Best cities for a junior engineer
The best cities for junior engineers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for junior engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for junior engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a junior engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for junior engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for junior engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a junior engineer. While the absolute best city for junior engineers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for junior engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a junior engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for junior engineers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total junior engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $93,579 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 12.65 2. San Francisco, CA
Total junior engineer jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $93,783 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 2.42 3. Boston, MA
Total junior engineer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $82,704 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 3.19 4. San Jose, CA
Total junior engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $93,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 1.90 5. Seattle, WA
Total junior engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $89,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 1.59 6. Phoenix, AZ
Total junior engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $73,708 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 2.15 7. Houston, TX
Total junior engineer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $70,832 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 3.23 8. Sacramento, CA
Total junior engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $92,014 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 1.29 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total junior engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $69,650 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 3.42 10. Fremont, CA
Total junior engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $93,456 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for junior engineers
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Fremont, CA
- (9 junior engineer jobs)
- (18 junior engineer jobs)
- (17 junior engineer jobs)
- (10 junior engineer jobs)
- (10 junior engineer jobs)
- (10 junior engineer jobs)
- (27 junior engineer jobs)
- (2 junior engineer jobs)
- (6 junior engineer jobs)
- (0 junior engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a junior engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $93,579 | $66,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $93,783 | $66,000 | 870,887 | 18 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $82,704 | $62,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $93,386 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $89,999 | $67,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $73,708 | $52,000 | 1,615,017 | 10 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $70,832 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 27 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $92,014 | $65,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,650 | $49,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $93,456 | $66,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $84,633 | $60,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $73,201 | $52,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,129 | $52,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $84,447 | $60,000 | 324,722 | 6 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $71,676 | $53,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $84,834 | $61,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $92,466 | $65,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Tucson, AZ | $73,797 | $52,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 19 | Glendale, AZ | $73,750 | $52,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,625 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 21 | Nashville, TN | $67,617 | $49,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 22 | Chandler, AZ | $73,720 | $52,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 23 | Memphis, TN | $67,349 | $49,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $91,071 | $64,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | El Paso, TX | $72,556 | $51,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 26 | Gilbert, AZ | $73,691 | $52,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $84,713 | $61,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $84,540 | $60,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 29 | Norfolk, VA | $73,976 | $54,000 | 245,115 | 5 |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $73,652 | $52,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $72,121 | $51,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $69,363 | $50,000 | 1,317,929 | 9 |
| 33 | Scottsdale, AZ | $73,596 | $52,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $71,191 | $51,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 35 | San Antonio, TX | $71,644 | $51,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,488 | $50,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 37 | Virginia Beach, VA | $74,067 | $54,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 38 | Colorado Springs, CO | $73,443 | $53,000 | 465,101 | 10 |
| 39 | Anchorage, AK | $77,417 | $66,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $63,741 | $47,000 | 287,027 | 8 |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $71,588 | $51,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Lubbock, TX | $70,210 | $50,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $83,966 | $60,000 | 1,406,630 | 12 |
| 44 | New Orleans, LA | $69,589 | $50,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 45 | Plano, TX | $69,214 | $50,000 | 286,057 | 3 |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $87,853 | $62,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $69,355 | $50,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $85,162 | $61,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 49 | Cleveland, OH | $65,413 | $48,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $75,665 | $56,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for junior engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. junior engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $93,783 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $89,999 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $82,704 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $82,229 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $75,665 |
| 6 | Alexandria, VA | $74,343 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $73,708 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $73,214 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $72,990 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $72,002 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $71,191 |
| 12 | Northbrook, IL | $70,377 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,650 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,625 |
| 15 | Huntsville, AL | $67,518 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $67,246 |
| 17 | Greensboro, NC | $63,741 |
| 18 | Coral Gables, FL | $62,589 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $62,382 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,248 |
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Updated January 8, 2025