Best cities for a junior systems engineer
The best cities for junior systems engineers are Oakland, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for junior systems engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for junior systems engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a junior systems engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for junior systems engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for junior systems engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a junior systems engineer. While the absolute best city for junior systems engineers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for junior systems engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a junior systems engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for junior systems engineers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $84,280 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 3.67 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $69,338 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.09 3. San Francisco, CA
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $84,379 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.23 4. Detroit, MI
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,484 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $68,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.16 6. Minneapolis, MN
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $74,730 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.47 7. San Jose, CA
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $83,912 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.99 8. Saint Paul, MN
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $74,728 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Laredo, TX
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,077 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Corpus Christi, TX
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for junior systems engineers
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Minneapolis, MN
- San Jose, CA
- Saint Paul, MN
- Laredo, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- (2 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (3 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (7 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (0 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (2 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (1 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (4 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (0 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (0 junior systems engineer jobs)
- (0 junior systems engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a junior systems engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $84,280 | $53,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,338 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,379 | $53,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $69,484 | $49,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,902 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,730 | $53,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $83,912 | $53,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,728 | $53,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 9 | Laredo, TX | $67,077 | $44,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX | $66,797 | $44,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $84,071 | $53,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,635 | $44,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $66,384 | $44,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $83,889 | $53,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $66,236 | $44,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $83,779 | $53,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $66,164 | $44,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $67,646 | $44,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 19 | Glendale, AZ | $67,641 | $44,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $67,304 | $43,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $67,237 | $45,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Mesa, AZ | $67,378 | $44,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $72,757 | $49,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $67,353 | $44,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 25 | Gilbert, AZ | $67,325 | $44,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 26 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,743 | $45,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $64,694 | $45,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $82,477 | $52,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 29 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,497 | $44,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $66,330 | $45,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $65,487 | $44,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $61,539 | $42,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $65,468 | $44,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $65,468 | $44,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 35 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,411 | $41,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $65,356 | $41,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Plano, TX | $65,456 | $44,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 38 | Garland, TX | $65,456 | $44,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $66,497 | $44,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 40 | Memphis, TN | $60,826 | $42,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 41 | Henderson, NV | $65,071 | $41,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 42 | Boston, MA | $71,501 | $52,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 43 | Lexington, KY | $60,129 | $41,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 44 | Louisville, KY | $59,967 | $41,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 45 | Cleveland, OH | $58,313 | $41,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $80,119 | $50,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $62,584 | $43,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 48 | Durham, NC | $62,576 | $43,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 49 | Los Angeles, CA | $76,941 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $67,549 | $47,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
Highest paying cities for junior systems engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. junior systems engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $84,379 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $72,757 |
| 3 | Springfield, MA | $71,806 |
| 4 | Huntsville, AL | $71,312 |
| 5 | Warren, MI | $69,506 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,338 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $69,268 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,635 |
| 9 | Elgin, IL | $67,570 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $66,236 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $65,740 |
| 12 | Dover, DE | $65,506 |
| 13 | Stamford, CT | $63,017 |
| 14 | Newport, RI | $60,993 |
| 15 | Englewood, CO | $60,434 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,400 |
| 17 | Arlington, VA | $59,553 |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $58,621 |
| 19 | Akron, OH | $58,284 |
| 20 | Annapolis, MD | $55,201 |
Junior systems engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025