Best cities for a director of systems engineering
The best cities for directors of systems engineering are Anchorage, AK, Cincinnati, OH, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for directors of systems engineering vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for directors of systems engineering in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a director of systems engineering or considering a move, this list of the best cities for directors of systems engineering to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for directors of systems engineering. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a director of systems engineering. While the absolute best city for directors of systems engineering is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for directors of systems engineering in 2024.
If you're looking for a director of systems engineering job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for directors of systems engineering in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $190,442 Lowest 10 percent warn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $302,000 Location quotient: 3.05 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $156,552 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location quotient: 4.29 3. Fremont, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $200,845 Lowest 10 percent warn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $317,000 Location quotient: 4.60 4. San Francisco, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $201,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $318,000 Location quotient: 2.31 5. Santa Ana, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $190,405 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $301,000 Location quotient: 6.18 6. Fresno, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $197,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $124,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $312,000 Location quotient: 2.76 7. New Orleans, LA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $165,497 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 1.68 8. Chandler, AZ
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $154,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 6.22 9. San Jose, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $200,674 Lowest 10 percent warn: $126,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $317,000 Location quotient: 1.74 10. San Diego, CA
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $187,019 Lowest 10 percent warn: $118,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $296,000 Location quotient: 3.30
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Best cities for directors of systems engineering
- Anchorage, AK
- Cincinnati, OH
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Fresno, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (1 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (6 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (6 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (15 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (2 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (1 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (1 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (4 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (8 director of systems engineering jobs)
- (13 director of systems engineering jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a director of systems engineering
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $190,442 | $119,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $156,552 | $106,000 | 298,800 | 6 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $200,845 | $127,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $201,554 | $127,000 | 870,887 | 15 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $190,405 | $120,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $197,408 | $124,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 7 | New Orleans, LA | $165,497 | $108,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $154,589 | $98,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $200,674 | $126,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $187,019 | $118,000 | 1,406,630 | 13 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $190,612 | $120,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $162,519 | $111,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 13 | North Las Vegas, NV | $190,202 | $120,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $139,670 | $93,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 15 | Henderson, NV | $189,804 | $120,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $190,069 | $120,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $200,968 | $125,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $160,815 | $110,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $159,367 | $108,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $155,076 | $98,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $165,715 | $103,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 22 | Durham, NC | $146,236 | $99,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $201,241 | $127,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $191,963 | $121,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $200,328 | $126,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $199,953 | $126,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Long Beach, CA | $191,106 | $120,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $190,661 | $120,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $169,506 | $105,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $195,031 | $123,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Irving, TX | $140,687 | $91,000 | 238,289 | 8 |
| 32 | Glendale, AZ | $155,214 | $98,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 33 | Scottsdale, AZ | $154,754 | $98,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI | $145,371 | $100,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $189,681 | $119,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $152,957 | $97,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 37 | Memphis, TN | $138,189 | $92,000 | 652,717 | 1 |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $154,446 | $98,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 39 | Mesa, AZ | $154,436 | $98,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 40 | Chula Vista, CA | $186,589 | $117,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 41 | Pittsburgh, PA | $128,399 | $87,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 42 | Laredo, TX | $149,870 | $95,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 43 | Houston, TX | $145,130 | $94,000 | 2,303,482 | 7 |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $152,803 | $97,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $144,324 | $99,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $154,103 | $108,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $146,310 | $99,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 48 | Greensboro, NC | $145,263 | $98,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $142,813 | $96,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 50 | Winston-Salem, NC | $144,688 | $98,000 | 242,203 | - |
Highest paying cities for directors of systems engineering
| Rank | City | Avg. director of systems engineering salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $201,554 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $169,506 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $165,715 |
| 4 | Monroe, LA | $160,358 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $158,062 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $156,552 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $155,835 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $155,076 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $154,103 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $147,889 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $146,441 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $146,236 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $144,770 |
| 14 | Livonia, MI | $140,891 |
| 15 | Westminster, CO | $136,647 |
| 16 | Providence, RI | $132,057 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $131,941 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $131,472 |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $128,399 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $124,901 |
Director of systems engineering best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025