Best cities for a software programmer
The best cities for software programmers are Columbus, OH, Memphis, TN, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software programmer. While the absolute best city for software programmers is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software programmers in 2025
1. Columbus, OH
Total software programmer jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $69,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 294.80 2. Memphis, TN
Total software programmer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $69,805 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 190.56 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total software programmer jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $75,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 647.74 4. Phoenix, AZ
Total software programmer jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $75,145 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 322.11 5. Nashville, TN
Total software programmer jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $70,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 178.49 6. Henderson, NV
Total software programmer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $74,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 205.68 7. Oakland, CA
Total software programmer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $90,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 298.59 8. Fort Wayne, IN
Total software programmer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $71,401 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 137.34 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total software programmer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $71,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 132.20 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total software programmer jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $72,608 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 89.73
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Best cities for software programmers
- Columbus, OH
- Memphis, TN
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Nashville, TN
- Henderson, NV
- Oakland, CA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- (115 software programmer jobs)
- (33 software programmer jobs)
- (59 software programmer jobs)
- (176 software programmer jobs)
- (41 software programmer jobs)
- (5 software programmer jobs)
- (25 software programmer jobs)
- (7 software programmer jobs)
- (35 software programmer jobs)
- (38 software programmer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $69,352 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 115 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $69,805 | $54,000 | 652,717 | 33 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,073 | $57,000 | 246,645 | 59 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,145 | $57,000 | 1,615,017 | 176 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $70,352 | $55,000 | 660,388 | 41 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $74,935 | $55,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $90,747 | $67,000 | 420,005 | 25 |
| 8 | Fort Wayne, IN | $71,401 | $55,000 | 264,488 | 7 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,688 | $56,000 | 303,625 | 35 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $72,608 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | 38 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $90,884 | $67,000 | 870,887 | 141 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $70,550 | $54,000 | 947,890 | 170 |
| 13 | Arlington, TX | $69,810 | $54,000 | 392,772 | 31 |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $90,542 | $67,000 | 233,136 | 41 |
| 15 | Irving, TX | $69,735 | $54,000 | 238,289 | 153 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $70,434 | $54,000 | 2,303,482 | 19 |
| 17 | Winston-Salem, NC | $71,121 | $56,000 | 242,203 | 10 |
| 18 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,812 | $54,000 | 854,113 | 47 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $69,756 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 185 |
| 20 | Mesa, AZ | $75,014 | $57,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 21 | Greensboro, NC | $71,234 | $56,000 | 287,027 | 13 |
| 22 | Chandler, AZ | $75,052 | $57,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 23 | Plano, TX | $69,614 | $54,000 | 286,057 | 161 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $71,480 | $56,000 | 458,880 | 31 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $69,180 | $54,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $66,704 | $52,000 | 672,795 | 113 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $90,399 | $67,000 | 1,025,350 | 67 |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $68,912 | $54,000 | 472,522 | 214 |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,253 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $69,404 | $54,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $88,751 | $65,000 | 522,053 | 6 |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $77,287 | $57,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 33 | Durham, NC | $71,450 | $56,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 34 | Sacramento, CA | $89,974 | $66,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 35 | Tulsa, OK | $67,700 | $52,000 | 403,090 | 9 |
| 36 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,073 | $55,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $79,353 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 17 |
| 38 | Cincinnati, OH | $69,007 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $75,129 | $55,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | $88,477 | $65,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 41 | Charlotte, NC | $70,831 | $55,000 | 842,051 | 33 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $73,512 | $56,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 43 | Glendale, AZ | $75,176 | $57,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 44 | Chicago, IL | $70,485 | $54,000 | 2,704,958 | 86 |
| 45 | Jersey City, NJ | $70,139 | $54,000 | 264,152 | 113 |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $75,024 | $57,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $67,750 | $52,000 | 252,551 | 11 |
| 48 | Tampa, FL | $66,903 | $52,000 | 377,165 | 73 |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $74,853 | $57,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 50 | Milwaukee, WI | $67,912 | $52,000 | 595,047 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for software programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. software programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $90,884 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $81,074 |
| 3 | Wilmington, DE | $75,222 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,145 |
| 5 | Richmond, VA | $73,827 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $73,715 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $72,608 |
| 8 | Cary, NC | $71,445 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $70,550 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $70,485 |
| 11 | Edison, NJ | $70,158 |
| 12 | Collierville, TN | $69,874 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $69,352 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $69,287 |
| 15 | Duluth, GA | $68,981 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $66,903 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $66,704 |
| 18 | Dothan, AL | $60,576 |
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Updated January 8, 2025