The Top 22 Best-Paying Cities for Back-End Engineers in 2023
These are the top 22 best-paying cities for back-end engineers in the United States in 2023, according to the more than 8 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by average total compensation, or the combination of a job’s salary, stock-based compensation or equity, and a cash bonus if applicable.
The average salary of a back-end engineer in the United States is between $115,000 and $176,216 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights. Salaries can be significantly higher for senior back-end engineers or directors of engineering.
A back-end engineer’s pay is often higher when taking into account the role’s total compensation. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a back-end engineer in the United States can be as high as $309,350 in 2023.
1. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $309,350
- Median total compensation: $269,000
- Average annual salary: $168,881
- Median annual salary: $175,000
2. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $290,139
- Median total compensation: $287,000
- Average annual salary: $174,767
- Median annual salary: $175,000
3. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $284,554
- Median total compensation: $265,500
- Average annual salary: $163,580
- Median annual salary: $160,000
4. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $276,129
- Median total compensation: $255,000
- Average annual salary: $176,216
- Median annual salary: $175,000
5. New York
- Average total compensation: $247,736
- Median total compensation: $249,000
- Average annual salary: $167,419
- Median annual salary: $170,000
6. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $239,437
- Median total compensation: $232,215
- Average annual salary: $160,673
- Median annual salary: $160,000
7. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $237,467
- Median total compensation: $212,500
- Average annual salary: $148,558
- Median annual salary: $149,500
8. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $234,147
- Median total compensation: $220,000
- Average annual salary: $167,020
- Median annual salary: $161,000
9. Cambridge, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $230,066
- Median total compensation: $211,000
- Average annual salary: $153,933
- Median annual salary: $150,000
10. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $228,767
- Median total compensation: $204,000
- Average annual salary: $164,785
- Median annual salary: $157,500
11. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $219,451
- Median total compensation: $210,000
- Average annual salary: $155,746
- Median annual salary: $151,000
12. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $218,860
- Median total compensation: $204,000
- Average annual salary: $153,302
- Median annual salary: $148,000
13. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $215,543
- Median total compensation: $206,500
- Average annual salary: $166,198
- Median annual salary: $156,000
14. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $214,470
- Median total compensation: $192,000
- Average annual salary: $147,821
- Median annual salary: $140,000
15. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $210,650
- Median total compensation: $208,500
- Average annual salary: $132,350
- Median annual salary: $140,000
16. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $201,786
- Median total compensation: $193,000
- Average annual salary: $151,320
- Median annual salary: $150,000
17. Boston
- Average total compensation: $186,367
- Median total compensation: $189,500
- Average annual salary: $142,175
- Median annual salary: $140,000
18. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $177,662
- Median total compensation: $164,500
- Average annual salary: $134,320
- Median annual salary: $131,000
19. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $177,411
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $131,352
- Median annual salary: $130,000
20. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $169,454
- Median total compensation: $164,000
- Average annual salary: $131,818
- Median annual salary: $150,000
21. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $132,788
- Median total compensation: $135,000
- Average annual salary: $117,538
- Median annual salary: $120,000
22. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $122,660
- Median total compensation: $133,000
- Average annual salary: $115,000
- Median annual salary: $125,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by back-end engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior back-end engineer or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and bonuses.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.