Best cities for a software systems engineer
The best cities for software systems engineers are Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software systems engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software systems engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software systems engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software systems engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software systems engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software systems engineer. While the absolute best city for software systems engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software systems engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a software systems engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for software systems engineers in 2025
1. Fremont, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $137,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 17.26 2. San Jose, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $137,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 24.05 3. San Francisco, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $137,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 5.09 4. Seattle, WA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $123,929 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 4.25 5. Reno, NV
Total software systems engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $113,120 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 3.52 6. Henderson, NV
Total software systems engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $109,367 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 6.36 7. Oakland, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $137,666 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 3.08 8. San Diego, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $119,371 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 13.62 9. Irvine, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $123,930 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 6.46 10. Long Beach, CA
Total software systems engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $125,078 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 4.34
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Best cities for software systems engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Reno, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Oakland, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- (118 software systems engineer jobs)
- (67 software systems engineer jobs)
- (173 software systems engineer jobs)
- (122 software systems engineer jobs)
- (9 software systems engineer jobs)
- (6 software systems engineer jobs)
- (10 software systems engineer jobs)
- (25 software systems engineer jobs)
- (60 software systems engineer jobs)
- (9 software systems engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a software systems engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $137,384 | $102,000 | 233,136 | 118 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $137,239 | $102,000 | 1,025,350 | 67 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $137,871 | $102,000 | 870,887 | 173 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $123,929 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 122 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $113,120 | $84,000 | 245,255 | 9 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $109,367 | $81,000 | 292,969 | 6 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $137,666 | $102,000 | 420,005 | 10 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $119,371 | $89,000 | 1,406,630 | 25 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $123,930 | $92,000 | 266,122 | 60 |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $125,078 | $93,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $97,176 | $72,000 | 559,277 | 23 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $91,926 | $70,000 | 263,016 | 95 |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $124,395 | $92,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $98,652 | $73,000 | 246,645 | 12 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $91,700 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 152 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,705 | $73,000 | 1,615,017 | 57 |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $136,856 | $102,000 | 495,234 | 12 |
| 18 | Irving, TX | $89,079 | $67,000 | 238,289 | 172 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $91,057 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 174 |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $89,604 | $67,000 | 854,113 | 42 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,707 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 56 |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $88,364 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 88 |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $97,955 | $73,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,059 | $81,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $126,435 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 53 |
| 26 | Tucson, AZ | $95,913 | $71,000 | 530,706 | 10 |
| 27 | Omaha, NE | $82,260 | $62,000 | 446,970 | 77 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $89,110 | $67,000 | 1,317,929 | 72 |
| 29 | Anchorage, AK | $118,149 | $97,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 30 | Garland, TX | $88,604 | $67,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $92,006 | $70,000 | 458,880 | 17 |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $112,116 | $84,000 | 639,863 | 12 |
| 33 | Cleveland, OH | $85,292 | $64,000 | 385,809 | 11 |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $91,377 | $68,000 | 465,101 | 58 |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $101,758 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 50 |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $77,093 | $58,000 | 660,388 | 69 |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $136,791 | $101,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,920 | $81,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Fresno, CA | $134,972 | $100,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $131,183 | $97,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $83,958 | $64,000 | 672,795 | 15 |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $97,990 | $73,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 43 | Anaheim, CA | $124,880 | $93,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $98,749 | $73,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | $124,409 | $92,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 46 | Aurora, CO | $91,305 | $68,000 | 361,710 | 20 |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $97,866 | $73,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,180 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $91,836 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $79,184 | $60,000 | 318,449 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for software systems engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. software systems engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $137,871 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $123,929 |
| 3 | Andover, MA | $101,851 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $98,763 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,705 |
| 6 | Bridgewater, NJ | $97,464 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $91,926 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $91,700 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $91,377 |
| 10 | Plymouth, MN | $88,568 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,707 |
| 12 | Lynchburg, VA | $85,263 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $84,411 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $84,124 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $82,260 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $81,736 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $81,337 |
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Updated January 8, 2025