Best cities for a senior staff engineer
The best cities for senior staff engineers are Austin, TX, Chandler, AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior staff engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior staff engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior staff engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior staff engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior staff engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior staff engineer. While the absolute best city for senior staff engineers is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior staff engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior staff engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior staff engineers in 2025
1. Austin, TX
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $129,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 17.46 2. Chandler, AZ
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $131,872 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 10.79 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $131,879 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 7.84 4. Gilbert, AZ
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $131,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 10.54 5. Glendale, AZ
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $132,121 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 5.55 6. San Jose, CA
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $156,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 43.17 7. Fremont, CA
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $156,336 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 30.16 8. Mesa, AZ
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $131,780 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 5.41 9. Houston, TX
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $127,598 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 3.81 10. Oakland, CA
Total senior staff engineer jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $156,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 14.93
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Best cities for senior staff engineers
- Austin, TX
- Chandler, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Houston, TX
- Oakland, CA
- (229 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (21 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (16 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (5 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (3 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (88 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (119 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (5 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (84 senior staff engineer jobs)
- (28 senior staff engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior staff engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $129,138 | $84,000 | 947,890 | 229 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $131,872 | $88,000 | 247,477 | 21 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $131,879 | $88,000 | 246,645 | 16 |
| 4 | Gilbert, AZ | $131,806 | $88,000 | 237,133 | 5 |
| 5 | Glendale, AZ | $132,121 | $89,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $156,434 | $106,000 | 1,025,350 | 88 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $156,336 | $106,000 | 233,136 | 119 |
| 8 | Mesa, AZ | $131,780 | $88,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $127,598 | $83,000 | 2,303,482 | 84 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $156,420 | $106,000 | 420,005 | 28 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $132,049 | $89,000 | 1,615,017 | 36 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $156,677 | $106,000 | 870,887 | 142 |
| 13 | Arlington, TX | $127,023 | $83,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 14 | Fort Worth, TX | $127,154 | $83,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $126,297 | $83,000 | 286,057 | 18 |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $149,563 | $102,000 | 266,122 | 137 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $147,441 | $100,000 | 1,406,630 | 232 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $126,717 | $83,000 | 1,317,929 | 22 |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $149,803 | $102,000 | 334,217 | 8 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $135,589 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 66 |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $154,480 | $104,000 | 495,234 | 9 |
| 22 | Tucson, AZ | $131,159 | $88,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $129,511 | $84,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $126,747 | $83,000 | 238,289 | 7 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $150,915 | $103,000 | 3,976,322 | 31 |
| 26 | Albuquerque, NM | $137,480 | $91,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $134,350 | $89,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Laredo, TX | $128,953 | $83,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $131,323 | $85,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $130,031 | $86,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Oklahoma City, OK | $120,010 | $78,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $114,032 | $74,000 | 465,101 | 13 |
| 33 | Nashville, TN | $98,045 | $65,000 | 660,388 | 12 |
| 34 | Corpus Christi, TX | $127,975 | $83,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $126,457 | $86,000 | 673,184 | 31 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $110,724 | $72,000 | 693,060 | 38 |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $126,398 | $83,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 38 | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,798 | $63,000 | 303,625 | 13 |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $94,186 | $63,000 | 458,880 | 28 |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $113,649 | $73,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 41 | Stockton, CA | $155,017 | $105,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 42 | Fresno, CA | $154,301 | $104,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $153,243 | $104,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 44 | Reno, NV | $123,163 | $81,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 45 | Anchorage, AK | $131,926 | $93,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 46 | Las Vegas, NV | $121,110 | $81,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $150,231 | $103,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 48 | Anaheim, CA | $150,015 | $102,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 49 | Greensboro, NC | $93,514 | $62,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $120,898 | $81,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior staff engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior staff engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $156,774 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $135,589 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $132,049 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $129,138 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $126,457 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $114,032 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $110,760 |
| 8 | Farmington Hills, MI | $100,480 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $98,116 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $94,186 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $93,912 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $86,513 |
| 13 | Dublin, OH | $86,055 |
Senior staff engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025