Best cities for a system software developer
The best cities for system software developers are San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for system software developers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for system software developers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a system software developer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for system software developers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for system software developers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a system software developer. While the absolute best city for system software developers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for system software developers in 2024.
If you're looking for a system software developer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for system software developers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $137,202 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 806.78 2. San Francisco, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $137,643 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 298.78 3. Seattle, WA
Total system software developer jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $118,055 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 603.94 4. Fremont, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $137,249 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 189.23 5. San Diego, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $119,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 820.41 6. Oakland, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $137,430 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 99.53 7. Irvine, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $125,767 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 195.06 8. Chandler, AZ
Total system software developer jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $95,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 594.52 9. Long Beach, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $126,923 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 103.86 10. Santa Ana, CA
Total system software developer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $126,238 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 101.69
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Best cities for system software developers
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Long Beach, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- (133 system software developer jobs)
- (215 system software developer jobs)
- (36 system software developer jobs)
- (60 system software developer jobs)
- (17 system software developer jobs)
- (15 system software developer jobs)
- (84 system software developer jobs)
- (93 system software developer jobs)
- (10 system software developer jobs)
- (8 system software developer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a system software developer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $137,202 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | 133 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $137,643 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 215 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $118,055 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 36 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $137,249 | $101,000 | 233,136 | 60 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $119,947 | $88,000 | 1,406,630 | 17 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $137,430 | $101,000 | 420,005 | 15 |
| 7 | Irvine, CA | $125,767 | $92,000 | 266,122 | 84 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $95,103 | $70,000 | 247,477 | 93 |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA | $126,923 | $93,000 | 470,130 | 10 |
| 10 | Santa Ana, CA | $126,238 | $92,000 | 334,217 | 8 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $91,652 | $69,000 | 263,016 | 59 |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,811 | $70,000 | 246,645 | 17 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,023 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 75 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $89,559 | $66,000 | 947,890 | 60 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $90,382 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 20 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $84,539 | $65,000 | 860,090 | 86 |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | $103,389 | $79,000 | 264,152 | 70 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,843 | $70,000 | 1,615,017 | 62 |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $102,941 | $75,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $91,710 | $69,000 | 458,880 | 30 |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $132,848 | $97,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 22 | Portland, OR | $109,725 | $81,000 | 639,863 | 31 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $103,439 | $75,000 | 632,912 | 15 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $87,623 | $65,000 | 238,289 | 162 |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $89,589 | $68,000 | 842,051 | 86 |
| 26 | Plano, TX | $87,130 | $65,000 | 286,057 | 154 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $128,273 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 54 |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $104,663 | $76,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $95,148 | $70,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $88,462 | $65,000 | 2,303,482 | 201 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $82,983 | $63,000 | 298,800 | 39 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $86,495 | $66,000 | 385,809 | 14 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $103,086 | $79,000 | 673,184 | 63 |
| 34 | Dallas, TX | $87,647 | $65,000 | 1,317,929 | 99 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $103,329 | $79,000 | 281,764 | 12 |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,330 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 36 |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $126,707 | $92,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $89,289 | $65,000 | 1,492,510 | 38 |
| 39 | Sacramento, CA | $135,628 | $99,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 40 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,247 | $64,000 | 595,047 | 75 |
| 41 | Stockton, CA | $136,336 | $100,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 42 | New York, NY | $104,028 | $79,000 | 8,537,673 | 148 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $135,079 | $99,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | North Las Vegas, NV | $103,275 | $75,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 45 | El Paso, TX | $93,351 | $68,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $126,208 | $92,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,174 | $63,000 | 311,404 | 73 |
| 48 | Chicago, IL | $87,744 | $68,000 | 2,704,958 | 192 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $84,812 | $64,000 | 472,522 | 179 |
| 50 | Glendale, AZ | $95,879 | $70,000 | 245,895 | - |
Highest paying cities for system software developers
| Rank | City | Avg. system software developer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $137,643 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $118,055 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $109,877 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $104,028 |
| 5 | Hoboken, NJ | $103,417 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $103,086 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,843 |
| 8 | Bloomington, MN | $94,125 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,023 |
| 10 | Troy, MI | $90,463 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $89,589 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $89,559 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $87,744 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $84,916 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $84,539 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,247 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $82,174 |
| 18 | Kokomo, IN | $80,102 |
| 19 | West Palm Beach, FL | $75,436 |
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Updated January 8, 2025