Best cities for a head engineer
The best cities for head engineers are Nashville, TN, Washington, DC, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head engineer. While the absolute best city for head engineers is Nashville, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a head engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head engineers in 2025
1. Nashville, TN
Total head engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $146,952 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 2.76 2. Washington, DC
Total head engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $186,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $287,000 Location quotient: 3.01 3. Tucson, AZ
Total head engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $155,691 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 2.56 4. San Francisco, CA
Total head engineer jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $168,909 Lowest 10 percent warn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 13.30 5. Virginia Beach, VA
Total head engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $161,725 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 2.16 6. San Jose, CA
Total head engineer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $168,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 3.47 7. Portland, OR
Total head engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $168,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 0.85 8. Seattle, WA
Total head engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $155,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location quotient: 2.05 9. Glendale, AZ
Total head engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $158,719 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total head engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $158,703 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 0.23
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Best cities for head engineers
- Nashville, TN
- Washington, DC
- Tucson, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- San Jose, CA
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
- Glendale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- (5 head engineer jobs)
- (12 head engineer jobs)
- (2 head engineer jobs)
- (92 head engineer jobs)
- (1 head engineer jobs)
- (17 head engineer jobs)
- (2 head engineer jobs)
- (12 head engineer jobs)
- (0 head engineer jobs)
- (1 head engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a head engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $146,952 | $93,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $186,295 | $120,000 | 681,170 | 12 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $155,691 | $99,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $168,909 | $112,000 | 870,887 | 92 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $161,725 | $103,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $168,407 | $111,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $168,198 | $112,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $155,941 | $104,000 | 704,352 | 12 |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $158,719 | $102,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $158,703 | $102,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $132,612 | $82,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $168,747 | $112,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $158,700 | $102,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $146,828 | $93,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 15 | Mesa, AZ | $158,228 | $102,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $158,166 | $102,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $147,321 | $97,000 | 693,060 | 16 |
| 18 | Norfolk, VA | $161,718 | $103,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 19 | Chesapeake, VA | $161,572 | $103,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 20 | Gilbert, AZ | $158,112 | $101,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $153,321 | $100,000 | 8,537,673 | 71 |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $125,908 | $82,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 23 | Albuquerque, NM | $142,716 | $92,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $133,076 | $82,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 25 | Reno, NV | $140,178 | $92,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 26 | Boston, MA | $147,367 | $97,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $137,910 | $90,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 28 | Henderson, NV | $137,734 | $90,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $137,654 | $85,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $137,654 | $90,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Irvine, CA | $161,422 | $105,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $133,668 | $82,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 33 | Houston, TX | $132,215 | $82,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 34 | Fremont, CA | $168,518 | $111,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $162,579 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 14 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $168,013 | $111,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $126,253 | $82,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 38 | Sacramento, CA | $167,983 | $111,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $124,793 | $82,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $136,031 | $86,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Fresno, CA | $166,591 | $109,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $149,228 | $98,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $165,086 | $108,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 44 | Corpus Christi, TX | $133,187 | $81,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 45 | Plano, TX | $128,945 | $82,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 46 | Aurora, CO | $147,376 | $97,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 47 | Jersey City, NJ | $144,786 | $94,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
| 48 | Brookhaven, NY | $153,947 | $100,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $132,500 | $84,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Durham, NC | $116,638 | $74,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for head engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. head engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $186,295 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $168,909 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $168,198 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $155,941 |
| 5 | Tucson, AZ | $155,691 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $153,321 |
| 7 | Littleton, CO | $147,827 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $147,367 |
| 9 | Jersey City, NJ | $144,786 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $132,612 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $130,635 |
| 12 | West Lafayette, IN | $125,456 |
| 13 | Troy, MI | $124,634 |
| 14 | Savannah, GA | $124,598 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $123,526 |
| 16 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $120,235 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $119,297 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $115,600 |
| 19 | Bloomington, MN | $114,199 |
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Updated January 8, 2025