The Top 13 Best-Paying Cities for Software Engineers in the U.S. Midwest
Despite the best efforts of some venture capitalists and Ohio’s local and state governments, the Buckeye State might need to put in some more work to attract tech talent in the U.S. Midwest.
The best-paying cities for software engineers in the U.S. Midwest are the large cities of St. Louis and Chicago, according to a recent analysis from the professional social network Blind. Some of the large tech employers hiring in Missouri’s second-largest city include Amazon, Microsoft, Square and more.
The average total compensation for software engineers in the southern U.S. ranges from $100,468 to $175,463, according to Blind.
Among the top 100 best-paying cities for software engineers in the U.S., 13 are in the Midwest, as reported by the more than 5 million verified professionals on Blind.
Blind analyzed thousands of total compensation packages, including the annual salary and any stock-based compensation or cash bonuses a developer might earn. Check out the top 13 best-paying cities in the midwestern U.S.:
1. St. Louis
- Average total compensation: $175,463
- Median total compensation: $119,250
- Average salary: $125,009
- Median base salary: $112,500
2. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $173,991
- Median total compensation: $136,400
- Average salary: $128,811
- Median base salary: $121,000
3. Milwaukee
- Average total compensation: $164,019
- Median total compensation: $112,500
- Average salary: $156,396
- Median base salary: $104,000
4. Indianapolis
- Average total compensation: $154,989
- Median total compensation: $112,750
- Average salary: $114,071
- Median base salary: $100,000
5. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $145,409
- Median total compensation: $125,000
- Average salary: $121,880
- Median base salary: $119,000
6. Madison, Wisc.
- Average total compensation: $144,254
- Median total compensation: $131,050
- Average salary: $117,593
- Median base salary: $117,500
7. Detroit
- Average total compensation: $142,077
- Median total compensation: $115,000
- Average salary: $108,958
- Median base salary: $100,000
8. Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Average total compensation: $125,885
- Median total compensation: $116,000
- Average salary: $104,698
- Median base salary: $103,500
9. Cincinnati
- Average total compensation: $123,249
- Median total compensation: $99,000
- Average salary: $105,585
- Median base salary: $96,500
10. Columbus, Ohio
- Average total compensation: $119,023
- Median total compensation: $105,000
- Average salary: $106,059
- Median base salary: $100,000
11. Cleveland
- Average total compensation: $104,299
- Median total compensation: $97,500
- Average salary: $95,932
- Median base salary: $93,000
12. Dearborn, Mich.
- Average total compensation: $102,200
- Median total compensation: $100,000
- Average salary: $97,057
- Median base salary: $95,000
13. Kansas City, Mo.
- Average total compensation: $100,468
- Median total compensation: $82,000
- Average salary: $94,736
- Median base salary: $81,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the base salaries and total compensation of software engineers in the United States on its platform. Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including salary and, if applicable, stock-based compensation and annual cash bonuses. The list includes cities in the midwestern U.S., as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, in the top 100 best-paying cities for software engineers in the United States. All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.