The Top 50 Best-Paying Cities for Software Engineers in 2023
These are the top 50 best-paying cities for software 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 the highest average total compensation, the combined total of a job’s annual salary, any equity or stock-based compensation, and a cash bonus if offered.
The average salary of a software engineer in the United States is between $112,430 and $168,043 in 2023, according to exclusive pay data and insights from Blind.
A software engineer’s pay is often higher when the role’s total compensation is considered. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a software engineer in the United States can be as high as $272,178 in 2023.
1. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $272,178
- Median total compensation: $251,500
- Average annual salary: $166,503
- Median annual salary: $165,000
2. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $249,086
- Median total compensation: $240,000
- Average annual salary: $168,043
- Median annual salary: $165,000
3. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $228,634
- Median total compensation: $215,000
- Average annual salary: $155,867
- Median annual salary: $152,000
4. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $224,850
- Median total compensation: $201,740
- Average annual salary: $159,454
- Median annual salary: $155,000
5. San Bruno, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $217,596
- Median total compensation: $201,000
- Average annual salary: $148,856
- Median annual salary: $146,000
6. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $213,824
- Median total compensation: $202,400
- Average annual salary: $155,030
- Median annual salary: $155,000
7. Kirkland, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $201,988
- Median total compensation: $182,575
- Average annual salary: $136,280
- Median annual salary: $136,485
8. East Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $200,392
- Median total compensation: $189,000
- Average annual salary: $158,744
- Median annual salary: $158,350
9. New York
- Average total compensation: $193,249
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $150,353
- Median annual salary: $150,000
10. San Mateo, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $193,152
- Median total compensation: $183,750
- Average annual salary: $149,601
- Median annual salary: $148,050
11. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $191,913
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $143,350
- Median annual salary: $142,800
12. Santa Monica, Calif
- Average total compensation: $191,139
- Median total compensation: $170,000
- Average annual salary: $139,187
- Median annual salary: $138,000
13. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $190,903
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average annual salary: $150,406
- Median annual salary: $148,000
14. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $190,495
- Median total compensation: $182,000
- Average annual salary: $151,160
- Median annual salary: $150,000
15. Oakland, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $183,380
- Median total compensation: $170,000
- Average annual salary: $155,050
- Median annual salary: $141,000
16. Foster City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $181,950
- Median total compensation: $177,367
- Average annual salary: $150,195
- Median annual salary: $144,000
17. Pleasanton, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $181,234
- Median total compensation: $182,460
- Average annual salary: $139,287
- Median annual salary: $139,000
18. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $180,469
- Median total compensation: $171,000
- Average annual salary: $144,895
- Median annual salary: $140,000
19. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $178,372
- Median total compensation: $167,005
- Average annual salary: $145,682
- Median annual salary: $141,001
20. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $177,052
- Median total compensation: $164,386
- Average annual salary: $136,402
- Median annual salary: $133,000
21. Arlington, Texas
- Average total compensation: $176,664
- Median total compensation: $175,000
- Average annual salary: $138,164
- Median annual salary: $135,000
22. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $176,481
- Median total compensation: $160,748
- Average annual salary: $139,336
- Median annual salary: $137,000
23. Boulder, Colo.
- Average total compensation: $174,845
- Median total compensation: $161,000
- Average annual salary: $130,693
- Median annual salary: $129,000
24. Newark, N.J.
- Average total compensation: $171,289
- Median total compensation: $166,500
- Average annual salary: $137,431
- Median annual salary: $134,000
25. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $169,830
- Median total compensation: $165,900
- Average annual salary: $134,349
- Median annual salary: $135,000
26. Milpitas, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $168,564
- Median total compensation: $163,050
- Average annual salary: $145,149
- Median annual salary: $141,000
27. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $168,407
- Median total compensation: $160,000
- Average annual salary: $132,109
- Median annual salary: $130,000
28. Herndon, Va.
- Average total compensation: $164,078
- Median total compensation: $153,000
- Average annual salary: $131,901
- Median annual salary: $129,750
29. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $163,553
- Median total compensation: $150,750
- Average annual salary: $126,762
- Median annual salary: $125,250
30. Cambridge, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $162,981
- Median total compensation: $156,700
- Average annual salary: $130,043
- Median annual salary: $129,000
31. Miami
- Average total compensation: $161,068
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $133,117
- Median annual salary: $130,000
32. Denver
- Average total compensation: $158,457
- Median total compensation: $145,400
- Average annual salary: $130,190
- Median annual salary: $129,000
33. Tempe, Ariz.
- Average total compensation: $158,320
- Median total compensation: $148,500
- Average annual salary: $131,924
- Median annual salary: $129,000
34. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $157,106
- Median total compensation: $151,200
- Average annual salary: $132,447
- Median annual salary: $130,000
35. Boston
- Average total compensation: $155,998
- Median total compensation: $145,450
- Average annual salary: $129,766
- Median annual salary: $126,000
36. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $155,150
- Median total compensation: $145,000
- Average annual salary: $126,090
- Median annual salary: $124,000
37. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $153,405
- Median total compensation: $144,000
- Average annual salary: $127,712
- Median annual salary: $125,000
38. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $150,403
- Median total compensation: $130,000
- Average annual salary: $124,047
- Median annual salary: $120,000
39. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $149,144
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average annual salary: $125,839
- Median annual salary: $120,000
40. Fremont, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $148,949
- Median total compensation: $145,000
- Average annual salary: $128,849
- Median annual salary: $127,500
41. Nashville, Tenn.
- Average total compensation: $142,646
- Median total compensation: $132,000
- Average annual salary: $121,715
- Median annual salary: $120,000
42. Sacramento, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $142,569
- Median total compensation: $138,250
- Average annual salary: $126,558
- Median annual salary: $120,000
43. Reston, Va.
- Average total compensation: $140,844
- Median total compensation: $142,000
- Average salary: $118,464
- Median annual salary: $120,000
44. Madison, Wisc.
- Average total compensation: $140,416
- Median total compensation: $137,429
- Average salary: $124,489
- Median annual salary: $120,000
45. Jersey City, N.J.
- Average total compensation: $138,503
- Median total compensation: $137,000
- Average salary: $124,217
- Median annual salary: $125,000
46. Hillsboro, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $136,071
- Median total compensation: $127,900
- Average salary: $116,735
- Median annual salary: $110,000
47. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $135,422
- Median total compensation: $131,000
- Average salary: $115,229
- Median annual salary: $114,000
48. McLean, Va.
- Average total compensation: $135,042
- Median total compensation: $131,000
- Average salary: $129,119
- Median annual salary: $127,000
49. Charlotte, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $134,301
- Median total compensation: $123,500
- Average salary: $118,165
- Median annual salary: $115,000
50. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $133,247
- Median total compensation: $120,000
- Average salary: $112,430
- Median annual salary: $110,000