Best cities for an engineering programmer
The best cities for engineering programmers are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for engineering programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for engineering programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an engineering programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for engineering programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for engineering programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an engineering programmer. While the absolute best city for engineering programmers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for engineering programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for an engineering programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for engineering programmers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $130,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 2.48 2. Oakland, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,600 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total engineering programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $94,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 4.22 4. Sacramento, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,248 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Seattle, WA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $118,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,224 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,963 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Jose, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,955 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Reno, NV
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,482 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Fresno, CA
Total engineering programmer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $127,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for engineering programmers
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- Stockton, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Reno, NV
- Fresno, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for an engineering programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,776 | $89,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $130,600 | $89,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $94,980 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $130,248 | $89,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $118,094 | $82,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $130,224 | $89,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $129,963 | $88,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $129,955 | $88,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $100,482 | $68,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 10 | Fresno, CA | $127,535 | $86,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 11 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,709 | $83,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $95,967 | $67,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 13 | North Las Vegas, NV | $94,921 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $115,315 | $78,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $95,850 | $67,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $94,616 | $66,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $94,122 | $63,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $94,092 | $66,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $112,716 | $76,000 | 266,122 | 13 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $103,755 | $72,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,123 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $102,710 | $76,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $113,661 | $77,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $113,613 | $77,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $93,004 | $65,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,237 | $60,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 27 | Riverside, CA | $113,455 | $77,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $113,125 | $77,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 29 | El Paso, TX | $90,145 | $61,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $84,270 | $58,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 31 | Lubbock, TX | $88,254 | $60,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $101,805 | $68,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Scottsdale, AZ | $89,038 | $60,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $101,724 | $68,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $89,026 | $60,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 36 | Austin, TX | $87,136 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | $82,231 | $58,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 38 | San Diego, CA | $109,037 | $74,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $89,016 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $86,613 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 41 | Fort Worth, TX | $86,347 | $59,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $108,559 | $74,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $88,552 | $60,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $88,492 | $60,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 45 | San Antonio, TX | $87,015 | $58,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $88,443 | $60,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $85,758 | $59,000 | 286,057 | 3 |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $81,007 | $57,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $86,080 | $59,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $86,271 | $59,000 | 392,772 | - |
Highest paying cities for engineering programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. engineering programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $131,013 |
| 2 | Bellevue, WA | $118,008 |
| 3 | Bend, OR | $104,528 |
| 4 | Englewood, NJ | $101,899 |
| 5 | Carson City, NV | $100,880 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $95,967 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $93,772 |
| 8 | Annapolis, MD | $93,096 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $89,667 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $87,136 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $85,834 |
| 12 | Bismarck, ND | $84,913 |
| 13 | Akron, OH | $84,136 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $83,913 |
| 15 | Waukesha, WI | $79,389 |
| 16 | Troy, MI | $76,061 |
| 17 | Lincoln, NE | $73,124 |
| 18 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $70,351 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $68,950 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $68,855 |
Engineering programmer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025