Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Software Developers
Find out which cities offer the best salaries for Software Developers. Data based on 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.
Highest Paying City
$181,434
San Francisco, CA
National Average
$133,997
Across 50 metros
Top 10 Minimum
$142,566
To rank in top 10
| Rank | City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA Cost of Living: 169.3 | $181,434 | $87.23/hr | +35.4% | View Details |
| 2 | San Jose, CA Cost of Living: 179.8 | $179,506 | $86.30/hr | +34.0% | View Details |
| 3 | New York, NY Cost of Living: 128.7 | $163,191 | $78.46/hr | +21.8% | View Details |
| 4 | Seattle, WA Cost of Living: 149.6 | $160,713 | $77.27/hr | +19.9% | View Details |
| 5 | Boston, MA Cost of Living: 148.4 | $154,609 | $74.33/hr | +15.4% | View Details |
| 6 | Washington, DC Cost of Living: 140.1 | $149,923 | $72.08/hr | +11.9% | View Details |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living: 146.3 | $149,398 | $71.83/hr | +11.5% | View Details |
| 8 | Austin, TX Cost of Living: 105.3 | $144,954 | $69.69/hr | +8.2% | View Details |
| 9 | San Diego, CA Cost of Living: 142.8 | $143,211 | $68.85/hr | +6.9% | View Details |
| 10 | Denver, CO Cost of Living: 118.4 | $142,566 | $68.54/hr | +6.4% | View Details |
All 50 Cities Ranked
San Francisco, CA
$181k
/year
San Jose, CA
$180k
/year
New York, NY
$163k
/year
Seattle, WA
$161k
/year
Boston, MA
$155k
/year
Washington, DC
$150k
/year
Los Angeles, CA
$149k
/year
Austin, TX
$145k
/year
San Diego, CA
$143k
/year
Denver, CO
$143k
/year
Chicago, IL
$142k
/year
Hartford, CT
$141k
/year
Sacramento, CA
$140k
/year
Minneapolis, MN
$139k
/year
Baltimore, MD
$139k
/year
Riverside, CA
$137k
/year
Philadelphia, PA
$136k
/year
Portland, OR
$136k
/year
Raleigh, NC
$136k
/year
Atlanta, GA
$136k
/year
Providence, RI
$135k
/year
Miami, FL
$134k
/year
Dallas, TX
$133k
/year
Phoenix, AZ
$133k
/year
Charlotte, NC
$132k
/year
Detroit, MI
$131k
/year
Salt Lake City, UT
$131k
/year
Orlando, FL
$130k
/year
Houston, TX
$129k
/year
Tampa, FL
$127k
/year
Las Vegas, NV
$127k
/year
Nashville, TN
$127k
/year
Cincinnati, OH
$126k
/year
Cleveland, OH
$125k
/year
Milwaukee, WI
$124k
/year
Columbus, OH
$123k
/year
New Orleans, LA
$123k
/year
Jacksonville, FL
$123k
/year
Richmond, VA
$123k
/year
Louisville, KY
$123k
/year
San Antonio, TX
$122k
/year
Indianapolis, IN
$122k
/year
Pittsburgh, PA
$121k
/year
Kansas City, MO
$121k
/year
St. Louis, MO
$120k
/year
Memphis, TN
$120k
/year
Birmingham, AL
$119k
/year
Oklahoma City, OK
$117k
/year
Tucson, AZ
$116k
/year
El Paso, TX
$109k
/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays Software Developers the most?
San Francisco, CA pays Software Developers the most, with a median salary of $181,434 per year.
What is the average Software Developer salary across all cities?
The average Software Developer salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $133,997 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.