Best cities for a principal consulting engineer
The best cities for principal consulting engineers are Houston, TX, Reno, NV, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal consulting engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal consulting engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal consulting engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal consulting engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal consulting engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal consulting engineer. While the absolute best city for principal consulting engineers is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal consulting engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal consulting engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal consulting engineers in 2026
1. Houston, TX
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $112,839 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 20.34 2. Reno, NV
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $128,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $121,580 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. North Las Vegas, NV
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $121,448 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Henderson, NV
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $120,853 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Albuquerque, NM
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $114,128 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Laredo, TX
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,679 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Corpus Christi, TX
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,390 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Seattle, WA
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $125,330 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 2.35 10. San Antonio, TX
Total principal consulting engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,366 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principal consulting engineers
- Houston, TX
- Reno, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Laredo, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Seattle, WA
- San Antonio, TX
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Detailed list of the best cities for a principal consulting engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $112,839 | $86,000 | 2,303,482 | 46 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $128,463 | $95,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $121,580 | $91,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $121,448 | $91,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $120,853 | $91,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $114,128 | $86,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 7 | Laredo, TX | $113,679 | $87,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 8 | Corpus Christi, TX | $113,390 | $87,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $125,330 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $113,366 | $87,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $114,994 | $88,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $113,141 | $86,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 13 | Lubbock, TX | $113,027 | $86,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 14 | Fort Worth, TX | $111,992 | $85,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 15 | Arlington, TX | $111,963 | $85,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $111,805 | $85,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $138,017 | $103,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 18 | Irving, TX | $111,773 | $85,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $115,340 | $89,000 | 453,579 | 6 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $110,419 | $85,000 | 472,522 | 13 |
| 21 | Garland, TX | $111,595 | $85,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 22 | Plano, TX | $111,486 | $85,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $137,804 | $103,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | San Jose, CA | $137,137 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $137,409 | $103,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Tampa, FL | $115,772 | $89,000 | 377,165 | 1 |
| 27 | Sacramento, CA | $136,944 | $102,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 28 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $115,799 | $89,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $109,882 | $84,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $136,917 | $102,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 31 | Orlando, FL | $115,549 | $89,000 | 277,173 | - |
| 32 | Hialeah, FL | $115,370 | $89,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,831 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 34 | Chicago, IL | $110,120 | $85,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 35 | Jacksonville, FL | $113,195 | $87,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $99,030 | $76,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $134,602 | $101,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $114,636 | $95,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 39 | Memphis, TN | $99,542 | $76,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $113,631 | $84,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 41 | Glendale, AZ | $105,866 | $80,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 42 | Bakersfield, CA | $131,271 | $99,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $125,707 | $95,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 44 | Scottsdale, AZ | $105,755 | $80,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 45 | Chandler, AZ | $105,621 | $80,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 46 | Mesa, AZ | $105,590 | $80,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $105,578 | $80,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $97,956 | $75,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 49 | Brookhaven, NY | $120,064 | $92,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $127,147 | $96,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for principal consulting engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal consulting engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $138,017 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $128,636 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $125,330 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $121,073 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $119,827 |
| 6 | Temple Terrace, FL | $115,754 |
| 7 | Milford, MA | $113,299 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $113,141 |
| 9 | Annapolis, MD | $112,836 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $110,419 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $110,120 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge, LA | $109,917 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,831 |
| 14 | Charleston, WV | $102,952 |
| 15 | Alexandria, VA | $102,078 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $100,671 |
| 17 | Chattanooga, TN | $100,382 |
| 18 | Concord, NH | $96,403 |
| 19 | Bartlesville, OK | $94,648 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $93,185 |
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Updated January 8, 2025