Best cities for a principal engineer
The best cities for principal engineers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal engineer. While the absolute best city for principal engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal engineers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Principal engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal principal engineer jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $157,162 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 4.83 2. San Jose, CA
Principal engineer jobs in San JoseTotal principal engineer jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $156,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 8.37 3. Fremont, CA
Principal engineer jobs in FremontTotal principal engineer jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $156,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 4.27 4. Chandler, AZ
Principal engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal principal engineer jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $128,513 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 6.90 5. Reno, NV
Principal engineer jobs in RenoTotal principal engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $129,695 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 1.98 6. Austin, TX
Principal engineer jobs in AustinTotal principal engineer jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $125,581 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 3.71 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Principal engineer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal principal engineer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $128,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 2.04 8. Houston, TX
Principal engineer jobs in HoustonTotal principal engineer jobs: 240 Average annual salary: $125,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 2.66 9. Tucson, AZ
Principal engineer jobs in TucsonTotal principal engineer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $127,329 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 2.53 10. Oakland, CA
Principal engineer jobs in OaklandTotal principal engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $156,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 1.56
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Best cities for principal engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Reno, NV
- Austin, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Tucson, AZ
- Oakland, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $157,162 | $110,000 | 870,887 | 132 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $156,685 | $110,000 | 1,025,350 | 220 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $156,699 | $110,000 | 233,136 | 69 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $128,513 | $91,000 | 247,477 | 55 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $129,695 | $90,000 | 245,255 | 12 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $125,581 | $89,000 | 947,890 | 199 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $128,591 | $91,000 | 246,645 | 17 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $125,027 | $88,000 | 2,303,482 | 240 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $127,329 | $90,000 | 530,706 | 23 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $156,886 | $110,000 | 420,005 | 12 |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $148,983 | $105,000 | 266,122 | 169 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $126,077 | $89,000 | 1,492,510 | 38 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $154,846 | $108,000 | 495,234 | 38 |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $149,691 | $105,000 | 470,130 | 18 |
| 15 | Glendale, AZ | $128,910 | $91,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $128,815 | $91,000 | 1,615,017 | 68 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $128,722 | $91,000 | 683,080 | 5 |
| 18 | Irving, TX | $122,790 | $87,000 | 238,289 | 73 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $146,830 | $104,000 | 1,406,630 | 194 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $130,448 | $91,000 | 559,277 | 9 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $135,775 | $95,000 | 704,352 | 121 |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $127,666 | $89,000 | 632,912 | 18 |
| 23 | Santa Ana, CA | $149,221 | $105,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 24 | Boston, MA | $130,277 | $95,000 | 673,184 | 112 |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,835 | $81,000 | 1,567,872 | 66 |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $113,689 | $81,000 | 660,388 | 24 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $150,346 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 105 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $122,849 | $87,000 | 1,317,929 | 65 |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $129,729 | $92,000 | 391,495 | 4 |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $128,406 | $90,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 31 | Orlando, FL | $111,446 | $79,000 | 277,173 | 42 |
| 32 | Bakersfield, CA | $152,866 | $107,000 | 376,380 | 4 |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $127,422 | $89,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Henderson, NV | $127,324 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $101,993 | $74,000 | 263,016 | 40 |
| 36 | Virginia Beach, VA | $117,277 | $85,000 | 452,602 | 13 |
| 37 | Atlanta, GA | $109,641 | $79,000 | 472,522 | 122 |
| 38 | Oklahoma City, OK | $104,856 | $74,000 | 638,367 | 24 |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $122,125 | $86,000 | 286,057 | 29 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $126,679 | $90,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $126,042 | $89,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $108,191 | $77,000 | 303,625 | 32 |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $127,123 | $88,000 | 639,863 | 32 |
| 44 | Fort Worth, TX | $123,187 | $87,000 | 854,113 | 10 |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $102,145 | $74,000 | 458,880 | 46 |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $128,418 | $91,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $109,993 | $77,000 | 465,101 | 49 |
| 48 | Anchorage, AK | $115,975 | $91,000 | 298,192 | 5 |
| 49 | Fort Wayne, IN | $99,748 | $71,000 | 264,488 | 8 |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $113,454 | $81,000 | 652,717 | 7 |
Highest paying cities for principal engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $157,181 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $138,189 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $135,775 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $130,277 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $128,815 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $127,123 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $126,077 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $123,943 |
| 9 | Washington, MI | $112,330 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,835 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $111,446 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $110,946 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $109,641 |
| 14 | Englewood, CO | $109,246 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $109,235 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $102,145 |
| 17 | Eden Prairie, MN | $102,071 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $99,563 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,677 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $92,543 |
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Updated January 8, 2025