Published April 5, 2026 · Updated annually
Highest Paying Cities for Software Engineers 2026
The national median software engineer salary is $132,684, but salaries range from $104,030 to $213,110 depending on the metro area. After adjusting for cost of living, the best city for software engineers is not necessarily the one with the highest headline salary.
Software Engineer Salaries by City (Raw)
| Rank | City | Median Salary | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA, CA | $213,110 | 195.8 | $108,841 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA, CA | $186,640 | 179.6 | $103,920 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA, WA | $167,280 | 149.4 | $111,968 |
| 4 | New York, NY, NY | $166,830 | 187.2 | $89,119 |
| 5 | Boston, MA, MA | $166,090 | 152.1 | $109,198 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA, CA | $163,270 | 160.2 | $101,916 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT, CT | $162,650 | 137.5 | $118,291 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA, CA | $160,920 | 166 | $96,940 |
| 9 | Portland, OR, OR | $156,000 | 130.1 | $119,908 |
| 10 | Washington, DC, DC | $154,930 | 152.8 | $101,394 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA, CA | $139,640 | 124.7 | $111,981 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD, MD | $138,900 | 114.2 | $121,629 |
| 13 | Denver, CO, CO | $137,610 | 112.8 | $121,995 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC, NC | $135,920 | 96.7 | $140,558 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL, IL | $134,380 | 107.3 | $125,238 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO, CO | $134,280 | 104.5 | $128,498 |
| 17 | Austin, TX, TX | $134,120 | 103 | $130,214 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX, TX | $133,290 | 104.1 | $128,040 |
| 19 | Riverside-San Bernardino, CA, CA | $133,270 | 122.4 | $108,881 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA, PA | $133,040 | 118.4 | $112,365 |
After Cost of Living: The Real Rankings
| Rank | City | COL-Adjusted Pay | Raw Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN, TN | $149,500 | $125,580 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO, MO | $143,367 | $129,030 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK, OK | $141,491 | $122,390 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC, NC | $140,558 | $135,920 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX, TX | $140,361 | $128,430 |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL, AL | $138,728 | $125,410 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY, NY | $138,216 | $127,850 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI, MI | $137,497 | $130,760 |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC, NC | $137,119 | $125,190 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL, FL | $137,045 | $130,330 |
Remote Work Changes the Calculus
Remote software engineers earning a San Francisco salary while living in a low-cost city get the best of both worlds. If you earn $160K remotely and live in a city with a COL index of 85, your purchasing power is equivalent to earning $188K in a city at the national average. This is why remote-first companies have become so attractive to developers.
However, some companies adjust pay by location. A San Francisco company that cuts your salary 15% for living in Austin still leaves you ahead after COL adjustment, Austin's cost of living is roughly 30% lower than SF.
Compare any two cities for software engineer pay on our salary calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
In raw dollars, San Francisco/Silicon Valley typically pays the highest software engineer salaries. After cost-of-living adjustment, mid-cost tech hubs often rank higher. Check the tables above for current data from 70 metro areas.
The national median software engineer salary is approximately $132,684. However, salaries range widely by city, company size, and experience level. Entry-level positions start lower while senior engineers in top markets earn $200K+.
It depends on the cost-of-living differential. Moving from a $100K salary in a low-cost city to $150K in San Francisco may not increase your real purchasing power. Use our COL-adjusted rankings to compare before making a move.