Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Software Engineers [2020]

The Software Industry has been in the booming phase since the 1960s when computers were first mass-produced. Since then, the demand for professionals in the industry has been on a steady rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a projected percent change in employment from 2018-28 to 21% compared to the average change in employment of 5 percent. It affirms the fact that tech giants are always looking to expand their business across the globe. We listed are the top 10 highest paying cities for software engineers.

However, life as a Software Engineer can prove to be demanding at times. The lucrative, high-paying job comes with a fair share of tight deadlines and growing business expectations. One of the most flexible aspects of the job as a Software Engineer is being able to work remotely, but some cities have become the global hotspots for the industry over time. These cities see numerous inbound transfers of software engineers every year.  

Things to look for your ideal city of work

While most employers in the industry provide for a hefty paycheck, life in these cities is governed by several factors. Let us take a look at these:

Cost of Living

A fat paycheck may not necessarily guarantee a rich lifestyle if the cost of living in a particular city is very high. Housing prices, transportation costs, taxes, cost of essential commodities, and medical expenses are the kind of costs that are to be considered under the banner of the cost of living. The reason why you should particularly lookout for the cost of living is to ensure that regardless of the amount of money you earn, you are always left with the money—the money which you can then spend on things that matter to you or your loved ones.. 

Recreation and Social Life

All work and no play can make a professional’s life harder. A city offering an entertaining and lively social experience can help to take off the edge of a job on weekends and mentally prepare for the weekdays. One thing to note here, however, is that not everyone enjoys life the same way. Be sure to look out for the things that you want.

If you like to party, then make sure that the city of work that you choose has an abundance of clubs and bars. However, if your idea of fun is to have a relaxing day at the beach or roaming around in a lush green environment or reading a book, make sure that your workplace could provide you with the ones you desire. 

Networking and Exposure

Cities with an active network of professionals can prove essential for the growth of one’s career. It would also add to the industry outlook and cultural knowledge of an employee. So, making sure that the city of your choice has well-established offices of not just one but many companies. You should also never skimp out on any chance to broaden your network. Thus, picking a place where expanding your network (through seminars, events, etc.) is relatively easy.

Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Software Engineers

a. In India

Looking at best cities for software engineering, there are viable options worldwide as well as throughout India. Let’s take a look at some of these cities within India:

Bangalore

It is kind of hard to talk about software engineering in India and not mention Bangalore(Bengaluru). Payscale.com estimates a median salary of 602k Indian National Rupee for a software engineer based in this city, making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. The city, often regarded as the Silicon Valley of India, also has a fame for planned infrastructure and active social life, providing an excellent work-life balance. So, Bangalore is one of the best cities for software engineering in India. 

Source

Gurgaon

According to Payscale.com, one of the Indian cities to recently make a mark as an up and coming flourishing commercial hub, Gurgaon(Gurugram) has a median salary of 663k INR making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. The proximity to the national capital ensures a good network of other commercially active cities like Noida and New Delhi, making it the right choice for a tech giant’s base city. Suppose the city is good enough for a tech giant to consider it as their base of operations. In that case, it is a good option for any software engineer looking for a job near the capital area of India.

Source

Pune

Pune is the second most important city in India concerning the sheer volume of jobs that have been created. Pune shares its border with another town, rather known as the city of dreams Mumbai, thus increasing traffic flow more than usual. If you are considering a job in the sector of Software engineering, then definitely Pune will be one of the safer bets you could make during your careers. With many tech companies basing their operations from Pune’s city, the pay here is also not too bad. If you are a software engineer and live in Pune, you can make about 530,918 Indian National Rupees making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers.

Source

Hyderabad

Hyderabad is located in the heart of the Southern part of India, which used to serve as a capital for India’s two different states. Now, this capital city of Telangana’s state boasts of a rich heritage of both culture and technology. Hyderabad also houses the home of the tech industry’s biggest names, like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. If you choose to work in Hyderabad’s city, you are bound to enjoy two things, one the cuisine and second the money you will make. The average salary of a software engineer working from the city of Hyderabad is supposed to earn about 489,505 Indian National Rupees making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers.

Source

Chennai

Yet another city from the southern part of India. Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. Boasting an employment growth rate of about 6% annually, there sure are more jobs to arise. It is not only because of the sheer number of jobs in Chennai, one of the highest paying cities for software engineering in India. But, because of the actual figure, you would make. So, if your base of operations is from the city of Chennai and you are a software engineer, you would earn on an average of about 444,235 Indian National Rupees.

Source

Read: Java Developer Salary in India

b.  From all around the globe

While these cities are limited to India, there are other cities across the globe which are often regarded as the highest paying cities for software engineering. Let’s take a look at some of these:

San Francisco, United States

Silicon Valley needs no introduction, being the epicentre of the industry. It provides a median salary of 120,200 USD, an equivalent of 87,90,045 INR making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. However, it does side with a higher cost of living, and the culture demands long working hours. Even with the downsides, San Francisco always tops the list due to its rich network and infrastructure. 

Source

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne city on the Island of Australia is home to a thriving scene for software engineering. The unique position of the continent of Australia makes it difficult for recruiters to hire professional personnel to fulfil all the open jobs in the sector of software engineering. Melbourne’s predicament allows for some lucrative amount of money to be earned, who decide to work in the city of Melbourne, Australia. With a median salary of 78,888 Australian Dollars, an equivalent of 42,50,282 INR making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. Melbourne is one of the best cities for software engineering in the entire world. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is very dense with several data centres, making it one of the best software engineering cities. With a median salary of 51,809 Euros, which is an equivalent of 45,11,029 INR, it provides for fulfilling living standards packed with active social life. 

Montreal, Canada

Most tech giants of Silicon Valley like Google, Facebook, Uber, Microsoft have bases in Montreal. With a median salary of 70,828 Canadian Dollars, an equivalent of 39,51,078 INR, making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. Montreal is definitely on its way in becoming one of the highest paying cities for software engineering.

Berlin, Germany

One of the most attractive aspects of a job in Berlin would be the low cost of living as compared to San Francisco or London. The median salary is 54,345 Euros which is an equivalent of 47,31,839 INR making it one of the highest paying cities for software engineers. The production centric economy of Germany creates a steady demand for software engineers. The work ethics and culture of the city contributes towards a healthy work-life balance, making it one of the best cities for software engineers. 

Source

Also Read: Software Engineer Salary in India

Conclusion

These are the top 10 highest paying cities for software engineers. If the current trend in software engineering is any hint, software engineers’ need is only going to increase in the future. With that, new cities will be transformed into tech hubs, and the existing ones will continue to grow, further adding to the economy. The projected growth rates are going to increase exponentially, hence, improving salary prospects. The salary is not going to be the only thing that will be improved over time.

The work hours, living costs, and even social life will improve in the cities that have seen the growth of the tech sector. With all of that being said, the choice of the city you decide to work in will be the culmination of multiple factors. Be sure just not to weigh only money, but if money is all you desire, you will find that the highest paying cities for software engineering are not in the Indian subcontinent.

If you’re interested to learn more about software development, full-stack development, check out upGrad & IIIT-B’s PG Diploma in Full-stack Software Development which is designed for working professionals and offers 500+ hours of rigorous training, 9+ projects and assignments, IIIT-B Alumni status, practical hands-on capstone projects & job assistance with top firms.