Best cities for a principal technologist
The best cities for principal technologists are Seattle, WA, Houston, TX, and Austin, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal technologists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal technologists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal technologist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal technologists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal technologists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal technologist. While the absolute best city for principal technologists is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal technologists in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal technologist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal technologists in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
Total principal technologist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $146,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 2.92 2. Houston, TX
Total principal technologist jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $125,773 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 13.16 3. Austin, TX
Total principal technologist jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $126,166 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.55 4. San Francisco, CA
Total principal technologist jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $156,264 Lowest 10 percent warn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 2.80 5. Gilbert, AZ
Total principal technologist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $129,136 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 1.96 6. Fort Worth, TX
Total principal technologist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $123,131 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 3.73 7. Arlington, TX
Total principal technologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $123,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 2.96 8. Chandler, AZ
Total principal technologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $129,184 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 1.43 9. Plano, TX
Total principal technologist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $122,129 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 3.32 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total principal technologist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $129,346 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 1.52
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Best cities for principal technologists
- Seattle, WA
- Houston, TX
- Austin, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- Fort Worth, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- Plano, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- (52 principal technologist jobs)
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- (20 principal technologist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal technologist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $146,804 | $105,000 | 704,352 | 52 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $125,773 | $93,000 | 2,303,482 | 56 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $126,166 | $93,000 | 947,890 | 36 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $156,264 | $112,000 | 870,887 | 59 |
| 5 | Gilbert, AZ | $129,136 | $93,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $123,131 | $91,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
| 7 | Arlington, TX | $123,052 | $91,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $129,184 | $93,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 9 | Plano, TX | $122,129 | $90,000 | 286,057 | 23 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,346 | $94,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $126,889 | $93,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $122,873 | $95,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $122,715 | $90,000 | 1,317,929 | 31 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $129,724 | $93,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 15 | North Las Vegas, NV | $129,530 | $93,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $129,216 | $93,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Irvine, CA | $145,568 | $105,000 | 266,122 | 17 |
| 18 | El Paso, TX | $127,784 | $93,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $156,260 | $111,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | $129,231 | $93,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | $113,994 | $87,000 | 855,164 | 20 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $154,397 | $110,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $134,061 | $95,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $127,822 | $94,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $127,221 | $94,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 26 | Mesa, AZ | $129,131 | $93,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $122,669 | $90,000 | 238,289 | 12 |
| 28 | Fremont, CA | $155,587 | $112,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 29 | Glendale, AZ | $129,394 | $94,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 30 | Wichita, KS | $122,700 | $91,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $109,668 | $84,000 | 842,051 | 60 |
| 32 | San Jose, CA | $155,422 | $112,000 | 1,025,350 | 14 |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $147,145 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 32 |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $128,671 | $93,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 35 | Philadelphia, PA | $118,183 | $92,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $103,239 | $78,000 | 660,388 | 17 |
| 37 | Durham, NC | $110,278 | $85,000 | 263,016 | 10 |
| 38 | Oakland, CA | $155,955 | $112,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 39 | Jacksonville, FL | $115,563 | $89,000 | 880,619 | 32 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $111,473 | $86,000 | 302,398 | 16 |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $109,362 | $82,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 42 | Louisville, KY | $112,235 | $85,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 43 | Tampa, FL | $119,521 | $92,000 | 377,165 | 13 |
| 44 | Raleigh, NC | $110,363 | $85,000 | 458,880 | 11 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $108,228 | $82,000 | 472,522 | 166 |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $124,718 | $91,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 47 | Albuquerque, NM | $113,655 | $82,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 48 | Stockton, CA | $154,587 | $111,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | $116,122 | $89,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 50 | Orlando, FL | $118,437 | $91,000 | 277,173 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for principal technologists
| Rank | City | Avg. principal technologist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $156,264 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $146,804 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,346 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $126,166 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $123,515 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $121,422 |
| 7 | Middletown, NJ | $119,090 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $118,740 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $118,183 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $115,563 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $113,994 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $113,928 |
| 13 | Newark, DE | $113,404 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $112,632 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $111,473 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $110,363 |
| 17 | Merrimack, NH | $109,634 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $109,018 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $108,228 |
| 20 | Broomfield, CO | $107,842 |
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Updated January 8, 2025