Best cities for a Software Tester
The best cities for software testers are Raleigh, NC, Durham, NC, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for software testers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for software testers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a software tester or considering a move, this list of the best cities for software testers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for software testers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a software tester. While the absolute best city for software testers is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for software testers in 2024.
If you're looking for a Software Tester job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for Software testers In 2025
1. Raleigh, NC
Total Software Tester jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $84,750 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 9.17 2. Durham, NC
Total Software Tester jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $84,631 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 8.16 3. Fremont, CA
Total Software Tester jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $97,809 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 14.52 4. Charlotte, NC
Total Software Tester jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $82,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 6.27 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total Software Tester jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $88,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 30.69 6. Louisville, KY
Total Software Tester jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $71,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 13.58 7. Cleveland, OH
Total Software Tester jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $70,761 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 10.03 8. Seattle, WA
Total Software Tester jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $89,445 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 3.77 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total Software Tester jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $74,973 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 6.15 10. Saint Louis, MO
Total Software Tester jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $74,278 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 18.29
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Best cities for software testers
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Fremont, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Jersey City, NJ
- Louisville, KY
- Cleveland, OH
- Seattle, WA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Saint Louis, MO
- (9 software tester jobs)
- (5 software tester jobs)
- (11 software tester jobs)
- (14 software tester jobs)
- (38 software tester jobs)
- (9 software tester jobs)
- (6 software tester jobs)
- (12 software tester jobs)
- (7 software tester jobs)
- (22 software tester jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a Software Tester
Rank![]() ![]() | City![]() ![]() | Average Salary![]() ![]() | Lowest 10% Earn![]() ![]() | Population![]() ![]() | Job Count![]() ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Raleigh, NC | $84,750 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
2 | Durham, NC | $84,631 | $66,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
3 | Fremont, CA | $97,809 | $71,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
4 | Charlotte, NC | $82,664 | $64,000 | 842,051 | 14 |
5 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,616 | $69,000 | 264,152 | 38 |
6 | Louisville, KY | $71,373 | $56,000 | 597,337 | 9 |
7 | Cleveland, OH | $70,761 | $55,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
8 | Seattle, WA | $89,445 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 12 |
9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,973 | $58,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
10 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,278 | $58,000 | 311,404 | 22 |
11 | Indianapolis, IN | $69,079 | $54,000 | 855,164 | 50 |
12 | San Jose, CA | $97,710 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
13 | Columbus, OH | $69,995 | $55,000 | 860,090 | 9 |
14 | San Francisco, CA | $98,080 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
15 | Greensboro, NC | $83,820 | $65,000 | 287,027 | - |
16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,462 | $65,000 | 242,203 | - |
17 | Detroit, MI | $71,011 | $55,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
18 | Sacramento, CA | $97,177 | $71,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
19 | Reno, NV | $82,109 | $60,000 | 245,255 | - |
20 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,810 | $60,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
21 | Oakland, CA | $97,968 | $71,000 | 420,005 | - |
22 | Las Vegas, NV | $79,003 | $57,000 | 632,912 | - |
23 | Saint Paul, MN | $75,223 | $59,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
24 | Albuquerque, NM | $74,375 | $56,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
25 | North Las Vegas, NV | $78,874 | $57,000 | 238,702 | - |
26 | Cincinnati, OH | $68,909 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
27 | Stockton, CA | $97,391 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
28 | Henderson, NV | $78,529 | $57,000 | 292,969 | - |
29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $74,196 | $58,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
30 | San Antonio, TX | $71,077 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
31 | Boston, MA | $87,141 | $68,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
32 | Lexington, KY | $71,857 | $56,000 | 318,449 | - |
33 | Portland, OR | $83,624 | $62,000 | 639,863 | - |
34 | Madison, WI | $69,880 | $55,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
35 | Fresno, CA | $96,103 | $70,000 | 522,053 | - |
36 | Newark, NJ | $88,561 | $69,000 | 281,764 | - |
37 | Tulsa, OK | $74,131 | $58,000 | 403,090 | - |
38 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,969 | $56,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
39 | Bakersfield, CA | $93,739 | $68,000 | 376,380 | - |
40 | Glendale, AZ | $74,984 | $56,000 | 245,895 | - |
41 | Austin, TX | $70,744 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 18 |
42 | Fort Wayne, IN | $69,878 | $55,000 | 264,488 | - |
43 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,436 | $53,000 | 854,113 | 8 |
44 | Toledo, OH | $69,895 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
45 | Scottsdale, AZ | $74,949 | $56,000 | 246,645 | - |
46 | Mesa, AZ | $74,740 | $56,000 | 484,587 | - |
47 | Chandler, AZ | $74,735 | $56,000 | 247,477 | - |
48 | Gilbert, AZ | $74,705 | $56,000 | 237,133 | - |
49 | Irvine, CA | $87,140 | $64,000 | 266,122 | 8 |
50 | New York, NY | $82,079 | $64,000 | 8,537,673 | 96 |
Highest paying cities for software testers
Rank![]() ![]() | City![]() ![]() | Avg. Software Tester Salary![]() ![]() |
---|---|---|
1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $97,838 |
2 | Seattle, WA | $89,445 |
3 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,616 |
4 | Raleigh, NC | $84,750 |
5 | Columbia, MD | $84,518 |
6 | New York, NY | $82,079 |
7 | Midvale, UT | $80,790 |
8 | Reston, VA | $80,446 |
9 | Washington, DC | $80,286 |
10 | Woonsocket, RI | $77,560 |
11 | Chicago, IL | $75,940 |
12 | Saint Cloud, MN | $75,152 |
13 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,278 |
14 | Alpharetta, GA | $71,643 |
15 | San Antonio, TX | $71,077 |
16 | Southfield, MI | $70,967 |
17 | Indianapolis, IN | $69,079 |
18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $68,821 |
19 | Jacksonville, FL | $67,919 |