Best cities for a desktop engineer
The best cities for desktop engineers are Philadelphia, PA, Oakland, CA, and Charlotte, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for desktop engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for desktop engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a desktop engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for desktop engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for desktop engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a desktop engineer. While the absolute best city for desktop engineers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for desktop engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a desktop engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for desktop engineers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total desktop engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $116,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 3.33 2. Oakland, CA
Total desktop engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $136,789 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 3.06 3. Charlotte, NC
Total desktop engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $109,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 1.23 4. Jersey City, NJ
Total desktop engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $118,388 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 2.67 5. Saint Louis, MO
Total desktop engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $103,479 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 3.21 6. San Francisco, CA
Total desktop engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $137,082 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 0.88 7. Louisville, KY
Total desktop engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,815 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Madison, WI
Total desktop engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $95,938 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 3.23 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total desktop engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $113,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.48 10. Lexington, KY
Total desktop engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $110,304 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for desktop engineers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Jersey City, NJ
- Saint Louis, MO
- San Francisco, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Madison, WI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Lexington, KY
- (11 desktop engineer jobs)
- (2 desktop engineer jobs)
- (5 desktop engineer jobs)
- (6 desktop engineer jobs)
- (7 desktop engineer jobs)
- (6 desktop engineer jobs)
- (0 desktop engineer jobs)
- (4 desktop engineer jobs)
- (1 desktop engineer jobs)
- (0 desktop engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a desktop engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,902 | $88,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $136,789 | $96,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $109,623 | $83,000 | 842,051 | 5 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $118,388 | $89,000 | 264,152 | 6 |
| 5 | Saint Louis, MO | $103,479 | $78,000 | 311,404 | 7 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $137,082 | $96,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 7 | Louisville, KY | $109,815 | $83,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $95,938 | $73,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $113,947 | $86,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $110,304 | $84,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $111,757 | $79,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $111,440 | $84,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $116,723 | $82,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $111,432 | $84,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $110,913 | $84,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | $105,093 | $78,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,356 | $74,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $110,648 | $84,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $103,597 | $79,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $117,499 | $84,000 | 3,976,322 | 13 |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $136,358 | $96,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $136,025 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 23 | Albuquerque, NM | $110,542 | $81,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 24 | Saint Paul, MN | $103,045 | $79,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $103,029 | $79,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $135,432 | $95,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Fort Worth, TX | $85,924 | $64,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 28 | Sacramento, CA | $135,120 | $95,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,719 | $76,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $107,414 | $76,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $121,100 | $87,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $106,579 | $76,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | San Diego, CA | $112,705 | $81,000 | 1,406,630 | 9 |
| 34 | Columbus, OH | $83,115 | $63,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $131,864 | $93,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | Kansas City, MO | $102,165 | $77,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 37 | Newark, NJ | $118,337 | $89,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $97,996 | $74,000 | 2,704,958 | 13 |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,353 | $88,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 40 | Virginia Beach, VA | $110,177 | $83,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 41 | Norfolk, VA | $110,055 | $83,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 42 | Chesapeake, VA | $109,876 | $83,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $115,464 | $82,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $85,719 | $64,000 | 1,317,929 | 9 |
| 45 | Long Beach, CA | $116,294 | $83,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $100,118 | $76,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $99,541 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 3 |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $94,073 | $71,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 49 | Anaheim, CA | $116,103 | $83,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 50 | Santa Ana, CA | $115,774 | $83,000 | 334,217 | - |
Highest paying cities for desktop engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. desktop engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $137,082 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $118,388 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,902 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $111,757 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $111,290 |
| 6 | Pontiac, MI | $103,623 |
| 7 | Saint Louis, MO | $103,479 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $103,029 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $100,118 |
| 10 | Alpharetta, GA | $99,746 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $97,996 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $97,375 |
| 13 | Farmington, CT | $96,711 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,356 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $95,477 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $89,473 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $85,009 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $83,115 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $82,549 |
| 20 | West Palm Beach, FL | $73,449 |
Desktop engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025