UPDATE: Here’s another quote for the previously adjusted data I posted here before - makes sense for a lot of you? was wondering how many would really relocate to El-Paso instead of stying in sunny SF/Bay Area?
Houston Strategies: Houston #1 for growth, software pay; top 10 for green tech
Another interesting ranking I was recently forwarded (thanks Jack), has Houston as the #4 city in the country for software developer pay ($89K), #1 on a cost-of-living adjusted basis ($103K purchasing power). As you would expect, SF Bay is tops for raw salaries, but they fall from the top 10 to the bottom 10 once cost-of-living is taken into account. Texas does incredibly well on the CoL adjusted list, with all of the top 5 and 6 of the top 7 (only Charlotte NC sneaks in there). Don’t underestimate the power of low cost-of-living with a strong and relatively high-paying job base.

Adjusted Salary

Top 10

Bottom 10
1 Houston $102,908
1 Honolulu $38,766
2 Austin $ 93,844
2 San Francisco $44,937
3 Fort Worth $ 91,614
3 San Diego $48,181
4 Arlington $ 91,614
4 New York $50,492
5 El Paso $ 85,741
5 Oakland $51,428
6 Charlotte $ 85,477
6 Miami $51,629
7 Dallas $ 84,489
7 San Jose $51,693
8 Jacksonville $ 81,928
8 Los Angeles $53,948
9 Colorado Springs $ 81,850
9 Long Beach $53,948
10 Atlanta $ 80,565
10 Virginia Beach $55,980