Best cities for a hardware test engineer
The best cities for hardware test engineers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for hardware test engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for hardware test engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a hardware test engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for hardware test engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for hardware test engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a hardware test engineer. While the absolute best city for hardware test engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for hardware test engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a hardware test engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for hardware test engineers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $136,046 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 6.85 2. San Jose, CA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $134,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 12.89 3. Fremont, CA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $135,154 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 4.13 4. Albuquerque, NM
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $105,573 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 6.22 5. Wichita, KS
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $105,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 2.44 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $98,279 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 1.37 7. Philadelphia, PA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $100,166 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.29 8. Seattle, WA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 0.74 9. Portland, OR
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $106,136 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 4.27 10. Irvine, CA
Total hardware test engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $118,922 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 8.36
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Best cities for hardware test engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Wichita, KS
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Portland, OR
- Irvine, CA
- (33 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (44 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (4 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (4 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (1 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (2 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (3 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (3 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (7 hardware test engineer jobs)
- (11 hardware test engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a hardware test engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $136,046 | $98,000 | 870,887 | 33 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $134,647 | $97,000 | 1,025,350 | 44 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $135,154 | $97,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,573 | $77,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | $105,672 | $78,000 | 389,902 | 1 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $98,279 | $73,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,166 | $74,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $138,431 | $100,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $106,136 | $76,000 | 639,863 | 7 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $118,922 | $87,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $135,597 | $97,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $135,797 | $98,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $134,992 | $97,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $98,333 | $73,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $117,269 | $86,000 | 1,406,630 | 135 |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $131,151 | $94,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,886 | $91,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 18 | Durham, NC | $98,216 | $73,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $97,820 | $73,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 20 | Winston-Salem, NC | $97,650 | $72,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $93,518 | $68,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $112,728 | $84,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC | $97,513 | $72,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $120,246 | $88,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 25 | Islip, NY | $112,653 | $84,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 26 | Long Beach, CA | $119,435 | $87,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $119,335 | $87,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 28 | Oyster Bay, NY | $112,502 | $84,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 29 | Hempstead, NY | $112,475 | $84,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 30 | Oklahoma City, OK | $92,266 | $68,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $119,120 | $87,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $112,321 | $84,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
| 33 | Riverside, CA | $119,097 | $87,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $97,301 | $71,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $97,267 | $71,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 36 | Scottsdale, AZ | $97,199 | $71,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 37 | El Paso, TX | $95,688 | $70,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 38 | Irving, TX | $93,046 | $68,000 | 238,289 | 2 |
| 39 | Chandler, AZ | $96,987 | $71,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 40 | Tulsa, OK | $91,699 | $67,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 41 | Mesa, AZ | $96,969 | $71,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 42 | New Orleans, LA | $93,047 | $68,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 43 | Gilbert, AZ | $96,939 | $71,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 44 | San Antonio, TX | $93,444 | $68,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 45 | Chula Vista, CA | $117,033 | $86,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 46 | Fort Worth, TX | $93,228 | $68,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 47 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,745 | $65,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 48 | Lubbock, TX | $94,228 | $69,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 49 | Arlington, TX | $93,189 | $68,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 50 | Dallas, TX | $93,059 | $68,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
Highest paying cities for hardware test engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. hardware test engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue, WA | $138,311 |
| 2 | Petaluma, CA | $136,657 |
| 3 | Norwalk, CT | $110,138 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $106,136 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,573 |
| 6 | Milford, MA | $104,123 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | $103,550 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,166 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $97,267 |
| 10 | South Jordan, UT | $93,796 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $93,518 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $91,379 |
| 13 | Longmont, CO | $91,281 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $87,745 |
| 15 | Council Bluffs, IA | $86,634 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $80,967 |
| 17 | Allen Park, MI | $78,904 |
Hardware test engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025