Best cities for a principal network engineer
The best cities for principal network engineers are Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, and San Diego, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal network engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal network engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal network engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal network engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal network engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal network engineer. While the absolute best city for principal network engineers is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal network engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal network engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal network engineers in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $153,821 Lowest 10 percent warn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 2.99 2. San Jose, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $153,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 1.90 3. San Diego, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $133,055 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 4.62 4. Seattle, WA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $140,181 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 1.11 5. San Francisco, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $154,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 0.73 6. Plano, TX
Total principal network engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $103,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 3.48 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $138,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 1.21 8. Oakland, CA
Total principal network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $154,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Reno, NV
Total principal network engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $125,966 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Gilbert, AZ
Total principal network engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $100,378 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 12.88
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Best cities for principal network engineers
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- Plano, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Reno, NV
- Gilbert, AZ
- (6 principal network engineer jobs)
- (13 principal network engineer jobs)
- (27 principal network engineer jobs)
- (9 principal network engineer jobs)
- (7 principal network engineer jobs)
- (11 principal network engineer jobs)
- (10 principal network engineer jobs)
- (0 principal network engineer jobs)
- (0 principal network engineer jobs)
- (3 principal network engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal network engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $153,821 | $113,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $153,910 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 13 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $133,055 | $100,000 | 1,406,630 | 27 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,181 | $102,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $154,869 | $114,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 6 | Plano, TX | $103,585 | $80,000 | 286,057 | 11 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,409 | $104,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $154,629 | $114,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $125,966 | $92,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 10 | Gilbert, AZ | $100,378 | $76,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $154,210 | $114,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $117,976 | $87,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $105,806 | $81,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 14 | Chandler, AZ | $100,440 | $76,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $153,647 | $113,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $150,489 | $111,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $117,851 | $87,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $100,743 | $76,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $96,346 | $74,000 | 263,016 | 13 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $116,976 | $87,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,818 | $76,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $145,337 | $108,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $136,658 | $102,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $103,995 | $80,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 25 | Riverside, CA | $136,362 | $102,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 26 | Santa Ana, CA | $136,223 | $102,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 27 | Long Beach, CA | $136,772 | $103,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $135,853 | $102,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $106,126 | $81,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $95,180 | $73,000 | 280,364 | 8 |
| 31 | Irving, TX | $103,969 | $80,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $96,506 | $74,000 | 458,880 | 8 |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $107,955 | $82,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Corpus Christi, TX | $106,094 | $81,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 35 | Chula Vista, CA | $132,745 | $100,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 36 | Laredo, TX | $106,409 | $82,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 37 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,618 | $80,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $101,137 | $78,000 | 472,522 | 16 |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $115,080 | $84,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $105,593 | $81,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 41 | Lubbock, TX | $105,369 | $81,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $104,248 | $80,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $99,341 | $77,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $104,199 | $80,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $91,532 | $71,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $99,277 | $75,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 47 | Garland, TX | $103,717 | $80,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 48 | Cleveland, OH | $92,972 | $72,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $98,815 | $76,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 50 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $98,971 | $76,000 | 260,999 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for principal network engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal network engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $154,219 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $140,181 |
| 3 | Carson City, NV | $126,225 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $123,388 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $122,990 |
| 6 | Salem, OR | $116,067 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $110,113 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $106,021 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $105,806 |
| 10 | Santa Fe, NM | $104,391 |
| 11 | Annapolis, MD | $104,094 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $101,137 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,818 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $98,828 |
| 15 | Columbia, SC | $98,665 |
| 16 | Jackson, MS | $97,453 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $96,506 |
| 18 | Springfield, IL | $95,464 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $95,180 |
| 20 | Lansing, MI | $95,134 |
Principal network engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025