Best cities for a principal hardware engineer
The best cities for principal hardware engineers are San Jose, CA, Austin, TX, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal hardware engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal hardware engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal hardware engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal hardware engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal hardware engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal hardware engineer. While the absolute best city for principal hardware engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal hardware engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal hardware engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal hardware engineers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $163,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 4.20 2. Austin, TX
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $129,517 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 4.45 3. San Francisco, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $164,778 Lowest 10 percent warn: $121,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location quotient: 0.47 4. Gilbert, AZ
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $128,975 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 25.87 5. Oakland, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $164,519 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Seattle, WA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $191,952 Lowest 10 percent warn: $139,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $263,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fremont, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $164,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Sacramento, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $163,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Houston, TX
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $128,848 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 0.28 10. Long Beach, CA
Total principal hardware engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $153,680 Lowest 10 percent warn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 5.12
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Best cities for principal hardware engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Houston, TX
- Long Beach, CA
- (19 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (19 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (3 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (4 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (2 principal hardware engineer jobs)
- (2 principal hardware engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal hardware engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $163,685 | $120,000 | 1,025,350 | 19 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $129,517 | $96,000 | 947,890 | 19 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $164,778 | $121,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 4 | Gilbert, AZ | $128,975 | $95,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $164,519 | $120,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $191,952 | $139,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $164,027 | $120,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $163,854 | $120,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $128,848 | $95,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $153,680 | $113,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 11 | Stockton, CA | $163,542 | $120,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $133,144 | $98,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 13 | Wichita, KS | $128,234 | $96,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 14 | Lubbock, TX | $130,071 | $96,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $130,068 | $96,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $129,883 | $96,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $151,427 | $111,000 | 1,406,630 | 28 |
| 18 | Chula Vista, CA | $151,149 | $111,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $131,727 | $97,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 20 | Corpus Christi, TX | $129,603 | $96,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 21 | Fort Worth, TX | $127,784 | $95,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 22 | Arlington, TX | $127,687 | $95,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 23 | Irvine, CA | $153,145 | $113,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $160,603 | $117,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $154,349 | $113,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 26 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,410 | $95,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 27 | Glendale, AZ | $129,458 | $95,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $127,376 | $94,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 29 | Irving, TX | $127,359 | $94,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $129,313 | $95,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $126,972 | $94,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | Bakersfield, CA | $157,537 | $115,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | $129,042 | $95,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 34 | Plano, TX | $126,782 | $94,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 35 | Mesa, AZ | $129,012 | $95,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 36 | Oklahoma City, OK | $111,221 | $83,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 37 | Tucson, AZ | $127,806 | $94,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $153,524 | $113,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $153,336 | $113,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Riverside, CA | $153,183 | $113,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 41 | Raleigh, NC | $105,133 | $79,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $112,549 | $83,000 | 465,101 | 23 |
| 43 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,394 | $80,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $128,934 | $99,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $110,653 | $80,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 46 | New Orleans, LA | $114,762 | $85,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 47 | Anchorage, AK | $128,058 | $101,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 48 | Lincoln, NE | $101,624 | $76,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 49 | Aurora, CO | $112,037 | $83,000 | 361,710 | 5 |
| 50 | Tulsa, OK | $110,231 | $82,000 | 403,090 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal hardware engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal hardware engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $191,952 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $164,778 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $129,883 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,410 |
| 5 | Billerica, MA | $128,806 |
| 6 | Germantown, MD | $116,467 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $114,471 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $112,549 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $111,408 |
| 10 | Nashua, NH | $105,487 |
| 11 | Largo, FL | $104,023 |
| 12 | Madison Heights, MI | $96,865 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $95,545 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $95,230 |
Principal hardware engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025