Best cities for a staff engineer
The best cities for staff engineers are San Jose, CA, Fremont, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff engineer. While the absolute best city for staff engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff engineers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Staff engineer jobs in San JoseTotal staff engineer jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $128,820 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 25.80 2. Fremont, CA
Staff engineer jobs in FremontTotal staff engineer jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $128,912 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 16.07 3. Oakland, CA
Staff engineer jobs in OaklandTotal staff engineer jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $128,938 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 11.67 4. San Francisco, CA
Staff engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal staff engineer jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $129,192 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 7.43 5. Chandler, AZ
Staff engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal staff engineer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $99,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 6.67 6. Chula Vista, CA
Total staff engineer jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $109,605 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 116.80 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Staff engineer jobs in ScottsdaleTotal staff engineer jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $100,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 6.18 8. Santa Ana, CA
Staff engineer jobs in Santa AnaTotal staff engineer jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $114,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 11.74 9. San Diego, CA
Staff engineer jobs in San DiegoTotal staff engineer jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $110,163 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 20.00 10. Irvine, CA
Staff engineer jobs in IrvineTotal staff engineer jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $114,162 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 14.74
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Best cities for staff engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Chula Vista, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Santa Ana, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Irvine, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $128,820 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | 199 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $128,912 | $76,000 | 233,136 | 171 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $128,938 | $76,000 | 420,005 | 59 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $129,192 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 137 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $99,993 | $60,000 | 247,477 | 35 |
| 6 | Chula Vista, CA | $109,605 | $66,000 | 267,172 | 89 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $100,898 | $61,000 | 246,645 | 34 |
| 8 | Santa Ana, CA | $114,569 | $69,000 | 334,217 | 31 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $110,163 | $66,000 | 1,406,630 | 130 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $114,162 | $68,000 | 266,122 | 213 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $100,747 | $60,000 | 245,895 | 5 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $125,942 | $74,000 | 495,234 | 29 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,770 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | 84 |
| 14 | El Paso, TX | $85,485 | $52,000 | 683,080 | 21 |
| 15 | Bakersfield, CA | $121,891 | $73,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $78,414 | $49,000 | 660,388 | 52 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $82,249 | $50,000 | 1,317,929 | 131 |
| 18 | Garland, TX | $82,200 | $50,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $79,943 | $48,000 | 947,890 | 217 |
| 20 | Plano, TX | $82,271 | $50,000 | 286,057 | 55 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,408 | $70,000 | 3,976,322 | 75 |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $99,733 | $65,000 | 673,184 | 79 |
| 23 | Henderson, NV | $85,615 | $51,000 | 292,969 | 3 |
| 24 | Seattle, WA | $88,898 | $52,000 | 704,352 | 142 |
| 25 | Irving, TX | $82,385 | $50,000 | 238,289 | 41 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $78,549 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 38 |
| 27 | Raleigh, NC | $78,190 | $50,000 | 458,880 | 36 |
| 28 | Mesa, AZ | $100,149 | $60,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 29 | Fort Worth, TX | $82,548 | $50,000 | 854,113 | 14 |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $125,916 | $75,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,315 | $47,000 | 855,164 | 72 |
| 32 | Long Beach, CA | $115,087 | $69,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 33 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,144 | $50,000 | 638,367 | 15 |
| 34 | Albuquerque, NM | $109,887 | $66,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 35 | San Antonio, TX | $78,848 | $48,000 | 1,492,510 | 34 |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $78,314 | $50,000 | 263,016 | 15 |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $75,628 | $46,000 | 325,733 | 8 |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $87,410 | $51,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 39 | Gilbert, AZ | $99,949 | $60,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $87,105 | $51,000 | 639,863 | 27 |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $71,651 | $45,000 | 860,090 | 51 |
| 42 | Tucson, AZ | $96,985 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 43 | Detroit, MI | $78,761 | $50,000 | 672,795 | 13 |
| 44 | Denver, CO | $84,741 | $52,000 | 693,060 | 101 |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $81,590 | $51,000 | 2,704,958 | 110 |
| 46 | Tulsa, OK | $78,477 | $49,000 | 403,090 | 7 |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,120 | $51,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $78,026 | $49,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $90,790 | $58,000 | 614,664 | 46 |
| 50 | Riverside, CA | $114,793 | $69,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for staff engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. staff engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $129,368 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,770 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $99,733 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $99,574 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $97,894 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $90,790 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $88,898 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $87,105 |
| 9 | Littleton, CO | $84,885 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $84,245 |
| 11 | Newport News, VA | $82,511 |
| 12 | Irving, TX | $82,385 |
| 13 | Bridgewater, NJ | $81,990 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $81,590 |
| 15 | Bloomington, MN | $80,607 |
| 16 | Washington, MI | $78,723 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $78,190 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,315 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $71,651 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $71,065 |
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Updated January 8, 2025