Best cities for an application engineer
The best cities for application engineers are Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and Austin, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for application engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for application engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an application engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for application engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for application engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an application engineer. While the absolute best city for application engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for application engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for an application engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for application engineers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Application engineer jobs in FremontTotal application engineer jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $123,448 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 11.65 2. San Jose, CA
Application engineer jobs in San JoseTotal application engineer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $123,447 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 17.80 3. Austin, TX
Application engineer jobs in AustinTotal application engineer jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $93,594 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 10.05 4. Chandler, AZ
Application engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal application engineer jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $95,489 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 21.81 5. El Paso, TX
Application engineer jobs in El PasoTotal application engineer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $96,338 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 4.48 6. San Francisco, CA
Application engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal application engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $123,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.42 7. Colorado Springs, CO
Application engineer jobs in Colorado SpringsTotal application engineer jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $107,059 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 3.19 8. Houston, TX
Application engineer jobs in HoustonTotal application engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $93,035 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 4.48 9. Phoenix, AZ
Application engineer jobs in PhoenixTotal application engineer jobs: 150 Average annual salary: $95,626 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 2.27 10. Tucson, AZ
Application engineer jobs in TucsonTotal application engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $94,987 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 2.51
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Best cities for application engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- El Paso, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- (248 application engineer jobs)
- (54 application engineer jobs)
- (199 application engineer jobs)
- (229 application engineer jobs)
- (27 application engineer jobs)
- (0 application engineer jobs)
- (73 application engineer jobs)
- (20 application engineer jobs)
- (150 application engineer jobs)
- (30 application engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an application engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $123,448 | $89,000 | 233,136 | 248 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $123,447 | $89,000 | 1,025,350 | 54 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $93,594 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 199 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $95,489 | $70,000 | 247,477 | 229 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $96,338 | $71,000 | 683,080 | 27 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $123,672 | $89,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $107,059 | $79,000 | 465,101 | 73 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $93,035 | $69,000 | 2,303,482 | 20 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,626 | $70,000 | 1,615,017 | 150 |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | $94,987 | $70,000 | 530,706 | 30 |
| 11 | Anaheim, CA | $109,908 | $80,000 | 351,043 | 42 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $90,808 | $67,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $91,302 | $66,000 | 245,255 | 29 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $109,591 | $80,000 | 266,122 | 215 |
| 15 | Gilbert, AZ | $95,452 | $70,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $123,506 | $89,000 | 420,005 | 11 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $108,422 | $79,000 | 1,406,630 | 28 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | $103,989 | $78,000 | 452,602 | 12 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $93,884 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 36 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $87,600 | $63,000 | 292,969 | 13 |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $91,136 | $68,000 | 392,772 | 10 |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $90,163 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 69 |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $121,565 | $87,000 | 495,234 | 23 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $121,387 | $87,000 | 522,053 | 6 |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $74,602 | $56,000 | 660,388 | 156 |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $100,543 | $73,000 | 639,863 | 52 |
| 27 | Denver, CO | $106,919 | $79,000 | 693,060 | 81 |
| 28 | Mesa, AZ | $95,451 | $70,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 29 | Santa Ana, CA | $109,739 | $80,000 | 334,217 | 8 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,545 | $70,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 31 | Long Beach, CA | $109,987 | $80,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 32 | Greensboro, NC | $76,406 | $57,000 | 287,027 | 35 |
| 33 | Chesapeake, VA | $103,567 | $78,000 | 237,940 | 3 |
| 34 | Durham, NC | $76,767 | $58,000 | 263,016 | 44 |
| 35 | Corpus Christi, TX | $93,284 | $69,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $76,771 | $58,000 | 458,880 | 68 |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | $72,173 | $54,000 | 403,090 | 50 |
| 38 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,488 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 46 |
| 39 | Washington, DC | $108,515 | $81,000 | 681,170 | 83 |
| 40 | Stockton, CA | $122,455 | $88,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 41 | Aurora, CO | $106,854 | $79,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 42 | Los Angeles, CA | $110,692 | $81,000 | 3,976,322 | 89 |
| 43 | Laredo, TX | $93,566 | $69,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 44 | Buffalo, NY | $89,068 | $67,000 | 256,902 | 26 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $86,194 | $65,000 | 472,522 | 124 |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $75,460 | $57,000 | 842,051 | 134 |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $93,375 | $69,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 48 | Glendale, AZ | $95,660 | $70,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $116,277 | $84,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Fort Worth, TX | $91,234 | $68,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for application engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. application engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $123,703 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $108,515 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs, CO | $107,059 |
| 4 | Hillsboro, OR | $100,576 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,626 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $93,594 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $91,782 |
| 8 | Burlington, VT | $87,670 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $86,194 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $84,980 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $83,950 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $83,774 |
| 13 | Wilmington, DE | $82,840 |
| 14 | Columbus, MS | $82,511 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $75,460 |
| 16 | Plymouth, MN | $74,039 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $70,326 |
| 18 | Washington, MI | $68,679 |
| 19 | Columbus, IN | $65,664 |
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Updated January 8, 2025