Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Computer Programmers
Find out which cities offer the best salaries for Computer Programmers. Data based on 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.
Highest Paying City
$136,916
San Jose, CA
National Average
$99,149
Across 50 metros
Top 10 Minimum
$106,141
To rank in top 10
| Rank | City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA Cost of Living: 179.8 | $136,916 | $65.83/hr | +38.1% | View Details |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA Cost of Living: 169.3 | $135,030 | $64.92/hr | +36.2% | View Details |
| 3 | Seattle, WA Cost of Living: 149.6 | $119,806 | $57.60/hr | +20.8% | View Details |
| 4 | Boston, MA Cost of Living: 148.4 | $118,609 | $57.02/hr | +19.6% | View Details |
| 5 | Washington, DC Cost of Living: 140.1 | $115,680 | $55.62/hr | +16.7% | View Details |
| 6 | New York, NY Cost of Living: 128.7 | $115,352 | $55.46/hr | +16.3% | View Details |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living: 146.3 | $109,407 | $52.60/hr | +10.3% | View Details |
| 8 | San Diego, CA Cost of Living: 142.8 | $108,588 | $52.21/hr | +9.5% | View Details |
| 9 | Denver, CO Cost of Living: 118.4 | $107,689 | $51.77/hr | +8.6% | View Details |
| 10 | Austin, TX Cost of Living: 105.3 | $106,141 | $51.03/hr | +7.1% | View Details |
All 50 Cities Ranked
San Jose, CA
$137k
/year
San Francisco, CA
$135k
/year
Seattle, WA
$120k
/year
Boston, MA
$119k
/year
Washington, DC
$116k
/year
New York, NY
$115k
/year
Los Angeles, CA
$109k
/year
San Diego, CA
$109k
/year
Denver, CO
$108k
/year
Austin, TX
$106k
/year
Portland, OR
$105k
/year
Sacramento, CA
$103k
/year
Raleigh, NC
$102k
/year
Philadelphia, PA
$101k
/year
Chicago, IL
$101k
/year
Atlanta, GA
$100k
/year
Hartford, CT
$100k
/year
Houston, TX
$100k
/year
Providence, RI
$99k
/year
Riverside, CA
$99k
/year
Minneapolis, MN
$99k
/year
Phoenix, AZ
$99k
/year
Miami, FL
$99k
/year
Baltimore, MD
$99k
/year
Detroit, MI
$97k
/year
Dallas, TX
$97k
/year
Columbus, OH
$96k
/year
Orlando, FL
$95k
/year
Richmond, VA
$95k
/year
Charlotte, NC
$94k
/year
Cincinnati, OH
$94k
/year
Salt Lake City, UT
$94k
/year
Las Vegas, NV
$94k
/year
Nashville, TN
$94k
/year
Tampa, FL
$94k
/year
Pittsburgh, PA
$93k
/year
Milwaukee, WI
$92k
/year
Kansas City, MO
$92k
/year
Cleveland, OH
$92k
/year
New Orleans, LA
$91k
/year
Jacksonville, FL
$90k
/year
Indianapolis, IN
$90k
/year
St. Louis, MO
$90k
/year
Louisville, KY
$88k
/year
San Antonio, TX
$87k
/year
Birmingham, AL
$87k
/year
Tucson, AZ
$86k
/year
Memphis, TN
$86k
/year
Oklahoma City, OK
$85k
/year
El Paso, TX
$85k
/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays Computer Programmers the most?
San Jose, CA pays Computer Programmers the most, with a median salary of $136,916 per year.
What is the average Computer Programmer salary across all cities?
The average Computer Programmer salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $99,149 per year.
Should I consider cost of living when comparing salaries?
Yes! Cities like San Francisco and New York pay higher salaries, but also have higher costs of living. A $80,000 salary in a city with 90 cost of living index has more purchasing power than$100,000 in a city with 150 cost of living index.