Best cities for a student engineer
The best cities for student engineers are Corpus Christi, TX, Pittsburgh, PA, and Nashville, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for student engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for student engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a student engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for student engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for student engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a student engineer. While the absolute best city for student engineers is Corpus Christi, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for student engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a student engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for student engineers in 2025
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Total student engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $77,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 2.79 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total student engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $74,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.84 3. Nashville, TN
Total student engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $71,976 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 0.73 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total student engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $76,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 0.53 5. Detroit, MI
Total student engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 1.21 6. Cleveland, OH
Total student engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $71,744 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 0.40 7. Columbus, OH
Total student engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $70,727 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 1.15 8. El Paso, TX
Total student engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,455 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Albuquerque, NM
Total student engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,763 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. San Antonio, TX
Total student engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for student engineers
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Nashville, TN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Albuquerque, NM
- San Antonio, TX
- (1 student engineer jobs)
- (4 student engineer jobs)
- (3 student engineer jobs)
- (4 student engineer jobs)
- (4 student engineer jobs)
- (1 student engineer jobs)
- (8 student engineer jobs)
- (0 student engineer jobs)
- (0 student engineer jobs)
- (0 student engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a student engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $77,672 | $56,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,883 | $55,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $71,976 | $53,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,733 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $73,068 | $54,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $71,744 | $53,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $70,727 | $52,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | $78,455 | $55,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $78,763 | $56,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $77,473 | $55,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $76,975 | $55,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $71,784 | $53,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 13 | Laredo, TX | $78,199 | $56,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $76,641 | $55,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $87,877 | $62,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $79,694 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 10 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $69,542 | $51,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $75,628 | $55,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 19 | Toledo, OH | $71,201 | $53,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $69,545 | $51,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 21 | Lubbock, TX | $75,748 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 22 | Fort Worth, TX | $74,977 | $54,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 23 | Arlington, TX | $74,949 | $54,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,202 | $53,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 25 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,896 | $56,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $74,778 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 27 | Irving, TX | $74,738 | $54,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $69,614 | $51,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 29 | Garland, TX | $74,553 | $54,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $82,889 | $62,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 31 | Plano, TX | $74,431 | $54,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $73,967 | $51,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $75,245 | $53,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $75,213 | $53,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 35 | Atlanta, GA | $74,647 | $55,000 | 472,522 | 2 |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $75,194 | $53,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $70,101 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $75,161 | $53,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 39 | Mesa, AZ | $75,125 | $53,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $76,484 | $57,000 | 2,704,958 | 5 |
| 41 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,087 | $52,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 42 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,887 | $56,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 43 | Milwaukee, WI | $69,496 | $51,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $78,923 | $67,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 45 | Orlando, FL | $74,101 | $54,000 | 277,173 | 1 |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $69,150 | $51,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 47 | Jacksonville, FL | $74,585 | $55,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 48 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,333 | $49,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 49 | Brookhaven, NY | $83,168 | $61,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 50 | Islip, NY | $83,120 | $61,000 | 335,543 | - |
Highest paying cities for student engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. student engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $87,185 |
| 2 | Martinez, CA | $86,458 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $82,861 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $82,854 |
| 5 | Milford, CT | $81,151 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $79,694 |
| 7 | Newport News, VA | $78,405 |
| 8 | Champaign, IL | $75,039 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $74,647 |
| 10 | Melbourne, FL | $73,871 |
| 11 | Troy, MI | $73,086 |
| 12 | Kingsport, TN | $72,971 |
| 13 | Loveland, CO | $71,516 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $70,727 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $70,069 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,718 |
| 17 | Dubuque, IA | $65,593 |
| 18 | Lawrence, KS | $61,961 |
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Updated January 8, 2025