Best cities for a development engineer
The best cities for development engineers are Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for development engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for development engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a development engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for development engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for development engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a development engineer. While the absolute best city for development engineers is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for development engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a development engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for development engineers in 2026
1. Austin, TX
Total development engineer jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $92,294 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 8.12 2. Seattle, WA
Total development engineer jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $110,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 27.95 3. San Jose, CA
Total development engineer jobs: 251 Average annual salary: $119,345 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 10.45 4. Scottsdale, AZ
Total development engineer jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $91,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 11.06 5. Houston, TX
Total development engineer jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $91,956 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 3.13 6. Fremont, CA
Total development engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $119,765 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 3.67 7. Fort Worth, TX
Total development engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $90,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 2.32 8. Chandler, AZ
Total development engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $91,588 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 2.97 9. San Francisco, CA
Total development engineer jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $120,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 2.09 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total development engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $95,220 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.43
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Best cities for development engineers
- Austin, TX
- Seattle, WA
- San Jose, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Fremont, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- (184 development engineer jobs)
- (32 development engineer jobs)
- (251 development engineer jobs)
- (39 development engineer jobs)
- (119 development engineer jobs)
- (25 development engineer jobs)
- (13 development engineer jobs)
- (10 development engineer jobs)
- (71 development engineer jobs)
- (11 development engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a development engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $92,294 | $68,000 | 947,890 | 184 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $110,562 | $82,000 | 704,352 | 32 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $119,345 | $87,000 | 1,025,350 | 251 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | $91,806 | $68,000 | 246,645 | 39 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $91,956 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 119 |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $119,765 | $87,000 | 233,136 | 25 |
| 7 | Fort Worth, TX | $90,646 | $68,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $91,588 | $68,000 | 247,477 | 10 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $120,431 | $88,000 | 870,887 | 71 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $95,220 | $71,000 | 559,277 | 11 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $120,364 | $88,000 | 495,234 | 14 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $91,553 | $68,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $90,911 | $68,000 | 530,706 | 10 |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $86,235 | $63,000 | 238,702 | 4 |
| 15 | Santa Ana, CA | $104,335 | $77,000 | 334,217 | 15 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $92,911 | $68,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $104,413 | $77,000 | 324,722 | 14 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $91,833 | $68,000 | 1,615,017 | 34 |
| 19 | Anaheim, CA | $104,509 | $77,000 | 351,043 | 10 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $92,453 | $68,000 | 1,492,510 | 11 |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $104,183 | $77,000 | 266,122 | 61 |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $90,406 | $67,000 | 238,289 | 22 |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $104,540 | $77,000 | 470,130 | 7 |
| 24 | San Diego, CA | $102,702 | $76,000 | 1,406,630 | 88 |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,422 | $62,000 | 1,567,872 | 36 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $82,817 | $63,000 | 672,795 | 16 |
| 27 | Portland, OR | $91,734 | $67,000 | 639,863 | 30 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $90,426 | $67,000 | 1,317,929 | 25 |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,116 | $78,000 | 3,976,322 | 68 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $99,376 | $75,000 | 673,184 | 38 |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,690 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 29 |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $92,138 | $68,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 33 | Corpus Christi, TX | $91,938 | $68,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $91,729 | $68,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $90,602 | $68,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $76,786 | $58,000 | 385,809 | 11 |
| 37 | Oakland, CA | $120,266 | $88,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 38 | Norfolk, VA | $90,776 | $68,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $119,815 | $87,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $93,434 | $70,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Plano, TX | $90,071 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 10 |
| 42 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,434 | $62,000 | 413,651 | 55 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $116,721 | $85,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $91,853 | $68,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Colorado Springs, CO | $87,250 | $65,000 | 465,101 | 30 |
| 46 | Buffalo, NY | $89,120 | $67,000 | 256,902 | 17 |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $81,274 | $62,000 | 660,388 | 10 |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $93,145 | $70,000 | 281,764 | 7 |
| 49 | Madison, WI | $73,693 | $57,000 | 252,551 | 41 |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $91,583 | $68,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for development engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. development engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $120,431 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $110,562 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $99,376 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $92,729 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $92,294 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $92,073 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $91,833 |
| 8 | Hillsboro, OR | $91,822 |
| 9 | Providence, RI | $91,781 |
| 10 | Burlington, VT | $89,309 |
| 11 | Longmont, CO | $87,585 |
| 12 | Hoffman Estates, IL | $86,179 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,422 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $82,929 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,434 |
| 16 | Columbus, GA | $78,551 |
| 17 | Burlington, NC | $74,570 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $74,500 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $73,693 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $71,466 |
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Updated January 8, 2025