Best cities for a senior structural engineer
The best cities for senior structural engineers are Oakland, CA, Tulsa, OK, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior structural engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior structural engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior structural engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior structural engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior structural engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior structural engineer. While the absolute best city for senior structural engineers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior structural engineers in 2024.
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10 best cities for senior structural engineers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $131,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 3.45 2. Tulsa, OK
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $104,990 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 2.86 3. Fresno, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $128,752 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 4.41 4. Sacramento, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $130,779 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 2.11 5. Santa Ana, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $120,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 2.20 6. Oklahoma City, OK
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $106,253 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 1.21 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $121,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 1.57 8. Long Beach, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $120,861 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 1.80 9. Reno, NV
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $104,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 1.09 10. Irvine, CA
Total senior structural engineer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $120,468 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 1.51
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Best cities for senior structural engineers
- Oakland, CA
- Tulsa, OK
- Fresno, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Los Angeles, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Reno, NV
- Irvine, CA
- (12 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (10 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (9 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (16 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (4 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (9 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (49 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (4 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (3 senior structural engineer jobs)
- (15 senior structural engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior structural engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $131,692 | $96,000 | 420,005 | 12 |
| 2 | Tulsa, OK | $104,990 | $78,000 | 403,090 | 10 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $128,752 | $94,000 | 522,053 | 9 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $130,779 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 16 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,616 | $89,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK | $106,253 | $79,000 | 638,367 | 9 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,354 | $89,000 | 3,976,322 | 49 |
| 8 | Long Beach, CA | $120,861 | $89,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $104,824 | $77,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $120,468 | $88,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,159 | $73,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 12 | Henderson, NV | $98,677 | $72,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $88,684 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 147 |
| 14 | New Orleans, LA | $88,456 | $64,000 | 391,495 | 10 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $100,216 | $75,000 | 693,060 | 57 |
| 16 | Glendale, AZ | $94,978 | $70,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $118,875 | $87,000 | 1,406,630 | 19 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $86,995 | $65,000 | 481,420 | 27 |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $131,400 | $96,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $124,837 | $91,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 21 | San Francisco, CA | $131,872 | $96,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 22 | Louisville, KY | $85,607 | $64,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 23 | Portland, OR | $97,064 | $72,000 | 639,863 | 15 |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $90,204 | $66,000 | 1,317,929 | 17 |
| 25 | San Jose, CA | $131,177 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $130,907 | $96,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Corpus Christi, TX | $86,681 | $62,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 28 | Wichita, KS | $81,016 | $60,000 | 389,902 | 7 |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,954 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,294 | $66,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 31 | Detroit, MI | $79,275 | $61,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $99,018 | $72,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $93,301 | $68,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 34 | Anaheim, CA | $120,762 | $89,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 35 | Lexington, KY | $85,548 | $64,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $120,517 | $88,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $82,448 | $61,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $78,385 | $59,000 | 446,970 | 10 |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $94,852 | $69,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,980 | $64,000 | 413,651 | 17 |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $94,589 | $69,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 42 | Chicago, IL | $87,092 | $66,000 | 2,704,958 | 31 |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $118,603 | $87,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,941 | $70,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $87,305 | $66,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $82,797 | $61,000 | 842,051 | 15 |
| 47 | Anchorage, AK | $101,992 | $85,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 48 | Seattle, WA | $97,680 | $74,000 | 704,352 | 21 |
| 49 | Scottsdale, AZ | $94,866 | $69,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $92,805 | $68,000 | 252,506 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior structural engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior structural engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $131,872 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $101,451 |
| 3 | Englewood, CO | $100,387 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $97,680 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $97,064 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,941 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $90,204 |
| 8 | Troy, NY | $88,689 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $88,484 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $88,456 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $87,507 |
| 12 | Newark, NJ | $87,305 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,294 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $87,092 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $86,995 |
| 16 | East Hartford, CT | $86,964 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $85,672 |
| 18 | Billings, MT | $85,168 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $84,899 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,980 |
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Updated January 8, 2025