Best cities for a quality engineer
The best cities for quality engineers are Fremont, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Glendale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for quality engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for quality engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a quality engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for quality engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for quality engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a quality engineer. While the absolute best city for quality engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for quality engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a quality engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for quality engineers in 2026
1. Fremont, CA
Quality engineer jobs in FremontTotal quality engineer jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $101,151 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 5.75 2. San Francisco, CA
Quality engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal quality engineer jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $101,387 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.86 3. Glendale, AZ
Quality engineer jobs in GlendaleTotal quality engineer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $80,439 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 5.18 4. Chandler, AZ
Quality engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal quality engineer jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $80,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 4.66 5. San Jose, CA
Quality engineer jobs in San JoseTotal quality engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $101,045 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.48 6. Toledo, OH
Quality engineer jobs in ToledoTotal quality engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $73,378 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 3.06 7. Detroit, MI
Quality engineer jobs in DetroitTotal quality engineer jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $77,523 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 2.64 8. Fort Worth, TX
Quality engineer jobs in Fort WorthTotal quality engineer jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $76,231 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 3.04 9. Reno, NV
Quality engineer jobs in RenoTotal quality engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $85,124 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 1.35 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Quality engineer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal quality engineer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $80,397 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 1.83
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Best cities for quality engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Toledo, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Worth, TX
- Reno, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a quality engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $101,151 | $76,000 | 233,136 | 170 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $101,387 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 164 |
| 3 | Glendale, AZ | $80,439 | $61,000 | 245,895 | 21 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $80,285 | $61,000 | 247,477 | 68 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $101,045 | $75,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $73,378 | $57,000 | 278,508 | 20 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $77,523 | $60,000 | 672,795 | 82 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,231 | $58,000 | 854,113 | 74 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $85,124 | $64,000 | 245,255 | 15 |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $80,397 | $61,000 | 246,645 | 28 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $79,040 | $60,000 | 683,080 | 16 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $101,291 | $76,000 | 420,005 | 18 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,424 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | 155 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $99,407 | $74,000 | 522,053 | 15 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $77,373 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 23 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $79,842 | $61,000 | 530,706 | 28 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $77,911 | $59,000 | 947,890 | 215 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,532 | $56,000 | 298,800 | 72 |
| 19 | Plano, TX | $75,699 | $58,000 | 286,057 | 107 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,650 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 55 |
| 21 | Albuquerque, NM | $88,025 | $67,000 | 559,277 | 14 |
| 22 | Mesa, AZ | $80,278 | $61,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 23 | Memphis, TN | $67,634 | $53,000 | 652,717 | 81 |
| 24 | Arlington, TX | $76,201 | $58,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $74,566 | $58,000 | 385,809 | 17 |
| 26 | Irvine, CA | $88,602 | $67,000 | 266,122 | 146 |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $78,086 | $59,000 | 1,492,510 | 45 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $72,849 | $56,000 | 458,880 | 72 |
| 29 | Greensboro, NC | $71,923 | $56,000 | 287,027 | 26 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $97,079 | $75,000 | 704,352 | 73 |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $88,902 | $67,000 | 351,043 | 20 |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $91,905 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 64 |
| 33 | Chula Vista, CA | $87,105 | $66,000 | 267,172 | 9 |
| 34 | Portland, OR | $86,189 | $66,000 | 639,863 | 40 |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,642 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 70 |
| 36 | Irving, TX | $76,005 | $58,000 | 238,289 | 58 |
| 37 | Santa Ana, CA | $88,738 | $67,000 | 334,217 | 18 |
| 38 | Las Vegas, NV | $81,619 | $61,000 | 632,912 | 12 |
| 39 | Dallas, TX | $76,038 | $58,000 | 1,317,929 | 81 |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $72,804 | $57,000 | 860,090 | 49 |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $87,288 | $66,000 | 1,406,630 | 191 |
| 42 | Sacramento, CA | $100,760 | $75,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 43 | Fort Wayne, IN | $64,903 | $51,000 | 264,488 | 24 |
| 44 | Stockton, CA | $100,831 | $75,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $81,609 | $61,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Winston-Salem, NC | $71,513 | $56,000 | 242,203 | 9 |
| 47 | Bakersfield, CA | $94,802 | $71,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 48 | Hialeah, FL | $59,341 | $43,000 | 236,387 | 12 |
| 49 | Long Beach, CA | $88,918 | $67,000 | 470,130 | 9 |
| 50 | Henderson, NV | $80,777 | $60,000 | 292,969 | - |
Highest paying cities for quality engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. quality engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $101,387 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $97,079 |
| 3 | Natick, MA | $91,917 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $80,847 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,424 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $77,911 |
| 7 | Warren, MI | $77,646 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,642 |
| 9 | Bentonville, AR | $74,580 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $74,524 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $72,804 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $71,141 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $70,584 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $68,818 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $67,634 |
| 16 | Columbus, IN | $63,717 |
| 17 | Columbus, MS | $62,956 |
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Updated January 8, 2025