Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest
Key facts
- #1 Seattle, WA: 1,776 openings
- #2 Redmond, WA: 686 openings
- #3 Bellevue, WA: 421 openings
- 14 cities ranked in the Pacific Northwest
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: 33% across all cities in our data.
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Seattle (1,776 openings) is well clear of Bothell at #10 (49 openings).
- Bothell reaches #10 on a sample of 49 engineering openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Seattle is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,776 engineering openings behind its figure.
- Cities with fewer than 30 engineering openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Engineering hiring clusters in a handful of metros. Counting engineering openings shows where the demand for software and engineering skills is deepest.
How to use it
Use it to decide where to network and which employers to follow. A big market also means more competition, so compare it with the pay and entry-level lists.
The top 25
- 1
Seattle WA
1,776 openings
- Share of all openings
- 32%
- Median engineering pay
- $200k
- All openings
- 5,635
Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI
Based on 1,776 engineering openings.
- 3
Bellevue WA
421 openings
- Share of all openings
- 29%
- Median engineering pay
- $205k
- All openings
- 1,455
Hiring most here: Amazon, TerraPower, Okta
Based on 421 engineering openings.
- 4
Portland OR
136 openings
- Share of all openings
- 16%
- Median engineering pay
- $130k
- All openings
- 837
Hiring most here: Oregon Health & Science University, Legacy Health, Keen Footwear
Based on 136 engineering openings.
- 5
Hillsboro OR
109 openings
- Share of all openings
- 58%
- Median engineering pay
- $177k
- All openings
- 187
Hiring most here: American Society for Microbiology, Microsoft, Synopsys
Based on 109 engineering openings.
- 7
Everett WA
80 openings
- Share of all openings
- 41%
- Median engineering pay
- $200k
- All openings
- 195
Hiring most here: Helion Energy, Fortive, Helion
Based on 80 engineering openings.
- 8
Kent WA
77 openings
- Share of all openings
- 52%
- Median engineering pay
- $166k
- All openings
- 149
Hiring most here: Stoke Space, Cowboy Space, Amazon
Based on 77 engineering openings.
- 9
Richland WA
54 openings
- Share of all openings
- 51%
- Median engineering pay
- $130k
- All openings
- 105
Hiring most here: Battelle Memorial Institute (PNNL), Sargent & Lundy, Prosidian Consultng
Based on 54 engineering openings.
- 10
Bothell WA
49 openings
- Share of all openings
- 36%
- Median engineering pay
- $158k
- All openings
- 138
Hiring most here: Verathon, IonQ, Koninklijke Philips
Based on 49 engineering openings.
- 11
Tualatin OR
40 openings
- Share of all openings
- 42%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 95
Hiring most here: LAM Research, AKS Engineering, Teradyne
Based on 40 engineering openings.
- 12
Vancouver WA
39 openings
- Share of all openings
- 24%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 163
Hiring most here: HP, Ecolab USA, ZoomInfo
Based on 39 engineering openings.
- 14
Salem OR
34 openings
- Share of all openings
- 28%
- Median engineering pay
- $138k
- All openings
- 123
Hiring most here: Agility Robotics, Garmin, Northwest Human Services
Based on 34 engineering openings.
Full ranking
All 14 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | City | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle WA | 1,776 openings | 1,776 |
| 2 | Redmond WA | 686 openings | 686 |
| 3 | Bellevue WA | 421 openings | 421 |
| 4 | Portland OR | 136 openings | 136 |
| 5 | Hillsboro OR | 109 openings | 109 |
| 6 | Kirkland WA | 82 openings | 82 |
| 7 | Everett WA | 80 openings | 80 |
| 8 | Kent WA | 77 openings | 77 |
| 9 | Richland WA | 54 openings | 54 |
| 10 | Bothell WA | 49 openings | 49 |
| 11 | Tualatin OR | 40 openings | 40 |
| 12 | Vancouver WA | 39 openings | 39 |
| 13 | Beaverton OR | 36 openings | 36 |
| 14 | Salem OR | 34 openings | 34 |
How this ranking works
A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles classed in the engineering function, which includes software, hardware and data engineering.
Median engineering pay uses only listings that post a salary, and is shown only where at least 8 do. Cities need at least the minimum number of engineering openings to be ranked.
A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
Sample bar: cities with fewer than 30 engineering openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which city ranks first: best cities for software and engineering jobs in the pacific northwest?
- Seattle has the most software and engineering openings in the Pacific Northwest: 1,776 openings, in a market where engineering is 33% of openings across all cities in our data.
- How many cities are ranked?
- 14 cities have at least 30 engineering openings, so the list has 14 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles classed in the engineering function, which includes software, hardware and data engineering. Median engineering pay uses only listings that post a salary, and is shown only where at least 8 do. Cities need at least the minimum number of engineering openings to be ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Pacific Northwest
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Pacific Northwest
- Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Pacific Northwest
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-software-engineering-jobs-in-the-pacific-northwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-software-engineering-jobs-in-the-pacific-northwest">Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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