Best cities for a software engineering manager
The best cities for software engineering managers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software engineering managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software engineering managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software engineering manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software engineering managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software engineering managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software engineering manager. While the absolute best city for software engineering managers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software engineering managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software engineering manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software engineering managers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Software engineering manager jobs in San FranciscoTotal software engineering manager jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $170,480 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 8.74 2. Seattle, WA
Software engineering manager jobs in SeattleTotal software engineering manager jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $164,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 5.18 3. Oakland, CA
Software engineering manager jobs in OaklandTotal software engineering manager jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $170,026 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 4.37 4. San Jose, CA
Software engineering manager jobs in San JoseTotal software engineering manager jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $169,527 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 3.46 5. Henderson, NV
Software engineering manager jobs in HendersonTotal software engineering manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $127,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 4.02 6. Philadelphia, PA
Software engineering manager jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal software engineering manager jobs: 125 Average annual salary: $115,199 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 3.60 7. Fremont, CA
Software engineering manager jobs in FremontTotal software engineering manager jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $169,614 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 2.01 8. San Diego, CA
Software engineering manager jobs in San DiegoTotal software engineering manager jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $150,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location quotient: 2.73 9. Las Vegas, NV
Software engineering manager jobs in Las VegasTotal software engineering manager jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $128,326 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 1.95 10. Chandler, AZ
Software engineering manager jobs in ChandlerTotal software engineering manager jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $120,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.25
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Best cities for software engineering managers
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fremont, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Chandler, AZ
- (115 software engineering manager jobs)
- (58 software engineering manager jobs)
- (30 software engineering manager jobs)
- (176 software engineering manager jobs)
- (8 software engineering manager jobs)
- (125 software engineering manager jobs)
- (29 software engineering manager jobs)
- (119 software engineering manager jobs)
- (33 software engineering manager jobs)
- (16 software engineering manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software engineering manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $170,480 | $114,000 | 870,887 | 115 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $164,503 | $106,000 | 704,352 | 58 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $170,026 | $114,000 | 420,005 | 30 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $169,527 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 176 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $127,747 | $85,000 | 292,969 | 8 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $115,199 | $85,000 | 1,567,872 | 125 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $169,614 | $114,000 | 233,136 | 29 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $150,885 | $101,000 | 1,406,630 | 119 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $128,326 | $85,000 | 632,912 | 33 |
| 10 | Chandler, AZ | $120,073 | $80,000 | 247,477 | 16 |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $155,421 | $104,000 | 266,122 | 40 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $167,489 | $111,000 | 495,234 | 25 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $157,748 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 119 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $157,980 | $102,000 | 298,192 | 5 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $110,446 | $81,000 | 458,880 | 65 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $120,758 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 81 |
| 17 | Greensboro, NC | $109,416 | $81,000 | 287,027 | 18 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $140,655 | $90,000 | 639,863 | 35 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $123,924 | $91,000 | 673,184 | 166 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $107,298 | $72,000 | 947,890 | 184 |
| 21 | Plano, TX | $106,214 | $73,000 | 286,057 | 106 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $135,029 | $89,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $105,089 | $77,000 | 860,090 | 64 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $111,634 | $82,000 | 303,625 | 36 |
| 25 | Irving, TX | $106,617 | $73,000 | 238,289 | 77 |
| 26 | Long Beach, CA | $156,612 | $105,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 27 | New York, NY | $131,484 | $97,000 | 8,537,673 | 135 |
| 28 | Fort Worth, TX | $106,955 | $73,000 | 854,113 | 24 |
| 29 | Scottsdale, AZ | $120,500 | $80,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $156,180 | $105,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 31 | Stockton, CA | $167,827 | $112,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $165,235 | $111,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | Chicago, IL | $108,243 | $80,000 | 2,704,958 | 215 |
| 34 | North Las Vegas, NV | $127,851 | $85,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $110,384 | $81,000 | 263,016 | 17 |
| 36 | Atlanta, GA | $105,207 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 201 |
| 37 | Bakersfield, CA | $161,993 | $109,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $111,837 | $83,000 | 672,795 | 17 |
| 39 | Nashville, TN | $98,028 | $71,000 | 660,388 | 39 |
| 40 | Cleveland, OH | $107,406 | $79,000 | 385,809 | 11 |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $155,832 | $104,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $119,999 | $80,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 43 | Riverside, CA | $155,222 | $104,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 44 | Charlotte, NC | $107,421 | $79,000 | 842,051 | 64 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $120,877 | $81,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Lincoln, NE | $97,696 | $69,000 | 280,364 | 19 |
| 47 | Chula Vista, CA | $150,192 | $100,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $103,655 | $76,000 | 597,337 | 16 |
| 49 | Gilbert, AZ | $119,937 | $80,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 50 | Minneapolis, MN | $104,498 | $77,000 | 413,651 | 58 |
Highest paying cities for software engineering managers
| Rank | City | Avg. software engineering manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $170,480 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $164,503 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $131,484 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $123,924 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $120,758 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $119,275 |
| 7 | Edison, NJ | $118,729 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $116,821 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $115,199 |
| 10 | McLean, VA | $112,074 |
| 11 | Wilmington, DE | $111,223 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $110,446 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $108,243 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $107,298 |
| 15 | Alpharetta, GA | $105,482 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $105,089 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $104,498 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $103,806 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $99,470 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $99,316 |
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Updated January 8, 2025