Best cities for a project lead engineer
The best cities for project lead engineers are Glendale, AZ, Saint Louis, MO, and Arlington, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project lead engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project lead engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project lead engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project lead engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project lead engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project lead engineer. While the absolute best city for project lead engineers is Glendale, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project lead engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a project lead engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project lead engineers in 2026
1. Glendale, AZ
Total project lead engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $117,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 6.01 2. Saint Louis, MO
Total project lead engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $118,197 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 4.66 3. Arlington, TX
Total project lead engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $111,215 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 10.35 4. Sacramento, CA
Total project lead engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $147,835 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location quotient: 3.97 5. Detroit, MI
Total project lead engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $115,302 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 3.13 6. Tucson, AZ
Total project lead engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $116,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 4.39 7. Long Beach, CA
Total project lead engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $136,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 16.26 8. San Jose, CA
Total project lead engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $150,945 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 1.40 9. Fort Worth, TX
Total project lead engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $111,287 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 3.00 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total project lead engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $105,976 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 16.12
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Best cities for project lead engineers
- Glendale, AZ
- Saint Louis, MO
- Arlington, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Tucson, AZ
- Long Beach, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Albuquerque, NM
- (1 project lead engineer jobs)
- (9 project lead engineer jobs)
- (3 project lead engineer jobs)
- (5 project lead engineer jobs)
- (4 project lead engineer jobs)
- (3 project lead engineer jobs)
- (6 project lead engineer jobs)
- (6 project lead engineer jobs)
- (3 project lead engineer jobs)
- (13 project lead engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project lead engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale, AZ | $117,064 | $80,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 2 | Saint Louis, MO | $118,197 | $83,000 | 311,404 | 9 |
| 3 | Arlington, TX | $111,215 | $77,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $147,835 | $100,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $115,302 | $81,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $116,263 | $80,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 7 | Long Beach, CA | $136,769 | $94,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $150,945 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 9 | Fort Worth, TX | $111,287 | $77,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,976 | $72,000 | 559,277 | 13 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $109,743 | $77,000 | 2,303,482 | 33 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $117,029 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $135,879 | $93,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $151,137 | $103,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $99,611 | $70,000 | 458,880 | 14 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $113,406 | $78,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 17 | Oakland, CA | $150,815 | $103,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $127,353 | $90,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $150,785 | $103,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 20 | Santa Ana, CA | $136,210 | $93,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $148,939 | $101,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Tulsa, OK | $97,492 | $67,000 | 403,090 | 6 |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $148,210 | $101,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $116,957 | $80,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $144,981 | $99,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 26 | Chandler, AZ | $116,862 | $80,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 27 | New Orleans, LA | $102,504 | $72,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 28 | Mesa, AZ | $116,830 | $80,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 29 | Kansas City, MO | $116,110 | $81,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $116,825 | $80,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Oklahoma City, OK | $98,885 | $68,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 32 | Virginia Beach, VA | $128,122 | $91,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 33 | Austin, TX | $110,486 | $77,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 34 | San Diego, CA | $133,439 | $92,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $112,656 | $77,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $92,610 | $65,000 | 385,809 | 7 |
| 37 | Norfolk, VA | $127,892 | $90,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 38 | Chesapeake, VA | $127,696 | $90,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $111,180 | $77,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,179 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 41 | Dallas, TX | $111,129 | $77,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $111,101 | $77,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 43 | Garland, TX | $111,081 | $77,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 44 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,333 | $74,000 | 465,101 | 10 |
| 45 | San Antonio, TX | $110,217 | $77,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 46 | Anaheim, CA | $136,574 | $93,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 47 | Louisville, KY | $93,374 | $66,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 48 | Riverside, CA | $136,156 | $93,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 49 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,179 | $70,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 50 | Laredo, TX | $109,279 | $76,000 | 257,156 | - |
Highest paying cities for project lead engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. project lead engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $151,239 |
| 2 | Arlington, VA | $129,108 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $127,353 |
| 4 | Saint Louis, MO | $118,197 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $117,029 |
| 6 | Warren, MI | $115,380 |
| 7 | Camden, NJ | $112,377 |
| 8 | Arlington, TX | $111,215 |
| 9 | Redmond, WA | $110,866 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $108,415 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,333 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,976 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $105,606 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $102,228 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $102,143 |
| 16 | Florence, SC | $101,912 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $99,611 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $99,438 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $98,870 |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $97,492 |
Project lead engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025