Best cities for software engineers
Mid-level engineer, 3–7 years experience, generalist or backend. Scores combine cost-of-living-adjusted take-home pay (45%), hiring velocity from live postings (40%), and salary growth (15%).
Top pick: Raleigh, NC — Raleigh: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
- 01NCRaleigh
Raleigh: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score77/100Median pay$133kReal take-home$93kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity74/100 - 02WASeattle
Seattle: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline, and above-average salary growth.
Score73/100Median pay$168kReal take-home$82kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity86/100 - 03TXAustin
Austin: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score70/100Median pay$134kReal take-home$86kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity84/100 - 04NCCharlotte
Charlotte: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score64/100Median pay$136kReal take-home$94kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity62/100 - 05GAAtlanta
Atlanta: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score59/100Median pay$133kReal take-home$87kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity71/100 - 06PAPhiladelphia
Philadelphia: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score59/100Median pay$128kReal take-home$96kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 07CASan Francisco
San Francisco: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline, and above-average salary growth.
Score56/100Median pay$187kReal take-home$64kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity81/100 - 08CODenver
Denver: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score54/100Median pay$138kReal take-home$77kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity78/100 - 09AZPhoenix
Phoenix: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score54/100Median pay$132kReal take-home$91kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity56/100 - 10MNMinneapolis
Minneapolis: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score54/100Median pay$128kReal take-home$92kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 11VARichmond
Richmond: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score50/100Median pay$112kReal take-home$91kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 12ILChicago
Chicago: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score47/100Median pay$134kReal take-home$79kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity65/100 - 13FLMiami
Miami: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score45/100Median pay$118kReal take-home$66kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity72/100 - 14TNNashville
Nashville: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score43/100Median pay$127kReal take-home$90kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity53/100 - 15TXHouston
Houston: top-tier real take-home for software engineers after rent and tax, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score42/100Median pay$122kReal take-home$92kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 16TXDallas
Dallas: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score40/100Median pay$132kReal take-home$90kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 17NYNew York
New York: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score39/100Median pay$167kReal take-home$59kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity69/100 - 18MABoston
Boston: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from, and above-average salary growth.
Score31/100Median pay$158kReal take-home$73kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 19DCWashington
Washington: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score28/100Median pay$152kReal take-home$75kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100 - 20CALos Angeles
Los Angeles: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from, and above-average salary growth.
Score14/100Median pay$162kReal take-home$64kafter tax, COL-adj.Velocity18/100