Best cities for a software specialist
The best cities for software specialists are Memphis, TN, Detroit, MI, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software specialist. While the absolute best city for software specialists is Memphis, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a software specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software specialists in 2025
1. Memphis, TN
Total software specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $78,794 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 25.26 2. Detroit, MI
Total software specialist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $78,707 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 33.77 3. Raleigh, NC
Total software specialist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $85,814 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 16.44 4. Durham, NC
Total software specialist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $85,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 17.55 5. Cleveland, OH
Total software specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $78,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 22.47 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total software specialist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $87,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 11.81 7. Houston, TX
Total software specialist jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $81,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 48.30 8. Toledo, OH
Total software specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $75,631 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 48.12 9. El Paso, TX
Total software specialist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $79,328 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 50.08 10. Dallas, TX
Total software specialist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $78,380 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 26.83
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Best cities for software specialists
- Memphis, TN
- Detroit, MI
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Houston, TX
- Toledo, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Dallas, TX
- (7 software specialist jobs)
- (10 software specialist jobs)
- (6 software specialist jobs)
- (4 software specialist jobs)
- (5 software specialist jobs)
- (8 software specialist jobs)
- (76 software specialist jobs)
- (3 software specialist jobs)
- (4 software specialist jobs)
- (23 software specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $78,794 | $51,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $78,707 | $51,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $85,814 | $59,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $85,577 | $58,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $78,692 | $52,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,671 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $81,048 | $55,000 | 2,303,482 | 76 |
| 8 | Toledo, OH | $75,631 | $49,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $79,328 | $52,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $78,380 | $51,000 | 1,317,929 | 23 |
| 11 | Tucson, AZ | $85,882 | $56,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | $79,289 | $54,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $78,902 | $52,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 14 | Irving, TX | $78,294 | $51,000 | 238,289 | 13 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $82,960 | $56,000 | 842,051 | 9 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $75,440 | $49,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,721 | $47,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 18 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $77,082 | $54,000 | 260,999 | 5 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $84,424 | $57,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $83,658 | $56,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,656 | $53,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 22 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,857 | $57,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 23 | Gilbert, AZ | $84,166 | $54,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $84,151 | $54,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $71,954 | $45,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 26 | Mesa, AZ | $84,023 | $54,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 27 | Austin, TX | $80,698 | $54,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,004 | $59,000 | 264,152 | 7 |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $81,187 | $55,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 30 | Corpus Christi, TX | $81,851 | $56,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $81,844 | $56,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | Glendale, AZ | $83,693 | $53,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 33 | Atlanta, GA | $76,019 | $51,000 | 472,522 | 14 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,509 | $53,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $78,471 | $51,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $78,430 | $51,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 37 | Orlando, FL | $76,275 | $53,000 | 277,173 | 4 |
| 38 | Garland, TX | $78,182 | $51,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $78,025 | $51,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 40 | Baltimore, MD | $83,468 | $57,000 | 614,664 | 6 |
| 41 | Islip, NY | $89,454 | $63,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 42 | Brookhaven, NY | $89,437 | $63,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $77,539 | $50,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Hempstead, NY | $89,363 | $63,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 45 | Oyster Bay, NY | $89,312 | $63,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 46 | New York, NY | $89,232 | $62,000 | 8,537,673 | 16 |
| 47 | Miami, FL | $76,048 | $54,000 | 453,579 | 4 |
| 48 | Irvine, CA | $73,409 | $46,000 | 266,122 | 19 |
| 49 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,083 | $42,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 50 | Newark, NJ | $84,955 | $59,000 | 281,764 | - |
Highest paying cities for software specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. software specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $89,232 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,671 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $85,814 |
| 4 | Glastonbury, CT | $85,382 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,004 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,656 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $83,468 |
| 8 | Cambridge, MA | $82,341 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $81,294 |
| 10 | Pearland, TX | $81,168 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $78,858 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $78,707 |
| 13 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $77,082 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $76,019 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $75,440 |
| 16 | Birmingham, AL | $68,513 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $66,251 |
| 18 | Columbus, IN | $63,594 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $60,086 |
| 20 | Maple Grove, MN | $58,746 |
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Updated January 8, 2025