Best cities for a principal systems engineer
The best cities for principal systems engineers are San Jose, CA, Irvine, CA, and Santa Ana, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal systems engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal systems engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal systems engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal systems engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal systems engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal systems engineer. While the absolute best city for principal systems 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 systems engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal systems engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal systems engineers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $165,215 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location quotient: 2.37 2. Irvine, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $156,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 3.30 3. Santa Ana, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $157,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location quotient: 3.01 4. Chula Vista, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $154,977 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 3.48 5. San Francisco, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $165,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location quotient: 0.88 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $158,230 Lowest 10 percent warn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location quotient: 1.31 7. Seattle, WA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $152,763 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location quotient: 0.68 8. Oakland, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $165,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location quotient: 0.79 9. Sacramento, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $163,753 Lowest 10 percent warn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $237,000 Location quotient: 0.96 10. San Diego, CA
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $155,227 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 1.86
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Best cities for principal systems engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (67 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (36 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (6 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (2 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (35 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (45 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (23 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (3 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (8 principal systems engineer jobs)
- (45 principal systems engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal systems engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $165,215 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 67 |
| 2 | Irvine, CA | $156,894 | $110,000 | 266,122 | 36 |
| 3 | Santa Ana, CA | $157,111 | $110,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 4 | Chula Vista, CA | $154,977 | $109,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $165,870 | $114,000 | 870,887 | 35 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $158,230 | $110,000 | 3,976,322 | 45 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $152,763 | $103,000 | 704,352 | 23 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $165,562 | $114,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $163,753 | $113,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $155,227 | $109,000 | 1,406,630 | 45 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $124,230 | $88,000 | 947,890 | 51 |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $165,296 | $114,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $123,443 | $86,000 | 246,645 | 15 |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $157,586 | $110,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 15 | Chandler, AZ | $123,417 | $87,000 | 247,477 | 15 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $124,395 | $89,000 | 1,492,510 | 13 |
| 17 | Plano, TX | $122,536 | $87,000 | 286,057 | 29 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $135,305 | $94,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $125,913 | $92,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $144,220 | $97,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $122,583 | $86,000 | 530,706 | 14 |
| 22 | Mesa, AZ | $123,304 | $86,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $123,233 | $88,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 24 | Gilbert, AZ | $123,331 | $86,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 25 | New Orleans, LA | $140,754 | $101,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $127,215 | $93,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | $127,643 | $94,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $139,846 | $95,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | Toledo, OH | $126,796 | $93,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $110,687 | $82,000 | 263,016 | 47 |
| 31 | North Las Vegas, NV | $135,041 | $93,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $135,005 | $93,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Philadelphia, PA | $116,762 | $86,000 | 1,567,872 | 18 |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $114,447 | $84,000 | 303,625 | 19 |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $123,347 | $88,000 | 2,303,482 | 22 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $164,058 | $113,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $122,887 | $88,000 | 1,317,929 | 12 |
| 38 | Fresno, CA | $162,255 | $112,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $118,038 | $83,000 | 559,277 | 7 |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $160,783 | $112,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $157,283 | $110,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $111,535 | $82,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $129,093 | $91,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 44 | Irving, TX | $122,903 | $88,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $115,981 | $85,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,667 | $87,000 | 1,615,017 | 14 |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | $156,632 | $109,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 48 | Anchorage, AK | $136,714 | $94,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $125,519 | $89,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $115,435 | $84,000 | 652,717 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal systems engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principal systems engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $165,870 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $152,763 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $137,446 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $130,882 |
| 5 | Ridgefield, CT | $126,115 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $125,557 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $124,230 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $123,667 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $120,361 |
| 10 | Annapolis, MD | $117,202 |
| 11 | Farmington Hills, MI | $115,358 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $114,447 |
| 13 | Melbourne, FL | $112,781 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $111,899 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $110,687 |
| 16 | Bellevue, NE | $110,137 |
| 17 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $108,338 |
| 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | $107,449 |
| 19 | Colorado Springs, CO | $106,970 |
| 20 | Huntsville, AL | $106,181 |
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Updated January 8, 2025