoTotal software engineer jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $106,436 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 14.15 8. Scottsdale, AZ
Software engineer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal software engineer jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $83,620 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 15.97 9. Irvine, CA
Software engineer jobs in IrvineTotal software engineer jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $109,445 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 9.75 10. Austin, TX
Software engineer jobs in AustinTotal software engineer jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $81,355 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 13.11
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Best cities for software engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oakland, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Diego, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Irvine, CA
- Austin, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,797 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 202 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $126,497 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 168 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $126,537 | $90,000 | 233,136 | 253 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $113,141 | $82,000 | 704,352 | 54 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $126,561 | $90,000 | 420,005 | 78 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $83,526 | $61,000 | 247,477 | 174 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $106,436 | $78,000 | 1,406,630 | 44 |
| 8 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,620 | $61,000 | 246,645 | 65 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $109,445 | $79,000 | 266,122 | 110 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $81,355 | $60,000 | 947,890 | 184 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,490 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 128 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,740 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | 234 |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $109,856 | $79,000 | 334,217 | 31 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $78,995 | $60,000 | 263,016 | 59 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $81,902 | $60,000 | 1,492,510 | 65 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $122,915 | $88,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | $110,466 | $80,000 | 470,130 | 253 |
| 18 | Islip, NY | $93,198 | $70,000 | 335,543 | 4 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $91,839 | $66,000 | 245,255 | 31 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $79,096 | $60,000 | 458,880 | 137 |
| 21 | Irving, TX | $76,610 | $57,000 | 238,289 | 58 |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $76,127 | $57,000 | 286,057 | 187 |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $83,788 | $61,000 | 245,895 | 108 |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $112,167 | $81,000 | 3,976,322 | 148 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $93,240 | $66,000 | 632,912 | 174 |
| 26 | New York, NY | $93,074 | $70,000 | 8,537,673 | 243 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $76,685 | $57,000 | 1,317,929 | 82 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $74,590 | $57,000 | 860,090 | 54 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $80,796 | $60,000 | 2,303,482 | 159 |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $77,467 | $59,000 | 842,051 | 75 |
| 31 | Detroit, MI | $74,580 | $57,000 | 672,795 | 226 |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $91,680 | $66,000 | 639,863 | 91 |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $78,416 | $59,000 | 287,027 | 140 |
| 34 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,955 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | 55 |
| 35 | North Las Vegas, NV | $92,831 | $66,000 | 238,702 | 22 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $110,335 | $80,000 | 351,043 | 109 |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | $92,562 | $66,000 | 292,969 | 45 |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $71,224 | $54,000 | 660,388 | 141 |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,112 | $62,000 | 264,152 | 32 |
| 40 | Omaha, NE | $71,657 | $54,000 | 446,970 | 168 |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,820 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 101 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $124,911 | $89,000 | 307,072 | 24 |
| 43 | Atlanta, GA | $74,139 | $56,000 | 472,522 | 77 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $83,520 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 171 |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $71,467 | $54,000 | 597,337 | 97 |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $123,804 | $88,000 | 522,053 | 32 |
| 47 | Chicago, IL | $75,952 | $58,000 | 2,704,958 | 78 |
| 48 | Madison, WI | $72,732 | $55,000 | 252,551 | 66 |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $77,049 | $58,000 | 854,113 | 142 |
| 50 | Bakersfield, CA | $120,039 | $86,000 | 376,380 | 25 |
Highest paying cities for software engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Bruno, CA | $126,992 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $113,141 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $93,074 |
| 4 | Hillsboro, OR | $91,839 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $84,161 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,740 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $83,520 |
| 8 | Reston, VA | $82,203 |
| 9 | Edison, NJ | $82,155 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $81,355 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $79,096 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,490 |
| 13 | Austin, MN | $76,098 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $75,952 |
| 15 | Washington, MI | $74,612 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $74,590 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $74,229 |
| 18 | Richmond, IN | $72,911 |
| 19 | Bentonville, AR | $72,900 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $71,875 |
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Updated January 8, 2025