The Top 15 Best-Paying Cities for Directors of Software Development in 2023
These are the top 15 best-paying cities for directors of software development 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. Total compensation is a combination of a job’s annual salary paid in cash, any equity or stock-based compensation, and a cash bonus if offered by an employer.
The average salary of a director of software development in the United States is between $164,200 and $251,846 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights.
A director of software development’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 director of software development in the United States can be as high as $509,923 in 2023.
1. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $509,923
- Median total compensation: $391,000
- Average annual salary: $251,846
- Median annual salary: $246,000
2. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $479,135
- Median total compensation: $449,000
- Average annual salary: $235,117
- Median annual salary: $222,500
3. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $398,973
- Median total compensation: $375,000
- Average annual salary: $245,894
- Median annual salary: $240,000
4. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $391,462
- Median total compensation: $330,000
- Average annual salary: $223,553
- Median annual salary: $250,000
5. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $386,028
- Median total compensation: $390,500
- Average annual salary: $238,000
- Median annual salary: $237,500
6. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $381,004
- Median total compensation: $340,000
- Average annual salary: $250,337
- Median annual salary: $247,000
7. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $354,120
- Median total compensation: $304,000
- Average annual salary: $225,891
- Median annual salary: $218,000
8. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $318,460
- Median total compensation: $283,000
- Average annual salary: $212,015
- Median annual salary: $203,500
9. New York
- Average total compensation: $316,270
- Median total compensation: $277,500
- Average annual salary: $235,714
- Median annual salary: $227,500
10. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $295,136
- Median total compensation: $243,000
- Average annual salary: $177,525
- Median annual salary: $163,100
11. Boston
- Average total compensation: $293,178
- Median total compensation: $280,000
- Average annual salary: $190,748
- Median annual salary: $195,000
12. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $282,406
- Median total compensation: $270,000
- Average annual salary: $217,600
- Median annual salary: $210,000
13. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $252,916
- Median total compensation: $254,000
- Average annual salary: $189,333
- Median annual salary: $200,000
14. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $244,559
- Median total compensation: $249,000
- Average annual salary: $188,521
- Median annual salary: $190,000
15. Phoenix
- Average total compensation: $198,660
- Median total compensation: $200,000
- Average annual salary: $164,200
- Median annual salary: $165,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by directors of software development 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.
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.