Best cities for a senior principal engineer
The best cities for senior principal engineers are Austin, TX, Chandler, AZ, and Gilbert, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior principal engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior principal engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior principal engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior principal engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior principal engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior principal engineer. While the absolute best city for senior principal engineers is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior principal engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior principal engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior principal engineers in 2025
1. Austin, TX
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $136,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 3.99 2. Chandler, AZ
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $129,277 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 4.41 3. Gilbert, AZ
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $129,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 4.72 4. Tucson, AZ
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $129,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 4.04 5. Fremont, CA
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $154,730 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 5.77 6. San Jose, CA
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 196 Average annual salary: $154,588 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 5.27 7. El Paso, TX
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $137,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 1.00 8. Mesa, AZ
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $129,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 2.02 9. Houston, TX
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $135,966 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 0.92 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total senior principal engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $125,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.18
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Best cities for senior principal engineers
- Austin, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Mesa, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- (140 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (23 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (6 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (24 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (61 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (196 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (3 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (5 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (54 senior principal engineer jobs)
- (30 senior principal engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior principal engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $136,270 | $94,000 | 947,890 | 140 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $129,277 | $89,000 | 247,477 | 23 |
| 3 | Gilbert, AZ | $129,225 | $89,000 | 237,133 | 6 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $129,274 | $90,000 | 530,706 | 24 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $154,730 | $106,000 | 233,136 | 61 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $154,588 | $106,000 | 1,025,350 | 196 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $137,881 | $95,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 8 | Mesa, AZ | $129,157 | $89,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $135,966 | $94,000 | 2,303,482 | 54 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $125,675 | $88,000 | 1,567,872 | 30 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $155,322 | $107,000 | 870,887 | 90 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $136,606 | $94,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $134,009 | $93,000 | 238,289 | 15 |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $127,389 | $89,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 15 | North Las Vegas, NV | $118,929 | $81,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $145,706 | $101,000 | 266,122 | 80 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $134,324 | $93,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $134,062 | $93,000 | 1,317,929 | 17 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $123,991 | $85,000 | 559,277 | 9 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $129,264 | $89,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $153,515 | $105,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $146,782 | $101,000 | 3,976,322 | 59 |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $135,994 | $96,000 | 673,184 | 43 |
| 24 | Plano, TX | $133,514 | $93,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 25 | Santa Ana, CA | $145,884 | $101,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $121,076 | $84,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 27 | Scottsdale, AZ | $129,065 | $89,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $116,082 | $82,000 | 458,880 | 21 |
| 29 | Laredo, TX | $136,782 | $94,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $144,566 | $100,000 | 1,406,630 | 57 |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $136,384 | $94,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $134,923 | $93,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 33 | Nashville, TN | $109,468 | $77,000 | 660,388 | 15 |
| 34 | Long Beach, CA | $146,277 | $101,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $134,287 | $93,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 36 | Garland, TX | $133,720 | $93,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $146,018 | $101,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $114,595 | $81,000 | 472,522 | 69 |
| 39 | Oakland, CA | $155,049 | $107,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $129,339 | $89,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Louisville, KY | $125,567 | $87,000 | 597,337 | 1 |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $119,135 | $81,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 43 | Baltimore, MD | $129,524 | $90,000 | 614,664 | 36 |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $102,838 | $72,000 | 638,367 | 23 |
| 45 | New Orleans, LA | $125,354 | $87,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 46 | Detroit, MI | $119,462 | $83,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 47 | Orlando, FL | $115,704 | $81,000 | 277,173 | 12 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $138,105 | $97,000 | 8,537,673 | 75 |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $147,502 | $103,000 | 681,170 | 29 |
| 50 | Colorado Springs, CO | $105,335 | $73,000 | 465,101 | 39 |
Highest paying cities for senior principal engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior principal engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $155,322 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $147,502 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $138,105 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $136,270 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $135,994 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $130,310 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $129,524 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $129,277 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $125,675 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $122,799 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $116,082 |
| 12 | Melbourne, FL | $115,732 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $114,595 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $113,536 |
| 15 | Huntsville, AL | $109,220 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $105,335 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $98,762 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $93,307 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $92,313 |
| 20 | Bellevue, NE | $86,040 |
Senior principal engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025