Best cities for a principal project engineer
The best cities for principal project engineers are Houston, TX, Fort Worth, TX, and Winston-Salem, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal project engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal project engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal project engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal project engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal project engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal project engineer. While the absolute best city for principal project engineers is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal project engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal project engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal project engineers in 2025
1. Houston, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $167,012 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $282,000 Location quotient: 3.53 2. Fort Worth, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $162,844 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $291,000 Location quotient: 1.92 3. Winston-Salem, NC
Total principal project engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $137,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location quotient: 6.53 4. Irving, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $162,872 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $291,000 Location quotient: 1.61 5. Oklahoma City, OK
Total principal project engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $118,109 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 7.76 6. Austin, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $166,140 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $284,000 Location quotient: 0.71 7. Durham, NC
Total principal project engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $138,173 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 0.97 8. Corpus Christi, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $166,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $274,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Dallas, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $163,097 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $291,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Laredo, TX
Total principal project engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $166,621 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $273,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principal project engineers
- Houston, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Irving, TX
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Austin, TX
- Durham, NC
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Laredo, TX
- (25 principal project engineer jobs)
- (2 principal project engineer jobs)
- (2 principal project engineer jobs)
- (4 principal project engineer jobs)
- (10 principal project engineer jobs)
- (3 principal project engineer jobs)
- (1 principal project engineer jobs)
- (0 principal project engineer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a principal project engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $167,012 | $98,000 | 2,303,482 | 25 |
| 2 | Fort Worth, TX | $162,844 | $91,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 3 | Winston-Salem, NC | $137,320 | $78,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 4 | Irving, TX | $162,872 | $91,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $118,109 | $62,000 | 638,367 | 10 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $166,140 | $97,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $138,173 | $79,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 8 | Corpus Christi, TX | $166,886 | $101,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $163,097 | $91,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 10 | Laredo, TX | $166,621 | $101,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 11 | Arlington, TX | $163,045 | $91,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $138,701 | $79,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $166,446 | $98,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 14 | Garland, TX | $162,940 | $91,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | $136,304 | $79,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $122,746 | $68,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $114,886 | $62,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 18 | Tucson, AZ | $124,193 | $70,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 19 | El Paso, TX | $161,342 | $91,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $127,212 | $69,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 21 | Charlotte, NC | $139,301 | $79,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $117,470 | $61,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 23 | Plano, TX | $162,695 | $90,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 24 | Albuquerque, NM | $146,881 | $78,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $114,655 | $57,000 | 595,047 | 11 |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $159,267 | $87,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $133,900 | $75,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $137,586 | $78,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $131,942 | $78,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,895 | $59,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $118,363 | $62,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $120,031 | $61,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | $117,483 | $62,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 34 | Atlanta, GA | $128,086 | $73,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $115,514 | $61,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $114,170 | $61,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 37 | Chesapeake, VA | $136,190 | $79,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $122,547 | $68,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 39 | Norfolk, VA | $136,005 | $79,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $131,944 | $73,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 41 | Tulsa, OK | $117,323 | $61,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,081 | $59,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 43 | Oakland, CA | $132,920 | $72,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $115,008 | $59,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | $113,136 | $58,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 46 | Boston, MA | $131,707 | $72,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $122,739 | $68,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $122,661 | $68,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 49 | Glendale, AZ | $122,580 | $68,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $133,443 | $75,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for principal project engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal project engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $167,012 |
| 2 | Middletown, CT | $135,176 |
| 3 | Santa Clara, CA | $133,615 |
| 4 | Charlottesville, VA | $132,077 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $131,707 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $127,512 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $127,212 |
| 8 | Huntsville, AL | $126,548 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $124,193 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $123,702 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $119,012 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $118,109 |
| 13 | Middletown, OH | $117,530 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $117,470 |
| 15 | Melbourne, FL | $117,151 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $114,655 |
| 17 | Bloomington, IL | $112,026 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $107,657 |
| 19 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $105,990 |
| 20 | Bloomington, MN | $104,013 |
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Updated January 8, 2025