Best cities for a cost engineer
The best cities for cost engineers are Garland, TX, Dallas, TX, and Houston, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cost engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cost engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cost engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cost engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cost engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cost engineer. While the absolute best city for cost engineers is Garland, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cost engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a cost engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cost engineers in 2026
1. Garland, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $94,099 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 34.95 2. Dallas, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $94,093 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.11 3. Houston, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $92,339 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 5.76 4. Plano, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $94,131 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 1.64 5. Austin, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $92,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 1.45 6. Anchorage, AK
Total cost engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $89,406 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 10.63 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total cost engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $86,636 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 2.07 8. Detroit, MI
Total cost engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $96,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 1.02 9. Bakersfield, CA
Total cost engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $95,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 4.76 10. Lubbock, TX
Total cost engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,987 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for cost engineers
- Garland, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Plano, TX
- Austin, TX
- Anchorage, AK
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- Bakersfield, CA
- Lubbock, TX
- (6 cost engineer jobs)
- (12 cost engineer jobs)
- (60 cost engineer jobs)
- (5 cost engineer jobs)
- (9 cost engineer jobs)
- (5 cost engineer jobs)
- (2 cost engineer jobs)
- (2 cost engineer jobs)
- (2 cost engineer jobs)
- (0 cost engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a cost engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garland, TX | $94,099 | $66,000 | 234,943 | 6 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $94,093 | $65,000 | 1,317,929 | 12 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $92,339 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 60 |
| 4 | Plano, TX | $94,131 | $66,000 | 286,057 | 5 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $92,919 | $65,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $89,406 | $68,000 | 298,192 | 5 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $86,636 | $61,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $96,258 | $68,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 9 | Bakersfield, CA | $95,688 | $66,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 10 | Lubbock, TX | $94,987 | $66,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 11 | Fort Worth, TX | $94,159 | $66,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 12 | Irving, TX | $94,131 | $66,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $92,449 | $64,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,877 | $57,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $101,907 | $70,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $94,118 | $66,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $94,955 | $67,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $91,891 | $65,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $102,078 | $70,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 20 | Laredo, TX | $91,299 | $64,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $86,645 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 22 | Albuquerque, NM | $85,948 | $60,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 23 | Corpus Christi, TX | $91,213 | $64,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 24 | Sacramento, CA | $101,821 | $70,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 25 | Norfolk, VA | $84,818 | $60,000 | 245,115 | 3 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $84,920 | $58,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $95,217 | $67,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $93,033 | $65,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $86,368 | $60,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $74,978 | $53,000 | 842,051 | 11 |
| 31 | Riverside, CA | $92,910 | $65,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 32 | Chandler, AZ | $86,342 | $60,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $86,657 | $61,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $86,308 | $60,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $81,026 | $58,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 36 | Tucson, AZ | $85,168 | $60,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $75,576 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 38 | Greensboro, NC | $75,422 | $53,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 39 | Lincoln, NE | $74,082 | $53,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 40 | Las Vegas, NV | $79,368 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 41 | Irvine, CA | $92,819 | $65,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 42 | Tulsa, OK | $80,568 | $56,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 43 | Fremont, CA | $101,428 | $70,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $101,388 | $70,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | San Jose, CA | $101,023 | $69,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 46 | Los Angeles, CA | $93,441 | $65,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $80,954 | $58,000 | 311,404 | 1 |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $89,969 | $63,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 49 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,729 | $52,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $95,675 | $68,000 | 614,664 | - |
Highest paying cities for cost engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. cost engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $102,078 |
| 2 | Warren, MI | $96,274 |
| 3 | Hagerstown, MD | $95,292 |
| 4 | Bellevue, WA | $95,142 |
| 5 | Plano, TX | $94,131 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $91,891 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $89,406 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $85,110 |
| 9 | Beaverton, OR | $83,393 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,419 |
| 11 | Chesterfield, MO | $80,922 |
| 12 | Concord, NH | $80,118 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $79,858 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $78,402 |
| 15 | Columbus, MS | $76,821 |
| 16 | Greenville, NC | $75,800 |
| 17 | Columbus, GA | $74,154 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $74,082 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $73,718 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $71,762 |
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Updated January 8, 2025