Best cities for a software engineer lead
The best cities for software engineers lead are San Francisco, CA, Fremont, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineers lead vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineers lead in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineer lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineers lead to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineers lead. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineer lead. While the absolute best city for software engineers lead 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 lead in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineer lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineers lead in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Software engineer lead jobs in San FranciscoTotal software engineer lead jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $152,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 7.62 2. Fremont, CA
Software engineer lead jobs in FremontTotal software engineer lead jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $151,815 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 5.06 3. San Jose, CA
Software engineer lead jobs in San JoseTotal software engineer lead jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $151,492 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 5.57 4. Oakland, CA
Software engineer lead jobs in OaklandTotal software engineer lead jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $152,357 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 2.93 5. Austin, TX
Software engineer lead jobs in AustinTotal software engineer lead jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $117,567 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 3.55 6. Seattle, WA
Software engineer lead jobs in SeattleTotal software engineer lead jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $152,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 2.20 7. Chandler, AZ
Software engineer lead jobs in ChandlerTotal software engineer lead jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $119,382 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 3.58 8. Phoenix, AZ
Software engineer lead jobs in PhoenixTotal software engineer lead jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $119,605 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 3.13 9. Irving, TX
Software engineer lead jobs in IrvingTotal software engineer lead jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $115,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 6.90 10. Plano, TX
Software engineer lead jobs in PlanoTotal software engineer lead jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $115,108 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 4.32
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Best cities for software engineers lead
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Austin, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Chandler, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Irving, TX
- Plano, TX
- (48 software engineer lead jobs)
- (109 software engineer lead jobs)
- (167 software engineer lead jobs)
- (30 software engineer lead jobs)
- (254 software engineer lead jobs)
- (199 software engineer lead jobs)
- (38 software engineer lead jobs)
- (209 software engineer lead jobs)
- (36 software engineer lead jobs)
- (152 software engineer lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineer lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $152,662 | $110,000 | 870,887 | 48 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $151,815 | $109,000 | 233,136 | 109 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $151,492 | $109,000 | 1,025,350 | 167 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $152,357 | $110,000 | 420,005 | 30 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $117,567 | $88,000 | 947,890 | 254 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $152,851 | $110,000 | 704,352 | 199 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | $119,382 | $88,000 | 247,477 | 38 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $119,605 | $88,000 | 1,615,017 | 209 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $115,560 | $87,000 | 238,289 | 36 |
| 10 | Plano, TX | $115,108 | $86,000 | 286,057 | 152 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $140,255 | $100,000 | 639,863 | 55 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $151,513 | $109,000 | 495,234 | 33 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $108,111 | $82,000 | 860,090 | 99 |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $140,658 | $103,000 | 334,217 | 20 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $113,304 | $82,000 | 632,912 | 77 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $118,080 | $88,000 | 1,492,510 | 38 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $113,181 | $86,000 | 458,880 | 55 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $115,582 | $87,000 | 1,317,929 | 107 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $110,773 | $84,000 | 842,051 | 252 |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $140,480 | $103,000 | 266,122 | 75 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $121,005 | $92,000 | 673,184 | 36 |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $119,449 | $88,000 | 246,645 | 13 |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $141,025 | $103,000 | 470,130 | 12 |
| 24 | Fort Worth, TX | $115,846 | $87,000 | 854,113 | 26 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $117,151 | $88,000 | 2,303,482 | 131 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,257 | $83,000 | 1,567,872 | 93 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $119,314 | $88,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $140,809 | $103,000 | 351,043 | 9 |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $120,734 | $87,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $141,595 | $103,000 | 3,976,322 | 140 |
| 31 | Albuquerque, NM | $131,931 | $97,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 32 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $112,825 | $85,000 | 260,999 | 17 |
| 33 | Oklahoma City, OK | $111,744 | $85,000 | 638,367 | 26 |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $107,681 | $81,000 | 303,625 | 73 |
| 35 | Atlanta, GA | $107,546 | $82,000 | 472,522 | 71 |
| 36 | Anchorage, AK | $141,400 | $111,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 37 | Cleveland, OH | $111,275 | $84,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 38 | Cincinnati, OH | $105,584 | $80,000 | 298,800 | 40 |
| 39 | Tampa, FL | $112,703 | $85,000 | 377,165 | 78 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $118,678 | $88,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $108,359 | $82,000 | 2,704,958 | 176 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $151,202 | $109,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $139,137 | $102,000 | 1,406,630 | 105 |
| 44 | El Paso, TX | $120,397 | $89,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 45 | Corpus Christi, TX | $118,066 | $88,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 46 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $144,170 | $112,000 | 351,792 | 26 |
| 47 | Tucson, AZ | $118,560 | $87,000 | 530,706 | 9 |
| 48 | Garland, TX | $115,276 | $87,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 49 | Mesa, AZ | $119,307 | $88,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | $109,044 | $82,000 | 672,795 | 26 |
Highest paying cities for software engineers lead
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineer lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $152,851 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $152,662 |
| 3 | Beaverton, OR | $140,393 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $122,230 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $121,344 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $121,005 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $119,605 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $117,567 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $115,275 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $113,181 |
| 11 | Tampa, FL | $112,703 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,257 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $108,359 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $108,111 |
| 15 | Columbus, GA | $108,084 |
| 16 | Jersey City, NJ | $107,917 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $106,880 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $101,984 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $101,665 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $97,454 |
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Updated January 8, 2025