Best cities for a senior engineering manager
The best cities for senior engineering managers are San Francisco, CA, Fremont, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior engineering managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior engineering managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior engineering manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior engineering managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior engineering managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior engineering manager. While the absolute best city for senior engineering managers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior engineering managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior engineering manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior engineering managers in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in San FranciscoTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $186,726 Lowest 10 percent warn: $132,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $263,000 Location quotient: 10.53 2. Fremont, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in FremontTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $185,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $262,000 Location quotient: 5.01 3. Oakland, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in OaklandTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $186,371 Lowest 10 percent warn: $132,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $262,000 Location quotient: 4.55 4. San Jose, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in San JoseTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $185,581 Lowest 10 percent warn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $261,000 Location quotient: 4.78 5. Seattle, WA
Senior engineering manager jobs in SeattleTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 180 Average annual salary: $166,314 Lowest 10 percent warn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location quotient: 4.88 6. Irvine, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in IrvineTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $172,866 Lowest 10 percent warn: $122,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 2.68 7. Gilbert, AZ
Senior engineering manager jobs in GilbertTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $140,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 4.73 8. Phoenix, AZ
Senior engineering manager jobs in PhoenixTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $141,078 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.83 9. San Diego, CA
Senior engineering manager jobs in San DiegoTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $170,082 Lowest 10 percent warn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 2.15 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Senior engineering manager jobs in ScottsdaleTotal senior engineering manager jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $140,860 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 1.54
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Best cities for senior engineering managers
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Irvine, CA
- Gilbert, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Diego, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- (204 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (44 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (19 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (148 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (180 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (32 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (5 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (50 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (57 senior engineering manager jobs)
- (7 senior engineering manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior engineering manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $186,726 | $132,000 | 870,887 | 204 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $185,854 | $131,000 | 233,136 | 44 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $186,371 | $132,000 | 420,005 | 19 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $185,581 | $131,000 | 1,025,350 | 148 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $166,314 | $119,000 | 704,352 | 180 |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $172,866 | $122,000 | 266,122 | 32 |
| 7 | Gilbert, AZ | $140,529 | $99,000 | 237,133 | 5 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $141,078 | $99,000 | 1,615,017 | 50 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $170,082 | $120,000 | 1,406,630 | 57 |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $140,860 | $99,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $174,861 | $123,000 | 3,976,322 | 47 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $184,952 | $130,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $146,741 | $108,000 | 673,184 | 121 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $133,600 | $97,000 | 1,567,872 | 27 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $132,623 | $97,000 | 855,164 | 20 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $130,629 | $93,000 | 947,890 | 86 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $160,648 | $114,000 | 639,863 | 14 |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $164,934 | $116,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $181,873 | $128,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $187,898 | $140,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 21 | Plano, TX | $127,647 | $92,000 | 286,057 | 30 |
| 22 | Stockton, CA | $184,826 | $130,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $156,010 | $110,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $123,748 | $91,000 | 458,880 | 31 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $123,641 | $92,000 | 413,651 | 70 |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $128,029 | $92,000 | 1,317,929 | 42 |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $155,353 | $109,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | North Las Vegas, NV | $155,696 | $110,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $149,264 | $108,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $124,791 | $91,000 | 860,090 | 19 |
| 31 | Durham, NC | $123,713 | $91,000 | 263,016 | 14 |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $122,231 | $90,000 | 660,388 | 12 |
| 33 | Lincoln, NE | $121,405 | $89,000 | 280,364 | 12 |
| 34 | Santa Ana, CA | $173,192 | $122,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $134,227 | $99,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $173,870 | $122,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 37 | Tucson, AZ | $138,928 | $98,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $140,633 | $99,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $128,041 | $92,000 | 238,289 | 19 |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $178,547 | $126,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $173,469 | $122,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Atlanta, GA | $124,181 | $91,000 | 472,522 | 76 |
| 43 | Riverside, CA | $172,619 | $121,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $122,786 | $90,000 | 242,203 | 3 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $141,175 | $99,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $123,668 | $92,000 | 302,398 | 12 |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $126,297 | $93,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $125,034 | $92,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 49 | Houston, TX | $129,645 | $92,000 | 2,303,482 | 36 |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $123,556 | $91,000 | 2,704,958 | 86 |
Highest paying cities for senior engineering managers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior engineering manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $186,726 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $166,314 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $149,264 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $146,751 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $141,078 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $133,600 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $133,083 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $132,623 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $131,158 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $130,629 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $124,791 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $124,181 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $123,748 |
| 14 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $123,676 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $123,556 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $121,396 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $120,261 |
| 18 | McLean, VA | $120,144 |
| 19 | Bentonville, AR | $119,468 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $119,117 |
Senior engineering manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025