Best cities for an audio engineer
The best cities for audio engineers are Pittsburgh, PA, San Francisco, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for audio engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for audio engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an audio engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for audio engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for audio engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an audio engineer. While the absolute best city for audio engineers is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for audio engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for an audio engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for audio engineers in 2025
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total audio engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $70,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 2.86 2. San Francisco, CA
Total audio engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $91,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 1.38 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total audio engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $62,713 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 3.33 4. San Jose, CA
Total audio engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $89,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.47 5. Virginia Beach, VA
Total audio engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $71,548 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 2.59 6. Durham, NC
Total audio engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $62,063 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 4.25 7. Norfolk, VA
Total audio engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $71,168 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 2.39 8. Toledo, OH
Total audio engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Portland, OR
Total audio engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $89,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Detroit, MI
Total audio engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for audio engineers
- Pittsburgh, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Durham, NC
- Norfolk, VA
- Toledo, OH
- Portland, OR
- Detroit, MI
- (5 audio engineer jobs)
- (8 audio engineer jobs)
- (2 audio engineer jobs)
- (6 audio engineer jobs)
- (1 audio engineer jobs)
- (4 audio engineer jobs)
- (1 audio engineer jobs)
- (0 audio engineer jobs)
- (0 audio engineer jobs)
- (0 audio engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an audio engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,776 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $91,508 | $43,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $62,713 | $31,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $89,440 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $71,548 | $36,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $62,063 | $32,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 7 | Norfolk, VA | $71,168 | $36,000 | 245,115 | 1 |
| 8 | Toledo, OH | $61,692 | $31,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $89,529 | $44,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $61,705 | $31,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $87,269 | $49,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $91,384 | $43,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,858 | $39,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 14 | Oakland, CA | $91,145 | $43,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $61,975 | $32,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $90,163 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,853 | $34,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $90,027 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $76,871 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $64,497 | $33,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 21 | Glendale, AZ | $62,933 | $31,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,859 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 23 | Greensboro, NC | $60,411 | $31,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $84,615 | $40,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $62,414 | $31,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $60,063 | $30,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $62,373 | $31,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Gilbert, AZ | $62,339 | $31,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 29 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,586 | $31,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 30 | Tucson, AZ | $61,617 | $31,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $78,186 | $37,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 32 | Chesapeake, VA | $70,672 | $35,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,508 | $28,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $50,856 | $26,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,714 | $28,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $68,834 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 37 | Louisville, KY | $51,831 | $27,000 | 597,337 | 1 |
| 38 | Newark, NJ | $68,739 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,295 | $31,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 40 | San Diego, CA | $65,846 | $32,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $56,411 | $31,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 42 | Charlotte, NC | $56,321 | $29,000 | 842,051 | 1 |
| 43 | Long Beach, CA | $70,587 | $34,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 44 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,504 | $28,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $70,311 | $34,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Santa Ana, CA | $69,924 | $33,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | $69,655 | $33,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $53,260 | $27,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $52,980 | $28,000 | 453,579 | 3 |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $69,529 | $33,000 | 266,122 | - |
Highest paying cities for audio engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. audio engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $92,335 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $76,871 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,776 |
| 4 | Belleville, NJ | $68,674 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $64,497 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $62,062 |
| 7 | Westland, MI | $61,272 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $58,065 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,295 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $52,994 |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $52,980 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | $52,713 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $50,856 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,173 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $39,379 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $38,858 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $38,107 |
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Updated January 8, 2025