Best cities for a principle engineer
The best cities for principle engineers are Fremont, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Austin, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principle engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principle engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principle engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principle engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principle engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principle engineer. While the absolute best city for principle engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principle engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a principle engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principle engineers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Total principle engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $161,415 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 11.35 2. San Francisco, CA
Total principle engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $161,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 7.61 3. Austin, TX
Total principle engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $123,954 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 21.64 4. Phoenix, AZ
Total principle engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $129,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 4.88 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total principle engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $125,991 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 6.46 6. San Jose, CA
Total principle engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $161,327 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 4.30 7. Houston, TX
Total principle engineer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $123,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 12.88 8. Portland, OR
Total principle engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $133,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 13.41 9. Oakland, CA
Total principle engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $161,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total principle engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $131,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principle engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Austin, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Houston, TX
- Portland, OR
- Oakland, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- (3 principle engineer jobs)
- (10 principle engineer jobs)
- (19 principle engineer jobs)
- (4 principle engineer jobs)
- (2 principle engineer jobs)
- (4 principle engineer jobs)
- (19 principle engineer jobs)
- (6 principle engineer jobs)
- (0 principle engineer jobs)
- (0 principle engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principle engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $161,415 | $114,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $161,902 | $115,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $123,954 | $88,000 | 947,890 | 19 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,619 | $92,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $125,991 | $89,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $161,327 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $123,274 | $88,000 | 2,303,482 | 19 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $133,629 | $93,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $161,647 | $114,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $131,898 | $94,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $129,684 | $92,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $129,474 | $92,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $129,474 | $91,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $160,381 | $113,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $122,313 | $87,000 | 286,057 | 5 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $159,898 | $113,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Chandler, AZ | $129,374 | $92,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $129,308 | $92,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $158,661 | $112,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Mesa, AZ | $129,304 | $92,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $126,897 | $91,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Chula Vista, CA | $149,009 | $106,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 23 | Irving, TX | $122,633 | $87,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $128,680 | $92,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $152,148 | $108,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 26 | North Las Vegas, NV | $125,811 | $89,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $125,458 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $124,367 | $89,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $155,897 | $111,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | San Antonio, TX | $124,116 | $89,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $137,571 | $96,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $150,878 | $108,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 33 | Laredo, TX | $123,735 | $88,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 34 | Corpus Christi, TX | $123,230 | $88,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 35 | Fort Worth, TX | $122,873 | $87,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 36 | Philadelphia, PA | $108,331 | $79,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $102,141 | $74,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 38 | Arlington, TX | $122,806 | $87,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | $151,492 | $108,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $122,628 | $87,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 41 | Atlanta, GA | $115,361 | $83,000 | 472,522 | 7 |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $151,275 | $108,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 43 | Garland, TX | $122,410 | $87,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 44 | Orlando, FL | $112,313 | $79,000 | 277,173 | 2 |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $103,167 | $75,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $102,193 | $74,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $151,089 | $108,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Boston, MA | $124,560 | $92,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 49 | Fort Wayne, IN | $116,414 | $85,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 50 | San Diego, CA | $149,197 | $107,000 | 1,406,630 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for principle engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. principle engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $161,902 |
| 2 | Hillsboro, OR | $133,969 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,619 |
| 4 | Middletown, CT | $128,588 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $124,560 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $123,954 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $117,635 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $115,361 |
| 9 | Edison, NJ | $114,388 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $113,552 |
| 11 | Farmington Hills, MI | $113,207 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $112,313 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $108,575 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $108,331 |
| 15 | Greenville, SC | $107,036 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $103,167 |
| 17 | Aurora, CO | $101,841 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $100,823 |
| 19 | Middletown, OH | $100,446 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $99,864 |
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Updated January 8, 2025