Best cities for a software programmer/analyst
The best cities for software programmer/analysts are Louisville, KY, Glendale, AZ, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software programmer/analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software programmer/analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software programmer/analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software programmer/analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software programmer/analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software programmer/analyst. While the absolute best city for software programmer/analysts is Louisville, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software programmer/analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a software programmer/analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software programmer/analysts in 2025
1. Louisville, KY
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $77,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 1881.02 2. Glendale, AZ
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $76,166 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 828.73 3. Lexington, KY
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $77,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 366.95 4. Oakland, CA
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $91,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 1194.35 5. Scottsdale, AZ
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $76,190 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 548.93 6. Columbus, OH
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $71,538 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 384.53 7. Fremont, CA
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $91,756 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 1021.85 8. Cincinnati, OH
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $71,213 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 422.83 9. Tucson, AZ
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $75,299 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 706.60 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $76,161 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 292.83
Best cities for software programmer/analysts
- Louisville, KY
- Glendale, AZ
- Lexington, KY
- Oakland, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Columbus, OH
- Fremont, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- (29 software programmer/analyst jobs)
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- (16 software programmer/analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software programmer/analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $77,475 | $61,000 | 597,337 | 29 |
| 2 | Glendale, AZ | $76,166 | $58,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $77,802 | $61,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $91,769 | $70,000 | 420,005 | 10 |
| 5 | Scottsdale, AZ | $76,190 | $58,000 | 246,645 | 5 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $71,538 | $56,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $91,756 | $70,000 | 233,136 | 18 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,213 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $75,299 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 7 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,161 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $74,150 | $58,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $70,239 | $55,000 | 595,047 | 11 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $71,683 | $56,000 | 842,051 | 26 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,685 | $54,000 | 303,625 | 12 |
| 15 | Irving, TX | $69,875 | $54,000 | 238,289 | 194 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $91,853 | $70,000 | 870,887 | 19 |
| 17 | San Jose, CA | $91,763 | $70,000 | 1,025,350 | 15 |
| 18 | Nashville, TN | $74,770 | $59,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,103 | $55,000 | 1,567,872 | 10 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $70,651 | $55,000 | 947,890 | 32 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,907 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $90,924 | $69,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $69,882 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 31 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $71,525 | $56,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $69,731 | $54,000 | 286,057 | 19 |
| 26 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,914 | $61,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 27 | Toledo, OH | $71,200 | $56,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 28 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,479 | $55,000 | 311,404 | 20 |
| 29 | Seattle, WA | $88,618 | $68,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | $72,993 | $57,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 31 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,982 | $54,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $80,729 | $63,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 33 | Mesa, AZ | $75,856 | $58,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 34 | Santa Ana, CA | $85,128 | $65,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 35 | Chandler, AZ | $75,837 | $58,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 36 | Houston, TX | $70,245 | $54,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $75,810 | $58,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $86,340 | $66,000 | 3,976,322 | 32 |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $70,725 | $54,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 40 | Durham, NC | $72,961 | $57,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $72,527 | $57,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,309 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 5 |
| 43 | Stockton, CA | $91,241 | $69,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $72,012 | $57,000 | 472,522 | 13 |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $70,176 | $55,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 46 | Winston-Salem, NC | $72,311 | $57,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 47 | Kansas City, MO | $69,913 | $55,000 | 481,420 | 5 |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $90,799 | $69,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 49 | El Paso, TX | $71,862 | $55,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $70,457 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
Highest paying cities for software programmer/analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. software programmer/analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $91,853 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $80,729 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $78,437 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,161 |
| 5 | Richmond, VA | $75,016 |
| 6 | Ellicott City, MD | $73,645 |
| 7 | Cary, NC | $72,924 |
| 8 | Beaverton, OR | $72,747 |
| 9 | Edison, NJ | $72,197 |
| 10 | Duluth, GA | $72,114 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $71,538 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $71,480 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,103 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $70,651 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,479 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $70,239 |
| 17 | Tallahassee, FL | $69,457 |
Software programmer/analyst best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025