Best cities for a research and development senior engineer
The best cities for research and development senior engineers are Fremont, CA, Albuquerque, NM, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research and development senior engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research and development senior engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research and development senior engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research and development senior engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research and development senior engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research and development senior engineer. While the absolute best city for research and development senior engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research and development senior engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a research and development senior engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research and development senior engineers in 2025
1. Fremont, CA
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $132,926 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 23.81 2. Albuquerque, NM
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $123,275 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 22.08 3. San Jose, CA
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $132,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 15.86 4. Memphis, TN
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $95,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 13.97 5. Houston, TX
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $101,520 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 8.04 6. Fort Worth, TX
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $101,124 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 8.91 7. Austin, TX
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $102,169 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 4.13 8. San Francisco, CA
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $133,469 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 1.66 9. Chandler, AZ
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $103,195 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 5.57 10. Oakland, CA
Total research and development senior engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $133,246 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research and development senior engineers
- Fremont, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- San Jose, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Houston, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Austin, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Oakland, CA
- (26 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (16 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (61 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (15 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (49 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (8 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (15 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (9 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (3 research and development senior engineer jobs)
- (0 research and development senior engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research and development senior engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $132,926 | $100,000 | 233,136 | 26 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $123,275 | $94,000 | 559,277 | 16 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $132,694 | $99,000 | 1,025,350 | 61 |
| 4 | Memphis, TN | $95,529 | $75,000 | 652,717 | 15 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $101,520 | $78,000 | 2,303,482 | 49 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $101,124 | $78,000 | 854,113 | 8 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $102,169 | $79,000 | 947,890 | 15 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $133,469 | $100,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $103,195 | $79,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $133,246 | $100,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Stockton, CA | $132,290 | $99,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $132,271 | $99,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $106,383 | $80,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,815 | $92,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $103,254 | $77,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 16 | Lubbock, TX | $102,555 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 17 | Irving, TX | $100,829 | $78,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $103,153 | $77,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $136,705 | $108,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,419 | $79,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $102,147 | $79,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $120,511 | $91,000 | 266,122 | 56 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $117,090 | $89,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 24 | El Paso, TX | $104,689 | $80,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $130,091 | $97,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Plano, TX | $100,463 | $77,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $102,753 | $77,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $103,439 | $79,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $100,742 | $78,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $100,837 | $78,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $103,385 | $79,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $95,371 | $75,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,376 | $74,000 | 303,625 | 30 |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $127,602 | $96,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 35 | Portland, OR | $111,734 | $84,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $121,267 | $92,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 37 | Arlington, TX | $101,055 | $78,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $103,193 | $79,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 39 | Laredo, TX | $101,022 | $78,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $103,164 | $79,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $93,310 | $74,000 | 252,551 | 18 |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | $95,503 | $76,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $100,755 | $78,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | $92,613 | $73,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 45 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,432 | $93,000 | 3,976,322 | 14 |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $102,632 | $79,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 47 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,274 | $75,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $92,946 | $74,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 49 | Raleigh, NC | $88,801 | $70,000 | 458,880 | 28 |
| 50 | San Diego, CA | $118,158 | $90,000 | 1,406,630 | 30 |
Highest paying cities for research and development senior engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. research and development senior engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $133,607 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $123,275 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $111,909 |
| 4 | Marlborough, MA | $109,602 |
| 5 | Des Plaines, IL | $102,395 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $102,169 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $100,807 |
| 8 | Sandy, UT | $95,703 |
| 9 | Midland, MI | $95,564 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $95,529 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $94,762 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,376 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $93,310 |
| 14 | Maple Grove, MN | $90,836 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $90,689 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $88,801 |