Best cities for a contracting engineer
The best cities for contracting engineers are San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contracting engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contracting engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contracting engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contracting engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contracting engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contracting engineer. While the absolute best city for contracting engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contracting engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a contracting engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contracting engineers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total contracting engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $140,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.86 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total contracting engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $109,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 3.37 3. New York, NY
Total contracting engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $141,450 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.07 4. Seattle, WA
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,345 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Brookhaven, NY
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,654 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Boston, MA
Total contracting engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $126,845 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.30 7. Islip, NY
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,310 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oyster Bay, NY
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Hempstead, NY
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $141,787 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Anchorage, AK
Total contracting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $127,458 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for contracting engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- New York, NY
- Seattle, WA
- Brookhaven, NY
- Boston, MA
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Anchorage, AK
- (8 contracting engineer jobs)
- (7 contracting engineer jobs)
- (15 contracting engineer jobs)
- (0 contracting engineer jobs)
- (0 contracting engineer jobs)
- (4 contracting engineer jobs)
- (0 contracting engineer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a contracting engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $140,257 | $99,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,747 | $77,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $141,450 | $100,000 | 8,537,673 | 15 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $137,345 | $99,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 5 | Brookhaven, NY | $142,654 | $100,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $126,845 | $90,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 7 | Islip, NY | $142,310 | $100,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 8 | Oyster Bay, NY | $142,064 | $100,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 9 | Hempstead, NY | $141,787 | $100,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $127,458 | $99,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $140,098 | $99,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $135,867 | $97,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $139,761 | $99,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $114,190 | $81,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $139,689 | $99,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $139,536 | $99,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,959 | $79,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $114,042 | $79,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $111,446 | $78,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | $113,797 | $79,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $111,220 | $78,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $139,533 | $98,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $113,377 | $79,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 24 | Mesa, AZ | $113,331 | $79,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 25 | Gilbert, AZ | $113,276 | $79,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $137,711 | $97,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,203 | $75,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $132,383 | $92,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $108,063 | $75,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Henderson, NV | $107,814 | $75,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $133,646 | $93,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 32 | Tucson, AZ | $111,888 | $78,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $136,012 | $95,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 34 | El Paso, TX | $107,383 | $75,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 35 | Austin, TX | $103,591 | $73,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $132,969 | $93,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $132,824 | $93,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $104,062 | $73,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 39 | Oklahoma City, OK | $103,452 | $75,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 40 | Tulsa, OK | $103,339 | $75,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $132,606 | $92,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $132,478 | $92,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 43 | Dallas, TX | $98,174 | $70,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 44 | Houston, TX | $102,999 | $72,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 45 | Pittsburgh, PA | $102,861 | $73,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $130,042 | $90,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 47 | Laredo, TX | $103,994 | $72,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 48 | Chula Vista, CA | $129,638 | $90,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 49 | Corpus Christi, TX | $103,670 | $72,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 50 | Portland, OR | $114,284 | $82,000 | 639,863 | - |
Highest paying cities for contracting engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. contracting engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $141,450 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $140,257 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,480 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $127,948 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $127,458 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $126,845 |
| 7 | Charleston, WV | $119,650 |
| 8 | Burlington, VT | $119,329 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $115,664 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $114,284 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $114,190 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $113,959 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $113,260 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,747 |
| 15 | Boulder, CO | $105,031 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $103,591 |
| 17 | Broken Arrow, OK | $103,328 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $98,196 |
| 19 | Billings, MT | $97,827 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $97,548 |
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Updated January 8, 2025