Best cities for a principal mechanical engineer
The best cities for principal mechanical engineers are Houston, TX, Austin, TX, and Fort Worth, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal mechanical engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal mechanical engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal mechanical engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal mechanical engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal mechanical engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal mechanical engineer. While the absolute best city for principal mechanical engineers is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal mechanical engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal mechanical engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal mechanical engineers in 2025
1. Houston, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $112,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 4.05 2. Austin, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $113,551 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 1.06 3. Fort Worth, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $112,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 1.22 4. Lubbock, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $114,218 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Dallas, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $112,490 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.33 6. El Paso, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,835 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Antonio, TX
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,220 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $109,262 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 1.29 9. New Orleans, LA
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $99,013 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 3.31 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total principal mechanical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $122,123 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principal mechanical engineers
- Houston, TX
- Austin, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Dallas, TX
- El Paso, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- New Orleans, LA
- Albuquerque, NM
- (45 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (7 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (2 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (0 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (2 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (0 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (0 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (3 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (3 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
- (0 principal mechanical engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal mechanical engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $112,575 | $83,000 | 2,303,482 | 45 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $113,551 | $84,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $112,776 | $85,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | $114,218 | $86,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $112,490 | $85,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $116,835 | $87,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $113,220 | $84,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,262 | $81,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $99,013 | $73,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $122,123 | $92,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $113,426 | $83,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $112,717 | $85,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $91,972 | $71,000 | 385,809 | 7 |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $128,797 | $95,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $128,229 | $94,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $112,472 | $85,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 17 | Garland, TX | $112,199 | $84,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 18 | Plano, TX | $112,068 | $84,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $118,005 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $90,534 | $70,000 | 252,551 | 11 |
| 21 | Laredo, TX | $110,965 | $82,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 22 | Oklahoma City, OK | $90,701 | $69,000 | 638,367 | 7 |
| 23 | Corpus Christi, TX | $110,799 | $82,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,205 | $80,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | San Francisco, CA | $129,251 | $95,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 26 | Long Beach, CA | $114,860 | $86,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $108,230 | $80,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $114,521 | $86,000 | 334,217 | 8 |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $117,003 | $87,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 30 | Indianapolis, IN | $92,466 | $71,000 | 855,164 | 7 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $115,790 | $86,000 | 3,976,322 | 21 |
| 32 | Gilbert, AZ | $93,837 | $70,000 | 237,133 | 6 |
| 33 | Oakland, CA | $129,082 | $95,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 34 | Chandler, AZ | $93,889 | $70,000 | 247,477 | 14 |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $128,884 | $95,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | Boston, MA | $117,316 | $90,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 37 | Detroit, MI | $100,722 | $78,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $128,294 | $95,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $105,027 | $80,000 | 465,101 | 3 |
| 40 | Nashville, TN | $95,654 | $73,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 41 | Memphis, TN | $95,255 | $73,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $114,284 | $85,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 43 | Fresno, CA | $126,881 | $94,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $89,037 | $68,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 45 | Denver, CO | $104,721 | $80,000 | 693,060 | 7 |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $100,508 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 2 |
| 47 | Fort Wayne, IN | $93,407 | $72,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,506 | $91,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $94,320 | $72,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 50 | Toledo, OH | $90,302 | $69,000 | 278,508 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal mechanical engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal mechanical engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $129,251 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $118,005 |
| 3 | Plymouth, MA | $117,787 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $113,551 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $111,039 |
| 6 | Lafayette, CO | $104,812 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $101,989 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $100,508 |
| 9 | Farmington Hills, MI | $100,500 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,056 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $93,837 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $92,466 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $91,972 |
| 14 | Menomonee Falls, WI | $90,933 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $89,232 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $86,577 |
| 17 | Clearfield, UT | $83,650 |
| 18 | Melbourne, FL | $83,189 |
| 19 | Plymouth, MN | $83,070 |
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Updated January 8, 2025