Best cities for a graduate engineer
The best cities for graduate engineers are Chandler, AZ, El Paso, TX, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for graduate engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for graduate engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a graduate engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for graduate engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for graduate engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a graduate engineer. While the absolute best city for graduate engineers is Chandler, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for graduate engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a graduate engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for graduate engineers in 2025
1. Chandler, AZ
Total graduate engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $85,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 7.82 2. El Paso, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $75,507 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 5.83 3. Oakland, CA
Total graduate engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $92,097 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 2.90 4. Austin, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $71,728 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 9.78 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total graduate engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $71,944 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 3.29 6. San Antonio, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $71,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 5.85 7. Corpus Christi, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $71,200 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 19.42 8. Scottsdale, AZ
Total graduate engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $85,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.53 9. Houston, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $70,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 17.32 10. Garland, TX
Total graduate engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $70,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 8.99
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Best cities for graduate engineers
- Chandler, AZ
- El Paso, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Austin, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Antonio, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Garland, TX
- (14 graduate engineer jobs)
- (6 graduate engineer jobs)
- (5 graduate engineer jobs)
- (118 graduate engineer jobs)
- (14 graduate engineer jobs)
- (31 graduate engineer jobs)
- (8 graduate engineer jobs)
- (1 graduate engineer jobs)
- (95 graduate engineer jobs)
- (3 graduate engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a graduate engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler, AZ | $85,027 | $65,000 | 247,477 | 14 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $75,507 | $57,000 | 683,080 | 6 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $92,097 | $71,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $71,728 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 118 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,944 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 14 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $71,869 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 31 |
| 7 | Corpus Christi, TX | $71,200 | $53,000 | 325,733 | 8 |
| 8 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,297 | $65,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $70,859 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 95 |
| 10 | Garland, TX | $70,871 | $52,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $92,185 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 21 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $70,995 | $52,000 | 1,317,929 | 62 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $85,331 | $65,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,314 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 15 | Fort Worth, TX | $71,228 | $53,000 | 854,113 | 5 |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $91,957 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $85,032 | $65,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 18 | Plano, TX | $70,853 | $52,000 | 286,057 | 9 |
| 19 | Gilbert, AZ | $84,992 | $65,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 20 | Long Beach, CA | $84,112 | $65,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $82,756 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 22 | Arlington, TX | $71,146 | $53,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,974 | $52,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $84,177 | $64,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $84,922 | $66,000 | 3,976,322 | 23 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $73,123 | $56,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $92,003 | $71,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 28 | Washington, DC | $84,168 | $65,000 | 681,170 | 24 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $91,650 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Reno, NV | $74,285 | $57,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 31 | Sacramento, CA | $91,533 | $71,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $71,887 | $54,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $71,578 | $54,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $73,324 | $55,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $71,841 | $54,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $90,832 | $70,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 37 | Irving, TX | $71,030 | $52,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 38 | Denver, CO | $71,565 | $54,000 | 693,060 | 22 |
| 39 | Boston, MA | $77,169 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $65,646 | $51,000 | 302,398 | 13 |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $88,402 | $68,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Baltimore, MD | $79,734 | $62,000 | 614,664 | 5 |
| 43 | Tulsa, OK | $63,471 | $47,000 | 403,090 | 2 |
| 44 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,824 | $53,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $84,094 | $65,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $84,034 | $65,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Kansas City, MO | $61,770 | $46,000 | 481,420 | 18 |
| 48 | Santa Ana, CA | $83,841 | $65,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 49 | Irvine, CA | $83,628 | $65,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,262 | $61,000 | 264,152 | - |
Highest paying cities for graduate engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. graduate engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $92,185 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $85,027 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $84,168 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $75,507 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,944 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $71,565 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $69,537 |
| 8 | Bismarck, ND | $69,147 |
| 9 | South Jordan, UT | $68,169 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $67,129 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,974 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $65,646 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $62,874 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $61,770 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $60,656 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $60,080 |
| 17 | Jackson, MS | $55,824 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $54,561 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,501 |
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Updated January 8, 2025