Best cities for a computer engineer
The best cities for computer engineers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Pittsburgh, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for computer engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for computer engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a computer engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for computer engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for computer engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a computer engineer. While the absolute best city for computer engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for computer engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a computer engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for computer engineers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $137,594 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 4.44 2. San Jose, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $136,500 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 2.90 3. Pittsburgh, PA
Total computer engineer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $83,908 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 4.83 4. San Antonio, TX
Total computer engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $86,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 2.95 5. Fremont, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $136,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 1.88 6. Oakland, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $137,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.70 7. San Diego, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $112,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 4.19 8. Louisville, KY
Total computer engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $81,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 5.84 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $120,454 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 2.34 10. Sacramento, CA
Total computer engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $136,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 1.56
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Best cities for computer engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- San Antonio, TX
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- (82 computer engineer jobs)
- (38 computer engineer jobs)
- (27 computer engineer jobs)
- (16 computer engineer jobs)
- (7 computer engineer jobs)
- (3 computer engineer jobs)
- (47 computer engineer jobs)
- (19 computer engineer jobs)
- (37 computer engineer jobs)
- (6 computer engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a computer engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $137,594 | $95,000 | 870,887 | 82 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $136,500 | $94,000 | 1,025,350 | 38 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $83,908 | $63,000 | 303,625 | 27 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $86,675 | $63,000 | 1,492,510 | 16 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $136,816 | $95,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $137,296 | $95,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $112,282 | $79,000 | 1,406,630 | 47 |
| 8 | Louisville, KY | $81,441 | $61,000 | 597,337 | 19 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $120,454 | $84,000 | 3,976,322 | 37 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $136,075 | $95,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $117,723 | $82,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,648 | $75,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,993 | $73,000 | 855,164 | 14 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $117,172 | $82,000 | 266,122 | 10 |
| 15 | Arlington, TX | $84,176 | $62,000 | 392,772 | 6 |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $117,493 | $82,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $115,656 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 20 |
| 18 | El Paso, TX | $88,038 | $64,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $86,690 | $65,000 | 1,567,872 | 18 |
| 20 | Glendale, AZ | $84,112 | $60,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 21 | New York, NY | $99,665 | $74,000 | 8,537,673 | 135 |
| 22 | Memphis, TN | $85,337 | $64,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $85,999 | $63,000 | 2,303,482 | 29 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $93,310 | $66,000 | 639,863 | 13 |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $86,405 | $63,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $115,465 | $81,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 27 | Tulsa, OK | $79,606 | $59,000 | 403,090 | 7 |
| 28 | Henderson, NV | $105,570 | $74,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $135,976 | $94,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $106,305 | $75,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Fort Wayne, IN | $97,630 | $74,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $131,844 | $91,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | Nashville, TN | $85,844 | $64,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 34 | Norfolk, VA | $84,458 | $63,000 | 245,115 | 11 |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $126,955 | $88,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $118,630 | $83,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $118,286 | $83,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 38 | Oklahoma City, OK | $79,821 | $59,000 | 638,367 | 8 |
| 39 | Kansas City, MO | $79,715 | $60,000 | 481,420 | 10 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $86,121 | $63,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $78,889 | $59,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 42 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,524 | $64,000 | 264,152 | 60 |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $85,882 | $63,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 44 | Colorado Springs, CO | $84,926 | $63,000 | 465,101 | 10 |
| 45 | Plano, TX | $83,483 | $62,000 | 286,057 | 9 |
| 46 | Chula Vista, CA | $111,734 | $79,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $81,707 | $61,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,533 | $55,000 | 559,277 | 10 |
| 49 | Lexington, KY | $81,775 | $61,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 50 | Raleigh, NC | $75,768 | $57,000 | 458,880 | 12 |
Highest paying cities for computer engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. computer engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $137,594 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $115,656 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,648 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $99,665 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $97,564 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $93,310 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $90,262 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $86,690 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $86,675 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $85,601 |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,524 |
| 12 | McLean, VA | $85,257 |
| 13 | Alpharetta, GA | $83,235 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $82,674 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $80,444 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $80,437 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $75,768 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $72,693 |
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Updated January 8, 2025