Best cities for a controls engineer
The best cities for controls engineers are Fremont, CA, Detroit, MI, and Albuquerque, NM, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for controls engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for controls engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a controls engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for controls engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for controls engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a controls engineer. While the absolute best city for controls engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for controls engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a controls engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for controls engineers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Controls engineer jobs in FremontTotal controls engineer jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $113,620 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 4.11 2. Detroit, MI
Controls engineer jobs in DetroitTotal controls engineer jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $87,677 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 3.14 3. Albuquerque, NM
Controls engineer jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal controls engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $97,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 1.08 4. Corpus Christi, TX
Controls engineer jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal controls engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $92,244 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.84 5. Houston, TX
Controls engineer jobs in HoustonTotal controls engineer jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $91,809 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.98 6. Garland, TX
Controls engineer jobs in GarlandTotal controls engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $90,617 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 1.56 7. Chandler, AZ
Controls engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal controls engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $88,092 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 2.91 8. Arlington, TX
Controls engineer jobs in ArlingtonTotal controls engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $90,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 1.00 9. Bakersfield, CA
Controls engineer jobs in BakersfieldTotal controls engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $107,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 2.98 10. Gilbert, AZ
Controls engineer jobs in GilbertTotal controls engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $88,058 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.19
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Best cities for controls engineers
- Fremont, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Houston, TX
- Garland, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- Arlington, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a controls engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $113,620 | $83,000 | 233,136 | 86 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $87,677 | $66,000 | 672,795 | 69 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $97,157 | $72,000 | 559,277 | 15 |
| 4 | Corpus Christi, TX | $92,244 | $68,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $91,809 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 114 |
| 6 | Garland, TX | $90,617 | $67,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | $88,092 | $65,000 | 247,477 | 30 |
| 8 | Arlington, TX | $90,992 | $68,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 9 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,508 | $79,000 | 376,380 | 14 |
| 10 | Gilbert, AZ | $88,058 | $65,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $91,639 | $67,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | $81,800 | $62,000 | 403,090 | 27 |
| 13 | Plano, TX | $90,519 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 30 |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | $74,862 | $56,000 | 278,508 | 20 |
| 15 | Long Beach, CA | $103,281 | $76,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $92,220 | $68,000 | 947,890 | 31 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,985 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 42 |
| 18 | Santa Ana, CA | $103,009 | $76,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $91,045 | $68,000 | 854,113 | 8 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $75,314 | $57,000 | 385,809 | 20 |
| 21 | Fort Wayne, IN | $74,514 | $56,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $102,854 | $76,000 | 266,122 | 27 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $90,825 | $67,000 | 1,317,929 | 33 |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,398 | $65,000 | 632,912 | 13 |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $73,896 | $56,000 | 855,164 | 58 |
| 26 | Tucson, AZ | $87,735 | $65,000 | 530,706 | 8 |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $88,058 | $65,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 28 | Sacramento, CA | $112,015 | $82,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $92,435 | $68,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 30 | Chesapeake, VA | $87,873 | $66,000 | 237,940 | 3 |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $113,602 | $83,000 | 1,025,350 | 24 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,725 | $58,000 | 303,625 | 26 |
| 33 | Saint Louis, MO | $77,354 | $59,000 | 311,404 | 34 |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,222 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 27 |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $74,645 | $56,000 | 860,090 | 38 |
| 36 | Laredo, TX | $92,560 | $68,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $72,452 | $55,000 | 660,388 | 25 |
| 38 | San Francisco, CA | $113,881 | $83,000 | 870,887 | 16 |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $74,986 | $56,000 | 458,880 | 27 |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $88,143 | $65,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $101,843 | $75,000 | 1,406,630 | 44 |
| 42 | Newark, NJ | $90,776 | $68,000 | 281,764 | 9 |
| 43 | Stockton, CA | $112,694 | $82,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $92,112 | $68,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO | $77,321 | $59,000 | 481,420 | 19 |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $111,506 | $81,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 47 | Seattle, WA | $98,772 | $74,000 | 704,352 | 32 |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $93,879 | $69,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 49 | Louisville, KY | $69,972 | $53,000 | 597,337 | 44 |
| 50 | Oakland, CA | $113,709 | $83,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for controls engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. controls engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $113,824 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $98,772 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $92,220 |
| 4 | Warren, MI | $87,697 |
| 5 | Roanoke, VA | $86,329 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $85,308 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | $84,520 |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | $81,800 |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | $79,269 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $78,960 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $78,194 |
| 12 | Erie, PA | $77,791 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $77,354 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,112 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $76,263 |
| 16 | Columbus, MS | $75,242 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $74,986 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $74,645 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $73,896 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | $72,626 |
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Updated January 8, 2025