The Top 30 Best-Paying Cities for Software Engineering Managers in 2023

These are the top 30 best-paying cities for software engineering managers 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 role’s annual salary paid in cash, any equity or stock-based compensation, and a cash bonus if offered by the company.

The average salary of a software engineering manager in the United States is between $150,088 and $234,115 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights.

A software engineering manager’s pay is often higher when the job’s total compensation is considered. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a software engineering manager in the United States can be as high as $531,807 in 2023.

1. Menlo Park, Calif.

Average total compensation: $531,807
Median total compensation: $513,000
Average annual salary: $234,115
Median annual salary: $230,000

2. Cupertino, Calif.

Average total compensation: $393,340
Median total compensation: $428,500
Average annual salary: $216,681
Median annual salary: $225,000

3. Sunnyvale, Calif.

Average total compensation: $363,800
Median total compensation: $350,000
Average annual salary: $209,883
Median annual salary: $215,000

4. Mountain View, Calif.

Average total compensation: $349,254
Median total compensation: $320,000
Average annual salary: $210,400
Median annual salary: $220,000

5. San Francisco

Average total compensation: $347,701
Median total compensation: $320,000
Average annual salary: $221,662
Median annual salary: $220,000

6. Palo Alto, Calif.

Average total compensation: $340,182
Median total compensation: $320,000
Average annual salary: $207,107
Median annual salary: $210,000

7. Redmond, Wash.

Average total compensation: $316,366
Median total compensation: $304,500
Average annual salary: $192,346
Median annual salary: $190,000

8. New York

Average total compensation: $316,310
Median total compensation: $300,000
Average annual salary: $210,175
Median annual salary: $200,000

9. Seattle

Average total compensation: $307,898
Median total compensation: $300,000
Average annual salary: $182,391
Median annual salary: $160,000

10. San Jose, Calif.

Average total compensation: $284,819
Median total compensation: $268,000
Average annual salary: $202,802
Median annual salary: $200,000

11. Austin, Texas

Average total compensation: $267,773
Median total compensation: $250,000
Average annual salary: $177,631
Median annual salary: $168,000

12. Portland, Ore.

Average total compensation: $259,882
Median total compensation: $235,000
Average annual salary: $180,323
Median annual salary: $180,000

13. San Diego

Average total compensation: $259,120
Median total compensation: $229,250
Average annual salary: $175,770
Median annual salary: $170,000

14. Santa Clara, Calif.

Average total compensation: $251,710
Median total compensation: $236,000
Average annual salary: $194,120
Median annual salary: $190,000

15. Bellevue, Wash.

Average total compensation: $237,074
Median total compensation: $212,000
Average annual salary: $188,549
Median annual salary: $182,000

16. Irvine, Calif.

Average total compensation: $234,749
Median total compensation: $222,245
Average annual salary: $176,631
Median annual salary: $175,500

17. Boston

Average total compensation: $234,201
Median total compensation: $221,000
Average annual salary: $170,353
Median annual salary: $165,000

18. Los Angeles

Average total compensation: $230,943
Median total compensation: $211,000
Average annual salary: $177,430
Median annual salary: $177,750

19. Denver

Average total compensation: $226,129
Median total compensation: $202,500
Average annual salary: $181,124
Median annual salary: $173,500

20. Redwood City, Calif.

Average total compensation: $226,000
Median total compensation: $235,000
Average annual salary: $188,642
Median annual salary: $175,000

21. Washington, D.C.

Average total compensation: $225,691
Median total compensation: $200,000
Average annual salary: $184,553
Median annual salary: $172,000

22. Phoenix

Average total compensation: $223,127
Median total compensation: $205,000
Average annual salary: $166,350
Median annual salary: $166,500

23. Minneapolis

Average total compensation: $215,457
Median total compensation: $180,000
Average annual salary: $165,615
Median annual salary: $171,000

24. Dallas

Average total compensation: $207,026
Median total compensation: $175,500
Average annual salary: $165,582
Median annual salary: $160,000

25. Houston

Average total compensation: $206,576
Median total compensation: $187,000
Average annual salary: $163,139
Median annual salary: $162,000

26. Orlando, Fla.

Average total compensation: $199,583
Median total compensation: $169,500
Average annual salary: $155,166
Median annual salary: $157,500

27. Detroit

Average total compensation: $196,819
Median total compensation: $201,600
Average annual salary: $150,088
Median annual salary: $159,000

28. Chicago

Average total compensation: $195,483
Median total compensation: $171,000
Average annual salary: $159,439
Median annual salary: $157,500

29. Atlanta

Average total compensation: $191,889
Median total compensation: $180,000
Average annual salary: $158,395
Median annual salary: $155,000

30. Raleigh, N.C.

Average total compensation: $189,777
Median total compensation: $183,750
Average annual salary: $156,222
Median annual salary: $161,500

Methodology

Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by software engineering managers 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.