Best cities for a mechanical design engineer
The best cities for mechanical design engineers are Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mechanical design engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mechanical design engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mechanical design engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mechanical design engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mechanical design engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mechanical design engineer. While the absolute best city for mechanical design engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mechanical design engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a mechanical design engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mechanical design engineers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in FremontTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $106,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 15.37 2. San Jose, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in San JoseTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $106,376 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 1.94 3. Tucson, AZ
Mechanical design engineer jobs in TucsonTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $81,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 2.68 4. Long Beach, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in Long BeachTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $95,136 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 7.28 5. Oakland, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in OaklandTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $106,669 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 1.48 6. Corpus Christi, TX
Mechanical design engineer jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $75,086 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 5.31 7. Las Vegas, NV
Mechanical design engineer jobs in Las VegasTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $84,230 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.20 8. Anaheim, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in AnaheimTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $95,095 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 3.59 9. Irvine, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in IrvineTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $94,491 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 3.70 10. Sacramento, CA
Mechanical design engineer jobs in SacramentoTotal mechanical design engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $105,777 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 1.07
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Best cities for mechanical design engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Tucson, AZ
- Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Anaheim, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- (153 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (68 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (15 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (22 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (7 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (6 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (14 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (9 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (50 mechanical design engineer jobs)
- (11 mechanical design engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a mechanical design engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $106,521 | $80,000 | 233,136 | 153 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $106,376 | $80,000 | 1,025,350 | 68 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $81,408 | $63,000 | 530,706 | 15 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $95,136 | $73,000 | 470,130 | 22 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $106,669 | $81,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | $75,086 | $58,000 | 325,733 | 6 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,230 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 14 |
| 8 | Anaheim, CA | $95,095 | $73,000 | 351,043 | 9 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $94,491 | $72,000 | 266,122 | 50 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $105,777 | $80,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 11 | Chandler, AZ | $82,166 | $63,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $82,402 | $63,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 13 | Arlington, TX | $73,678 | $58,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 14 | Chula Vista, CA | $92,338 | $71,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $74,653 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 155 |
| 16 | Fort Worth, TX | $73,715 | $58,000 | 854,113 | 24 |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $106,784 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 36 |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $83,642 | $63,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $94,771 | $72,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $69,663 | $55,000 | 385,809 | 18 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,465 | $63,000 | 1,615,017 | 23 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $92,515 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | 69 |
| 23 | Louisville, KY | $66,013 | $52,000 | 597,337 | 144 |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $69,342 | $55,000 | 264,488 | 9 |
| 25 | Cincinnati, OH | $68,399 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 33 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $104,597 | $79,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,158 | $73,000 | 3,976,322 | 41 |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $74,956 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 34 |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $86,031 | $65,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 30 | Portland, OR | $81,703 | $63,000 | 639,863 | 16 |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $91,124 | $71,000 | 704,352 | 23 |
| 32 | Memphis, TN | $71,286 | $56,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
| 33 | Mesa, AZ | $82,151 | $63,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 34 | Albuquerque, NM | $78,738 | $61,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $66,094 | $53,000 | 595,047 | 28 |
| 36 | Greensboro, NC | $65,036 | $52,000 | 287,027 | 65 |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $68,859 | $55,000 | 860,090 | 22 |
| 38 | Tulsa, OK | $66,353 | $53,000 | 403,090 | 13 |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $72,564 | $58,000 | 672,795 | 6 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $84,198 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Toledo, OH | $69,282 | $55,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,764 | $55,000 | 855,164 | 21 |
| 43 | Lexington, KY | $66,173 | $53,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $106,109 | $80,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $82,499 | $63,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $65,937 | $53,000 | 252,551 | 16 |
| 47 | Wichita, KS | $63,826 | $50,000 | 389,902 | 54 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $73,556 | $57,000 | 1,317,929 | 27 |
| 49 | Plano, TX | $73,326 | $57,000 | 286,057 | 15 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $66,445 | $52,000 | 638,367 | 15 |
Highest paying cities for mechanical design engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. mechanical design engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $106,784 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $91,124 |
| 3 | Sparks, NV | $85,971 |
| 4 | Attleboro, MA | $85,814 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $85,079 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,465 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $76,133 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $75,598 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $74,956 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $73,000 |
| 11 | Rochester Hills, MI | $72,596 |
| 12 | Greenville, SC | $69,035 |
| 13 | Kokomo, IN | $68,937 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $68,859 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $68,766 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,464 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $66,094 |
| 18 | Greenville, NC | $65,493 |
| 19 | Lenexa, KS | $63,966 |
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Updated January 8, 2025