Best cities for an engineering manager

The best cities for engineering managers are San Francisco, CA, Fremont, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for engineering managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for engineering managers in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as an engineering manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for engineering managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for engineering managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an engineering manager. While the absolute best city for engineering managers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for engineering managers in 2024.

If you're looking for an engineering manager job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for engineering managers in 2026

1. San Francisco, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	237
Average annual salary:	$170,226
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$119,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$242,000
Location quotient:	11.09

Engineering manager jobs in San Francisco

2. Fremont, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	115
Average annual salary:	$169,395
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$119,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$240,000
Location quotient:	3.58

Engineering manager jobs in Fremont

3. San Jose, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	143
Average annual salary:	$169,177
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$119,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$240,000
Location quotient:	3.52

Engineering manager jobs in San Jose

4. Seattle, WA

Total engineering manager jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$150,119
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$105,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$214,000
Location quotient:	5.81

Engineering manager jobs in Seattle

5. Oakland, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	41
Average annual salary:	$169,859
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$119,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$241,000
Location quotient:	2.68

Engineering manager jobs in Oakland

6. Anaheim, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	26
Average annual salary:	$156,836
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$111,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$221,000
Location quotient:	3.21

Engineering manager jobs in Anaheim

7. Laredo, TX

Total engineering manager jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$119,519
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$86,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$164,000
Location quotient:	3.38

8. Bakersfield, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$162,134
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$114,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$229,000
Location quotient:	2.77

Engineering manager jobs in Bakersfield

9. Irvine, CA

Total engineering manager jobs:	127
Average annual salary:	$156,198
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$110,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$220,000
Location quotient:	2.91

Engineering manager jobs in Irvine

10. Reno, NV

Total engineering manager jobs:	27
Average annual salary:	$131,322
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$91,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$187,000
Location quotient:	2.24

Engineering manager jobs in Reno

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Best cities for engineering managers

San Francisco, CA
Fremont, CA
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
Oakland, CA
Anaheim, CA
Laredo, TX
Bakersfield, CA
Irvine, CA
Reno, NV

Detailed list of the best cities for an engineering manager

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	San Francisco, CA	$170,226	$119,000	870,887	237
2	Fremont, CA	$169,395	$119,000	233,136	115
3	San Jose, CA	$169,177	$119,000	1,025,350	143
4	Seattle, WA	$150,119	$105,000	704,352	16
5	Oakland, CA	$169,859	$119,000	420,005	41
6	Anaheim, CA	$156,836	$111,000	351,043	26
7	Laredo, TX	$119,519	$86,000	257,156	8
8	Bakersfield, CA	$162,134	$114,000	376,380	20
9	Irvine, CA	$156,198	$110,000	266,122	127
10	Reno, NV	$131,322	$91,000	245,255	27
11	Santa Ana, CA	$156,546	$111,000	334,217	20
12	Austin, TX	$118,956	$86,000	947,890	59
13	Houston, TX	$118,197	$86,000	2,303,482	9
14	Anchorage, AK	$159,794	$115,000	298,192	14
15	Chandler, AZ	$120,717	$86,000	247,477	66
16	Los Angeles, CA	$158,162	$112,000	3,976,322	38
17	Portland, OR	$142,192	$99,000	639,863	101
18	Brookhaven, NY	$137,747	$100,000	486,040	3
19	Sacramento, CA	$168,252	$118,000	495,234	52
20	Chula Vista, CA	$152,187	$108,000	267,172	5
21	San Diego, CA	$152,722	$108,000	1,406,630	202
22	North Las Vegas, NV	$123,623	$87,000	238,702	3
23	El Paso, TX	$123,052	$88,000	683,080	16
24	Long Beach, CA	$157,208	$111,000	470,130	14
25	Boston, MA	$132,052	$96,000	673,184	249
26	Detroit, MI	$117,923	$86,000	672,795	46
27	Toledo, OH	$112,183	$82,000	278,508	11
28	Mesa, AZ	$120,661	$86,000	484,587	13
29	New York, NY	$137,139	$99,000	8,537,673	130
30	Philadelphia, PA	$121,325	$88,000	1,567,872	91
31	Arlington, TX	$117,251	$86,000	392,772	12
32	Scottsdale, AZ	$121,047	$86,000	246,645	21
33	Riverside, CA	$155,993	$110,000	324,722	11
34	Fort Worth, TX	$117,332	$86,000	854,113	39
35	Raleigh, NC	$112,003	$82,000	458,880	77
36	Las Vegas, NV	$123,931	$87,000	632,912	40
37	Phoenix, AZ	$121,223	$86,000	1,615,017	117
38	Lubbock, TX	$119,499	$87,000	252,506	6
39	Pittsburgh, PA	$118,491	$86,000	303,625	47
40	Columbus, OH	$111,230	$81,000	860,090	85
41	Tucson, AZ	$119,149	$85,000	530,706	29
42	Dallas, TX	$116,978	$85,000	1,317,929	150
43	Miami, FL	$104,212	$77,000	453,579	161
44	Plano, TX	$116,483	$85,000	286,057	81
45	Hialeah, FL	$104,226	$77,000	236,387	5
46	Henderson, NV	$123,336	$87,000	292,969	4
47	Chicago, IL	$110,237	$82,000	2,704,958	100
48	Albuquerque, NM	$119,451	$86,000	559,277	17
49	Fresno, CA	$165,167	$116,000	522,053	6
50	Garland, TX	$116,634	$85,000	234,943	4

Highest paying cities for engineering managers

Rank	City	Avg. engineering manager salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$170,226
2	Seattle, WA	$150,119
3	Hillsboro, OR	$142,675
4	New York, NY	$137,139
5	Boston, MA	$132,052
6	Jersey City, NJ	$128,491
7	Washington, DC	$127,985
8	Portland, ME	$124,136
9	Philadelphia, PA	$121,325
10	Phoenix, AZ	$121,223
11	Hartford, CT	$120,963
12	Richmond, VA	$120,651
13	Austin, TX	$118,956
14	Raleigh, NC	$112,003
15	Columbus, OH	$111,230
16	Chicago, IL	$110,237
17	Salt Lake City, UT	$109,912
18	Minneapolis, MN	$109,353
19	Atlanta, GA	$107,009
20	Richmond, IN	$105,383