Best cities for a lead design engineer
The best cities for lead design engineers are San Jose, CA, Chandler, AZ, and Phoenix, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead design engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead design engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead design engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead design engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead design engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead design engineer. While the absolute best city for lead design engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead design engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead design engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead design engineers in 2026
1. San Jose, CA
Total lead design engineer jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $145,814 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 43.75 2. Chandler, AZ
Total lead design engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $121,968 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 7.04 3. Phoenix, AZ
Total lead design engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $123,264 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 1.49 4. San Francisco, CA
Total lead design engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $146,237 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.17 5. Santa Ana, CA
Total lead design engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $135,290 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 4.67 6. El Paso, TX
Total lead design engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $107,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 4.09 7. Austin, TX
Total lead design engineer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $102,426 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 9.06 8. Irvine, CA
Total lead design engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $134,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 2.56 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Total lead design engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $123,406 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total lead design engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $137,042 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 1.63
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Best cities for lead design engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Austin, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Los Angeles, CA
- (133 lead design engineer jobs)
- (3 lead design engineer jobs)
- (4 lead design engineer jobs)
- (5 lead design engineer jobs)
- (1 lead design engineer jobs)
- (1 lead design engineer jobs)
- (26 lead design engineer jobs)
- (3 lead design engineer jobs)
- (0 lead design engineer jobs)
- (6 lead design engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead design engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $145,814 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 133 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $121,968 | $90,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,264 | $91,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $146,237 | $107,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $135,290 | $99,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $107,257 | $79,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $102,426 | $76,000 | 947,890 | 26 |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $134,870 | $99,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $123,406 | $91,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,042 | $101,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $123,255 | $91,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $100,842 | $75,000 | 854,113 | 8 |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $122,175 | $90,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $100,705 | $75,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 15 | Gilbert, AZ | $121,871 | $90,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $146,054 | $107,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 17 | Fremont, CA | $145,881 | $107,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 18 | San Diego, CA | $129,737 | $96,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $145,121 | $106,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $144,673 | $106,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Plano, TX | $99,390 | $74,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $143,579 | $105,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $101,557 | $75,000 | 2,303,482 | 10 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $118,435 | $88,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Seattle, WA | $117,472 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $95,806 | $74,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 27 | Bakersfield, CA | $140,935 | $103,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $111,663 | $81,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,748 | $80,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 30 | San Antonio, TX | $102,334 | $76,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 31 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,624 | $80,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $89,027 | $67,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $135,823 | $100,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Henderson, NV | $109,332 | $80,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 35 | Anaheim, CA | $135,754 | $100,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $107,542 | $79,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $135,524 | $99,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 38 | Lubbock, TX | $104,480 | $77,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 39 | Laredo, TX | $101,058 | $74,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $100,264 | $75,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 41 | Indianapolis, IN | $86,488 | $66,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $128,782 | $95,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $100,783 | $74,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 44 | Louisville, KY | $83,081 | $63,000 | 597,337 | 24 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $111,201 | $82,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO | $99,773 | $74,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 47 | Denver, CO | $99,825 | $74,000 | 693,060 | 6 |
| 48 | Garland, TX | $99,676 | $74,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $100,238 | $75,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $99,534 | $76,000 | 2,704,958 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for lead design engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead design engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $146,237 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $121,968 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $117,472 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $102,972 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $102,426 |
| 6 | Columbia, MD | $101,169 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $99,825 |
| 8 | Lynn, MA | $98,841 |
| 9 | Peoria, IL | $97,668 |
| 10 | Farmington Hills, MI | $95,771 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $89,713 |
| 12 | Palm Bay, FL | $89,579 |
| 13 | Bloomington, MN | $88,211 |
| 14 | Decatur, AL | $87,162 |
| 15 | Hazelwood, MO | $86,770 |
| 16 | Columbus, IN | $86,125 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $85,533 |
| 18 | Cary, NC | $84,146 |
| 19 | North Charleston, SC | $83,516 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $83,002 |
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Updated January 8, 2025