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
$173,783
San Francisco, CA
National Average
$128,465
Across 50 metros
Top 10 Minimum
$135,814
To rank in top 10
| Rank | City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA Cost of Living: 169.3 | $173,783 | $83.55/hr | +35.3% | View Details |
| 2 | San Jose, CA Cost of Living: 179.8 | $172,724 | $83.04/hr | +34.5% | View Details |
| 3 | New York, NY Cost of Living: 128.7 | $155,187 | $74.61/hr | +20.8% | View Details |
| 4 | Boston, MA Cost of Living: 148.4 | $154,150 | $74.11/hr | +20.0% | View Details |
| 5 | Seattle, WA Cost of Living: 149.6 | $152,907 | $73.51/hr | +19.0% | View Details |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living: 146.3 | $145,551 | $69.98/hr | +13.3% | View Details |
| 7 | San Diego, CA Cost of Living: 142.8 | $144,181 | $69.32/hr | +12.2% | View Details |
| 8 | Washington, DC Cost of Living: 140.1 | $143,795 | $69.13/hr | +11.9% | View Details |
| 9 | Denver, CO Cost of Living: 118.4 | $138,339 | $66.51/hr | +7.7% | View Details |
| 10 | Chicago, IL Cost of Living: 105.4 | $135,814 | $65.30/hr | +5.7% | View Details |
All 50 Cities Ranked
San Francisco, CA
$174k
/year
San Jose, CA
$173k
/year
New York, NY
$155k
/year
Boston, MA
$154k
/year
Seattle, WA
$153k
/year
Los Angeles, CA
$146k
/year
San Diego, CA
$144k
/year
Washington, DC
$144k
/year
Denver, CO
$138k
/year
Chicago, IL
$136k
/year
Portland, OR
$134k
/year
Austin, TX
$134k
/year
Philadelphia, PA
$133k
/year
Sacramento, CA
$133k
/year
Dallas, TX
$131k
/year
Riverside, CA
$130k
/year
Raleigh, NC
$130k
/year
Hartford, CT
$129k
/year
Baltimore, MD
$129k
/year
Providence, RI
$128k
/year
Charlotte, NC
$128k
/year
Atlanta, GA
$128k
/year
Miami, FL
$128k
/year
Minneapolis, MN
$127k
/year
Houston, TX
$127k
/year
Detroit, MI
$126k
/year
Nashville, TN
$126k
/year
Richmond, VA
$124k
/year
Phoenix, AZ
$123k
/year
Orlando, FL
$122k
/year
Cincinnati, OH
$122k
/year
Cleveland, OH
$121k
/year
Milwaukee, WI
$121k
/year
Kansas City, MO
$121k
/year
Salt Lake City, UT
$120k
/year
Tampa, FL
$119k
/year
Indianapolis, IN
$119k
/year
Jacksonville, FL
$119k
/year
Louisville, KY
$119k
/year
Las Vegas, NV
$119k
/year
Columbus, OH
$119k
/year
San Antonio, TX
$118k
/year
New Orleans, LA
$117k
/year
Pittsburgh, PA
$115k
/year
St. Louis, MO
$115k
/year
Oklahoma City, OK
$114k
/year
Tucson, AZ
$114k
/year
Memphis, TN
$112k
/year
Birmingham, AL
$110k
/year
El Paso, TX
$104k
/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays Software Developers the most?
San Francisco, CA pays Software Developers the most, with a median salary of $173,783 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 $128,465 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.