The Top 50 Best-Paying Cities for Senior Software Engineers in 2023
These are the top 50 best-paying cities for senior 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. A total compensation package is the combined total of a job’s annual cash salary, any stock-based compensation or equity, and a cash bonus if offered.
The average salary of a senior software engineer in the United States is between $109,506 and $498,852 in 2023, according to exclusive pay data and insights from Blind.
A senior 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 senior software engineer in the United States can be as high as $510,292 in 2023.
1. Los Gatos, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $510,292
- Median total compensation: $500,000
- Average annual salary: $498,852
- Median annual salary: $500,000
2. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $357,088
- Median total compensation: $365,000
- Average annual salary: $190,665
- Median annual salary: $195,000
3. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $320,698
- Median total compensation: $320,000
- Average annual salary: $197,758
- Median annual salary: $200,000
4. Kirkland, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $316,976
- Median total compensation: $295,050
- Average annual salary: $179,690
- Median annual salary: $181,500
5. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $299,825
- Median total compensation: $295,000
- Average annual salary: $186,378
- Median annual salary: $185,000
6. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $279,590
- Median total compensation: $261,292
- Average annual salary: $190,745
- Median annual salary: $185,800
7. San Mateo, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $272,968
- Median total compensation: $244,250
- Average annual salary: $187,217
- Median annual salary: $181,000
8. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $271,552
- Median total compensation: $258,000
- Average annual salary: $178,453
- Median annual salary: $174,000
9. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $267,904
- Median total compensation: $264,000
- Average annual salary: $180,323
- Median annual salary: $180,000
10. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $255,720
- Median total compensation: $234,000
- Average annual salary: $181,672
- Median annual salary: $180,000
11. New York
- Average total compensation: $244,418
- Median total compensation: $230,000
- Average annual salary: $187,134
- Median annual salary: $185,000
12. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $243,016
- Median total compensation: $220,000
- Average annual salary: $182,185
- Median annual salary: $173,000
13. Cambridge, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $241,541
- Median total compensation: $225,000
- Average annual salary: $164,149
- Median annual salary: $163,000
14. Santa Monica, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $237,794
- Median total compensation: $237,500
- Average annual salary: $168,831
- Median annual salary: $170,000
15. Boulder, Colo.
- Average total compensation: $234,380
- Median total compensation: $231,000
- Average annual salary: $164,459
- Median annual salary: $165,000
16. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $226,547
- Median total compensation: $211,600
- Average annual salary: $171,942
- Median annual salary: $170,000
17. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $224,586
- Median total compensation: $200,000
- Average annual salary: $174,684
- Median annual salary: $165,000
18. Pleasanton, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $222,067
- Median total compensation: $223,000
- Average annual salary: $160,259
- Median annual salary: $160,000
19. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $218,471
- Median total compensation: $212,000
- Average annual salary: $167,603
- Median annual salary: $167,625
20. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $215,531
- Median total compensation: $213,000
- Average annual salary: $169,810
- Median annual salary: $169,908
21. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $214,497
- Median total compensation: $199,175
- Average annual salary: $172,799
- Median annual salary: $170,000
22. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $205,168
- Median total compensation: $178,500
- Average annual salary: $157,750
- Median annual salary: $155,000
23. Boston
- Average total compensation: $195,018
- Median total compensation: $183,000
- Average annual salary: $157,368
- Median annual salary: $155,000
24. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $193,698
- Median total compensation: $182,242
- Average annual salary: $148,503
- Median annual salary: $140,000
25. Foster City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $193,402
- Median total compensation: $163,000
- Average annual salary: $158,279
- Median annual salary: $141,000
26. Herndon, Va.
- Average total compensation: $192,599
- Median total compensation: $177,100
- Average annual salary: $157,789
- Median annual salary: $160,000
27. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $191,679
- Median total compensation: $174,000
- Average annual salary: $152,386
- Median annual salary: $150,000
28. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $191,147
- Median total compensation: $171,500
- Average annual salary: $151,293
- Median annual salary: $148,300
29. Fremont, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $190,998
- Median total compensation: $187,500
- Average annual salary: $154,832
- Median annual salary: $157,000
30. Denver
- Average total compensation: $182,269
- Median total compensation: $175,000
- Average annual salary: $151,459
- Median annual salary: $150,000
31. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $179,400
- Median total compensation: $156,050
- Average annual salary: $149,353
- Median annual salary: $141,500
32. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $178,388
- Median total compensation: $167,000
- Average annual salary: $150,439
- Median annual salary: $148,000
33. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $178,383
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $154,382
- Median annual salary: $150,163
34. Raleigh, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $177,740
- Median total compensation: $163,000
- Average annual salary: $147,161
- Median annual salary: $144,500
35. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $177,711
- Median total compensation: $168,000
- Average annual salary: $148,937
- Median annual salary: $148,000
36. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $177,607
- Median total compensation: $167,750
- Average annual salary: $147,148
- Median annual salary: $145,000
37. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $174,742
- Median total compensation: $162,000
- Average annual salary: $143,807
- Median annual salary: $140,000
38. Nashville, Tenn.
- Average total compensation: $173,985
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average annual salary: $148,566
- Median annual salary: $142,500
39. Detroit
- Average total compensation: $171,200
- Median total compensation: $154,500
- Average annual salary: $139,147
- Median annual salary: $137,500
40. Indianapolis
- Average total compensation: $169,942
- Median total compensation: $173,000
- Average annual salary: $140,164
- Median annual salary: $140,000
41. Lehi, Utah
- Average total compensation: $169,121
- Median total compensation: $165,000
- Average annual salary: $146,864
- Median annual salary: $150,000
42. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $167,505
- Median total compensation: $160,000
- Average annual salary: $143,821
- Median annual salary: $140,000
43. Miami
- Average total compensation: $166,732
- Median total compensation: $147,600
- Average salary: $135,796
- Median annual salary: $131,000
44. Natick, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $166,326
- Median total compensation: $166,500
- Average salary: $145,170
- Median annual salary: $144,500
45. Phoenix
- Average total compensation: $164,302
- Median total compensation: $158,000
- Average salary: $141,560
- Median annual salary: $143,000
46. Orlando, Fla.
- Average total compensation: $163,980
- Median total compensation: $154,000
- Average salary: $137,664
- Median annual salary: $140,000
47. Houston
- Average total compensation: $160,020
- Median total compensation: $154,000
- Average salary: $139,065
- Median annual salary: $140,000
48. Jersey City, N.J.
- Average total compensation: $159,339
- Median total compensation: $153,500
- Average salary: $140,531
- Median annual salary: $142,000
49. Charlotte, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $158,211
- Median total compensation: $146,400
- Average salary: $139,541
- Median annual salary: $136,000
50. McLean, Va.
- Average total compensation: $153,519
- Median total compensation: $151,250
- Average salary: $144,850
- Median annual salary: $143,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by senior software engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes specialties such as machine learning engineer or mobile software engineer.
Blind aggregated and analyzed a separate list of the best-paying cities for software engineers. This previous list excludes the pay data for more senior roles, such as senior software engineer, software engineering manager, or director of software development.
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.