Best cities for a core network engineer
The best cities for core network engineers are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Riverside, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for core network engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for core network engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a core network engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for core network engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for core network engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a core network engineer. While the absolute best city for core network engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for core network engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a core network engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for core network engineers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $147,928 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 17.57 2. Sacramento, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $146,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 12.64 3. Riverside, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $136,008 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 29.37 4. San Jose, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $147,405 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 2.48 5. Fremont, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $147,489 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Irvine, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $135,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 16.08 7. Reno, NV
Total core network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $122,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oakland, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $147,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $138,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 10.24 10. Stockton, CA
Total core network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $146,714 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for core network engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Riverside, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Reno, NV
- Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Stockton, CA
- (20 core network engineer jobs)
- (3 core network engineer jobs)
- (2 core network engineer jobs)
- (2 core network engineer jobs)
- (0 core network engineer jobs)
- (5 core network engineer jobs)
- (0 core network engineer jobs)
- (0 core network engineer jobs)
- (10 core network engineer jobs)
- (0 core network engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a core network engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $147,928 | $108,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $146,562 | $107,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $136,008 | $99,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $147,405 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $147,489 | $107,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $135,841 | $99,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $122,214 | $89,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $147,715 | $108,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,671 | $101,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $146,714 | $107,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $101,837 | $75,000 | 842,051 | 9 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $117,925 | $85,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 13 | North Las Vegas, NV | $117,708 | $85,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $117,197 | $84,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $113,543 | $83,000 | 472,522 | 3 |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $145,074 | $105,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | Bakersfield, CA | $142,723 | $103,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $106,005 | $78,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $97,976 | $72,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $105,220 | $77,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $136,816 | $99,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $131,006 | $96,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $123,565 | $90,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $136,339 | $99,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $137,177 | $100,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $102,452 | $75,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $98,061 | $71,000 | 238,289 | 44 |
| 28 | Durham, NC | $102,298 | $75,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 29 | Greensboro, NC | $101,880 | $75,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 30 | Austin, TX | $99,272 | $72,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 31 | Chula Vista, CA | $130,402 | $95,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $101,676 | $75,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $98,056 | $71,000 | 1,317,929 | 17 |
| 34 | Plano, TX | $97,816 | $71,000 | 286,057 | 20 |
| 35 | El Paso, TX | $102,268 | $75,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $101,960 | $74,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | Islip, NY | $116,097 | $86,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $99,431 | $72,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 39 | Brookhaven, NY | $116,075 | $86,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $115,795 | $86,000 | 8,537,673 | 10 |
| 41 | Hempstead, NY | $115,970 | $86,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 42 | Oyster Bay, NY | $115,900 | $86,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $99,531 | $73,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $95,984 | $70,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 45 | Laredo, TX | $98,737 | $71,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 46 | Fort Worth, TX | $98,273 | $72,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 47 | Pittsburgh, PA | $95,552 | $70,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 48 | Houston, TX | $98,546 | $71,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 49 | Arlington, TX | $98,213 | $72,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $99,714 | $72,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for core network engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. core network engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $147,928 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $123,565 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $115,795 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $113,543 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $101,837 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $99,272 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $97,976 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $97,350 |
| 9 | Castle Rock, CO | $91,198 |
| 10 | Hoover, AL | $89,691 |
| 11 | Marlborough, MA | $88,197 |
| 12 | Sterling Heights, MI | $87,328 |
| 13 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,562 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $84,799 |
| 15 | Eden Prairie, MN | $79,830 |
| 16 | Carolina, PR | $58,428 |











