Best cities for a senior research engineer
The best cities for senior research engineers are San Jose, CA, Oakland, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior research engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior research engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior research engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior research engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior research engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior research engineer. While the absolute best city for senior research engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior research engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior research engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior research engineers in 2026
1. San Jose, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $156,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 32.24 2. Oakland, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $156,502 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 14.53 3. San Francisco, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $156,711 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 10.03 4. Fremont, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $156,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 7.67 5. Irvine, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $143,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 16.95 6. Anaheim, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $144,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 9.14 7. San Diego, CA
Total senior research engineer jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $137,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 18.05 8. San Antonio, TX
Total senior research engineer jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $110,245 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 22.60 9. Austin, TX
Total senior research engineer jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $109,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 10.62 10. Houston, TX
Total senior research engineer jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $108,897 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 15.39
Choose from 10+ customizable senior research engineer resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use senior research engineer resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your senior research engineer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for senior research engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Austin, TX
- Houston, TX
- (148 senior research engineer jobs)
- (9 senior research engineer jobs)
- (65 senior research engineer jobs)
- (10 senior research engineer jobs)
- (30 senior research engineer jobs)
- (3 senior research engineer jobs)
- (71 senior research engineer jobs)
- (43 senior research engineer jobs)
- (46 senior research engineer jobs)
- (112 senior research engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior research engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $156,073 | $116,000 | 1,025,350 | 148 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $156,502 | $116,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $156,711 | $116,000 | 870,887 | 65 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $156,258 | $116,000 | 233,136 | 10 |
| 5 | Irvine, CA | $143,473 | $107,000 | 266,122 | 30 |
| 6 | Anaheim, CA | $144,499 | $108,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $137,646 | $103,000 | 1,406,630 | 71 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $110,245 | $84,000 | 1,492,510 | 43 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $109,894 | $83,000 | 947,890 | 46 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $108,897 | $83,000 | 2,303,482 | 112 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $135,945 | $100,000 | 704,352 | 30 |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $143,988 | $107,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $146,122 | $109,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $130,077 | $97,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $155,477 | $115,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $155,162 | $115,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Plano, TX | $107,287 | $81,000 | 286,057 | 11 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $93,541 | $72,000 | 652,717 | 9 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $153,604 | $114,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $150,546 | $112,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $119,720 | $88,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 22 | Long Beach, CA | $144,705 | $108,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $144,018 | $107,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Lubbock, TX | $110,788 | $83,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $107,884 | $82,000 | 1,317,929 | 9 |
| 26 | Chicago, IL | $102,277 | $79,000 | 2,704,958 | 40 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,619 | $70,000 | 303,625 | 19 |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $115,725 | $85,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $85,181 | $66,000 | 385,809 | 18 |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $115,569 | $85,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $107,762 | $81,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $115,124 | $85,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Corpus Christi, TX | $109,233 | $83,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 34 | El Paso, TX | $113,930 | $86,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $111,343 | $83,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 36 | Phoenix, AZ | $111,302 | $83,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 37 | Fort Worth, TX | $108,359 | $82,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 38 | Boston, MA | $106,628 | $84,000 | 673,184 | 23 |
| 39 | Chula Vista, CA | $136,740 | $103,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $111,266 | $83,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Atlanta, GA | $97,359 | $75,000 | 472,522 | 25 |
| 42 | Laredo, TX | $109,785 | $84,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $108,236 | $82,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $110,541 | $83,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 45 | Saint Paul, MN | $94,108 | $73,000 | 302,398 | 51 |
| 46 | Chandler, AZ | $110,493 | $83,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $110,396 | $83,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $114,927 | $89,000 | 614,664 | 6 |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $107,886 | $82,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $87,959 | $68,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for senior research engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior research engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $156,711 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $135,945 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $116,985 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $110,245 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $106,628 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $105,582 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $102,277 |
| 8 | East Hartford, CT | $102,084 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $99,984 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $97,359 |
| 11 | Warren, MI | $96,299 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $94,108 |
| 13 | Allentown, PA | $92,729 |
| 14 | East Chicago, IN | $89,996 |
| 15 | Huntsville, AL | $89,235 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $85,181 |
| 17 | Wichita, KS | $78,565 |
Senior research engineer best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for senior research engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025