Best cities for an optical engineer
The best cities for optical engineers are Albuquerque, NM, Scottsdale, AZ, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for optical engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for optical engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an optical engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for optical engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for optical engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an optical engineer. While the absolute best city for optical engineers is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for optical engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for an optical engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for optical engineers in 2025
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total optical engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $120,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 4.62 2. Scottsdale, AZ
Total optical engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $112,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 1.48 3. Tucson, AZ
Total optical engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $108,644 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 25.92 4. Fremont, CA
Total optical engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $127,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 15.34 5. Chandler, AZ
Total optical engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $111,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 1.55 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total optical engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $118,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 1.31 7. San Jose, CA
Total optical engineer jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $127,710 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 8.28 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total optical engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $100,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 7.47 9. Sacramento, CA
Total optical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $128,183 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 2.22 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total optical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $112,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 0.74
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Best cities for optical engineers
- Albuquerque, NM
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Fremont, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- (4 optical engineer jobs)
- (1 optical engineer jobs)
- (19 optical engineer jobs)
- (20 optical engineer jobs)
- (1 optical engineer jobs)
- (2 optical engineer jobs)
- (38 optical engineer jobs)
- (8 optical engineer jobs)
- (3 optical engineer jobs)
- (3 optical engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an optical engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $120,577 | $85,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 2 | Scottsdale, AZ | $112,919 | $79,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $108,644 | $77,000 | 530,706 | 19 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $127,993 | $90,000 | 233,136 | 20 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $111,800 | $79,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $118,664 | $83,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $127,710 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 38 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $100,869 | $72,000 | 854,113 | 8 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $128,183 | $90,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $112,759 | $79,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $116,928 | $83,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $125,062 | $88,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $128,432 | $90,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $118,640 | $83,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 15 | Glendale, AZ | $112,732 | $79,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $111,997 | $79,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $117,957 | $82,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $111,748 | $79,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $128,305 | $90,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $105,541 | $76,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $100,321 | $71,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 22 | Stockton, CA | $127,861 | $90,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $100,729 | $72,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 24 | El Paso, TX | $101,555 | $72,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 25 | Arlington, TX | $100,810 | $72,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $100,765 | $72,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 27 | Fresno, CA | $125,489 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $102,245 | $73,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $99,934 | $71,000 | 2,303,482 | 5 |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $115,651 | $81,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $100,634 | $72,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $93,986 | $68,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $100,601 | $72,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $100,026 | $71,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $111,942 | $79,000 | 1,406,630 | 21 |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $92,456 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $92,413 | $67,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 38 | New Orleans, LA | $98,408 | $69,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $92,768 | $67,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH | $91,538 | $66,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 41 | Colorado Springs, CO | $101,564 | $72,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 42 | Corpus Christi, TX | $99,007 | $69,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 43 | Lexington, KY | $91,329 | $66,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $117,377 | $82,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 45 | Laredo, TX | $98,900 | $69,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $91,108 | $66,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 47 | Bakersfield, CA | $121,991 | $85,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $99,091 | $71,000 | 281,764 | 4 |
| 49 | Long Beach, CA | $116,349 | $81,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 50 | Anchorage, AK | $103,197 | $78,000 | 298,192 | - |
Highest paying cities for optical engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. optical engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,432 |
| 2 | Bellevue, WA | $116,856 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $108,644 |
| 4 | Fort Worth, TX | $100,869 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $100,112 |
| 6 | Annapolis, MD | $99,149 |
| 7 | Hillsborough, NJ | $99,012 |
| 8 | Cambridge, MA | $97,046 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $90,839 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $86,403 |
| 11 | Peachtree City, GA | $85,696 |
| 12 | Ithaca, NY | $84,669 |
| 13 | Palm Bay, FL | $84,526 |
| 14 | Farmington Hills, MI | $79,512 |
| 15 | Hilo, HI | $77,656 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $77,265 |
Optical engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025