Best cities for a project engineer
The best cities for project engineers are Houston, TX, El Paso, TX, and Corpus Christi, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project engineer. While the absolute best city for project engineers is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a project engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project engineers in 2026
1. Houston, TX
Project engineer jobs in HoustonTotal project engineer jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $81,608 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 5.11 2. El Paso, TX
Project engineer jobs in El PasoTotal project engineer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $82,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 2.69 3. Corpus Christi, TX
Project engineer jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal project engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $81,010 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 3.73 4. San Antonio, TX
Project engineer jobs in San AntonioTotal project engineer jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $81,774 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 2.07 5. Arlington, TX
Project engineer jobs in ArlingtonTotal project engineer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $81,720 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 1.99 6. Tulsa, OK
Project engineer jobs in TulsaTotal project engineer jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $74,884 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 5.04 7. Dallas, TX
Project engineer jobs in DallasTotal project engineer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $81,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 1.61 8. Detroit, MI
Project engineer jobs in DetroitTotal project engineer jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $75,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 2.03 9. Memphis, TN
Project engineer jobs in MemphisTotal project engineer jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $77,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 1.26 10. Oakland, CA
Project engineer jobs in OaklandTotal project engineer jobs: 124 Average annual salary: $91,361 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 4.41
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Best cities for project engineers
- Houston, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Tulsa, OK
- Dallas, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Memphis, TN
- Oakland, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a project engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $81,608 | $59,000 | 2,303,482 | 151 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $82,746 | $61,000 | 683,080 | 45 |
| 3 | Corpus Christi, TX | $81,010 | $59,000 | 325,733 | 25 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $81,774 | $60,000 | 1,492,510 | 179 |
| 5 | Arlington, TX | $81,720 | $60,000 | 392,772 | 28 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $74,884 | $56,000 | 403,090 | 142 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $81,629 | $60,000 | 1,317,929 | 33 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $75,475 | $56,000 | 672,795 | 126 |
| 9 | Memphis, TN | $77,886 | $58,000 | 652,717 | 73 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $91,361 | $67,000 | 420,005 | 124 |
| 11 | New Orleans, LA | $82,661 | $60,000 | 391,495 | 28 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $78,815 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 77 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $81,758 | $60,000 | 854,113 | 53 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $81,938 | $60,000 | 947,890 | 204 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,052 | $59,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $91,064 | $67,000 | 233,136 | 141 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $74,956 | $55,000 | 292,969 | 15 |
| 18 | Greensboro, NC | $72,078 | $54,000 | 287,027 | 59 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,371 | $56,000 | 632,912 | 122 |
| 20 | Brookhaven, NY | $82,614 | $61,000 | 486,040 | 2 |
| 21 | Nashville, TN | $78,459 | $59,000 | 660,388 | 56 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $72,725 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 75 |
| 23 | Hempstead, NY | $82,525 | $61,000 | 759,757 | 4 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $74,007 | $55,000 | 385,809 | 50 |
| 25 | Oklahoma City, OK | $75,754 | $56,000 | 638,367 | 68 |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $72,422 | $54,000 | 458,880 | 130 |
| 27 | Sacramento, CA | $91,514 | $67,000 | 495,234 | 97 |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,738 | $54,000 | 855,164 | 162 |
| 29 | Plano, TX | $81,497 | $60,000 | 286,057 | 78 |
| 30 | Winston-Salem, NC | $71,872 | $53,000 | 242,203 | 26 |
| 31 | Albuquerque, NM | $82,879 | $61,000 | 559,277 | 23 |
| 32 | Gilbert, AZ | $79,011 | $58,000 | 237,133 | 8 |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $79,524 | $66,000 | 298,192 | 23 |
| 34 | Lexington, KY | $69,476 | $52,000 | 318,449 | 29 |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $85,346 | $64,000 | 376,380 | 61 |
| 36 | Seattle, WA | $86,779 | $65,000 | 704,352 | 251 |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $73,566 | $55,000 | 860,090 | 112 |
| 38 | Norfolk, VA | $80,821 | $60,000 | 245,115 | 32 |
| 39 | San Francisco, CA | $91,442 | $68,000 | 870,887 | 153 |
| 40 | Garland, TX | $81,530 | $60,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $77,966 | $58,000 | 2,704,958 | 159 |
| 42 | Irving, TX | $81,639 | $60,000 | 238,289 | 57 |
| 43 | Chandler, AZ | $79,017 | $58,000 | 247,477 | 28 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $82,220 | $60,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 45 | Santa Ana, CA | $83,561 | $62,000 | 334,217 | 56 |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $78,980 | $59,000 | 639,863 | 138 |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $80,763 | $59,000 | 245,255 | 12 |
| 48 | Long Beach, CA | $83,598 | $62,000 | 470,130 | 52 |
| 49 | Mesa, AZ | $79,015 | $58,000 | 484,587 | 12 |
| 50 | Anaheim, CA | $83,594 | $62,000 | 351,043 | 41 |
Highest paying cities for project engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. project engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $91,529 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $87,389 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $86,779 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $86,201 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $84,996 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $82,408 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $81,938 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $80,540 |
| 9 | Redmond, OR | $79,191 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,052 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $78,815 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $77,966 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $77,334 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $75,475 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,371 |
| 16 | Tulsa, OK | $74,884 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $73,566 |
| 18 | Columbus, GA | $73,246 |
| 19 | Richmond, IN | $73,086 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $72,422 |
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Updated January 8, 2025