Best cities for a lead mechanical engineer
The best cities for lead mechanical engineers are El Paso, TX, Fremont, CA, and Corpus Christi, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead mechanical engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead mechanical engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead mechanical engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead mechanical engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead mechanical engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead mechanical engineer. While the absolute best city for lead mechanical engineers is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead mechanical engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead mechanical engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead mechanical engineers in 2025
1. El Paso, TX
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $106,396 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 4.71 2. Fremont, CA
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $139,020 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 2.00 3. Corpus Christi, TX
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $101,043 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 2.94 4. Nashville, TN
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $97,488 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 2.05 5. Houston, TX
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $102,725 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 2.51 6. Tulsa, OK
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $95,613 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 4.90 7. Oklahoma City, OK
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $96,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.31 8. Anaheim, CA
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $122,579 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 3.98 9. Chandler, AZ
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $99,130 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 2.71 10. San Francisco, CA
Total lead mechanical engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $139,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 0.54
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Best cities for lead mechanical engineers
- El Paso, TX
- Fremont, CA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Houston, TX
- Tulsa, OK
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Anaheim, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- (4 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (6 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (1 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (8 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (42 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (7 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (4 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (3 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (4 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
- (8 lead mechanical engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead mechanical engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $106,396 | $79,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $139,020 | $101,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 3 | Corpus Christi, TX | $101,043 | $73,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $97,488 | $74,000 | 660,388 | 8 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $102,725 | $76,000 | 2,303,482 | 42 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $95,613 | $73,000 | 403,090 | 7 |
| 7 | Oklahoma City, OK | $96,569 | $73,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 8 | Anaheim, CA | $122,579 | $90,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $99,130 | $73,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $139,494 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 11 | Long Beach, CA | $122,755 | $91,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $138,916 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $102,524 | $77,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $102,223 | $76,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $96,472 | $73,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $139,260 | $101,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $103,503 | $76,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $114,500 | $84,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $122,169 | $90,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $103,284 | $76,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $138,084 | $100,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Washington, DC | $130,010 | $98,000 | 681,170 | 6 |
| 23 | Sacramento, CA | $137,578 | $100,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $87,596 | $67,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $136,231 | $99,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $101,054 | $73,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 27 | Laredo, TX | $101,102 | $73,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 28 | Tucson, AZ | $98,406 | $73,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 29 | Arlington, TX | $102,455 | $76,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $129,809 | $95,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Detroit, MI | $98,416 | $75,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $98,365 | $80,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,585 | $91,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $102,209 | $76,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $104,065 | $78,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Garland, TX | $101,926 | $76,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 37 | Albuquerque, NM | $93,839 | $70,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 38 | Plano, TX | $101,780 | $76,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $97,345 | $73,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 40 | Las Vegas, NV | $96,716 | $70,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $92,273 | $72,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $122,123 | $90,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 43 | Phoenix, AZ | $99,386 | $74,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 44 | Scottsdale, AZ | $99,234 | $73,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $85,501 | $64,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 46 | Denver, CO | $97,424 | $73,000 | 693,060 | 7 |
| 47 | Boston, MA | $101,228 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 48 | Gilbert, AZ | $99,068 | $73,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 49 | Santa Ana, CA | $122,351 | $90,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $99,066 | $73,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for lead mechanical engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. lead mechanical engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $139,494 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $130,010 |
| 3 | Tualatin, OR | $114,408 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $106,396 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $101,228 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $99,130 |
| 7 | Troy, MI | $98,491 |
| 8 | Annapolis, MD | $98,027 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $97,976 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $97,669 |
| 11 | Schenectady, NY | $97,407 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $96,803 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $95,613 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $92,942 |
| 15 | Rochester, MN | $91,925 |
| 16 | Florence, SC | $90,116 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $87,596 |
| 18 | Greenville, NC | $86,372 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $85,144 |
| 20 | Appleton, WI | $84,018 |
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Updated January 8, 2025