Best cities for a senior director of engineering
The best cities for senior directors of engineering are Scottsdale, AZ, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior directors of engineering vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior directors of engineering in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior director of engineering or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior directors of engineering to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior directors of engineering. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior director of engineering. While the absolute best city for senior directors of engineering is Scottsdale, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior directors of engineering in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior director of engineering job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior directors of engineering in 2025
1. Scottsdale, AZ
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $186,491 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $301,000 Location quotient: 6.99 2. San Francisco, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $223,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $143,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $347,000 Location quotient: 7.16 3. Seattle, WA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $210,272 Lowest 10 percent warn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $330,000 Location quotient: 3.56 4. Fremont, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $222,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $346,000 Location quotient: 3.61 5. Sacramento, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $222,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $346,000 Location quotient: 3.48 6. San Jose, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $222,155 Lowest 10 percent warn: $142,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $346,000 Location quotient: 3.37 7. Phoenix, AZ
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $186,654 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $301,000 Location quotient: 2.16 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $216,464 Lowest 10 percent warn: $135,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $345,000 Location quotient: 1.32 9. Irvine, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $210,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $132,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $335,000 Location quotient: 3.42 10. San Diego, CA
Total senior director of engineering jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $207,595 Lowest 10 percent warn: $129,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $332,000 Location quotient: 4.28
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Best cities for senior directors of engineering
- Scottsdale, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Fremont, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Irvine, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (7 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (69 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (29 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (7 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (7 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (23 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (13 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (3 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (9 senior director of engineering jobs)
- (25 senior director of engineering jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior director of engineering
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | $186,491 | $115,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $223,273 | $143,000 | 870,887 | 69 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $210,272 | $133,000 | 704,352 | 29 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $222,462 | $142,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $222,409 | $142,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $222,155 | $142,000 | 1,025,350 | 23 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $186,654 | $115,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $216,464 | $135,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $210,641 | $132,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $207,595 | $129,000 | 1,406,630 | 25 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $222,976 | $143,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $153,533 | $95,000 | 638,367 | 9 |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $175,677 | $109,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $147,854 | $93,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $226,636 | $144,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $216,278 | $135,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $212,313 | $133,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $210,513 | $133,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $215,819 | $135,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 20 | Glendale, AZ | $186,742 | $115,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 21 | Anchorage, AK | $229,433 | $162,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $154,023 | $94,000 | 947,890 | 18 |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $185,816 | $115,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 24 | Mesa, AZ | $185,792 | $115,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $144,264 | $93,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 26 | Lincoln, NE | $142,570 | $89,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $185,680 | $114,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 28 | Saint Paul, MN | $143,873 | $94,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $221,873 | $142,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Tucson, AZ | $182,358 | $112,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 31 | Plano, TX | $150,583 | $93,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $218,712 | $139,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $211,479 | $132,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Memphis, TN | $148,492 | $93,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 35 | Anaheim, CA | $211,188 | $132,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $151,724 | $93,000 | 693,060 | 25 |
| 37 | Bakersfield, CA | $215,638 | $136,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 38 | Santa Ana, CA | $210,933 | $132,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $210,559 | $132,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 40 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $175,152 | $114,000 | 351,792 | 8 |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | $136,374 | $91,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 42 | Boston, MA | $156,970 | $108,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $151,788 | $99,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 44 | Tulsa, OK | $150,166 | $93,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 45 | Chula Vista, CA | $207,054 | $129,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 46 | Dallas, TX | $151,407 | $93,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $167,589 | $103,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $154,093 | $94,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $144,409 | $92,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $160,104 | $99,000 | 252,506 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior directors of engineering
| Rank | City | Avg. senior director of engineering salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $223,273 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $210,272 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $186,654 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $181,740 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $156,985 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $154,023 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $152,723 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $149,443 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $144,409 |
| 10 | Eden Prairie, MN | $143,640 |
| 11 | McLean, VA | $138,494 |
| 12 | Jacksonville, FL | $138,267 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $137,425 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $136,374 |
| 15 | Hartford, CT | $136,246 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $134,871 |
| 17 | Annapolis, MD | $134,110 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $131,851 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $129,708 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $125,211 |
Senior director of engineering best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025