Best cities for a system design engineer
The best cities for system design engineers are San Jose, CA, Fremont, CA, and Long Beach, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for system design engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for system design engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a system design engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for system design engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for system design engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a system design engineer. While the absolute best city for system design engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for system design engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a system design engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for system design engineers in 2026
1. San Jose, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $142,404 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 12.61 2. Fremont, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $142,706 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 9.05 3. Long Beach, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $130,305 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 9.93 4. Austin, TX
Total system design engineer jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $100,085 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 14.36 5. Anaheim, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $130,213 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 5.44 6. Irvine, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $129,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 7.07 7. Bakersfield, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $136,014 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 3.66 8. San Diego, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $123,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 5.91 9. San Francisco, CA
Total system design engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $143,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 0.88 10. Garland, TX
Total system design engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $97,091 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 11.93
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Best cities for system design engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Austin, TX
- Anaheim, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Garland, TX
- (162 system design engineer jobs)
- (33 system design engineer jobs)
- (11 system design engineer jobs)
- (174 system design engineer jobs)
- (5 system design engineer jobs)
- (35 system design engineer jobs)
- (3 system design engineer jobs)
- (65 system design engineer jobs)
- (16 system design engineer jobs)
- (4 system design engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a system design engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $142,404 | $102,000 | 1,025,350 | 162 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $142,706 | $102,000 | 233,136 | 33 |
| 3 | Long Beach, CA | $130,305 | $93,000 | 470,130 | 11 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,085 | $72,000 | 947,890 | 174 |
| 5 | Anaheim, CA | $130,213 | $93,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $129,443 | $92,000 | 266,122 | 35 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $136,014 | $97,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $123,843 | $89,000 | 1,406,630 | 65 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $143,257 | $102,000 | 870,887 | 16 |
| 10 | Garland, TX | $97,091 | $70,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $129,816 | $93,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $103,907 | $74,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $98,183 | $70,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,443 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 20 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $99,530 | $72,000 | 2,303,482 | 50 |
| 16 | Plano, TX | $96,811 | $69,000 | 286,057 | 29 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $100,242 | $72,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $111,697 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 17 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $97,668 | $70,000 | 1,317,929 | 18 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,723 | $58,000 | 638,367 | 12 |
| 21 | Mesa, AZ | $83,350 | $59,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $142,902 | $102,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 23 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,131 | $67,000 | 264,152 | 20 |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | $89,820 | $62,000 | 465,101 | 22 |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $143,101 | $102,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $142,568 | $102,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $80,669 | $57,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 28 | Wichita, KS | $73,730 | $52,000 | 389,902 | 7 |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $115,420 | $81,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $140,074 | $100,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $103,223 | $73,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 32 | Chandler, AZ | $83,185 | $59,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 33 | Las Vegas, NV | $79,870 | $56,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 34 | Tulsa, OK | $79,906 | $57,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $129,966 | $92,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 36 | Lubbock, TX | $101,438 | $72,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,238 | $59,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 38 | Irving, TX | $97,617 | $70,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $72,111 | $52,000 | 287,027 | 8 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $99,928 | $72,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $99,551 | $72,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Louisville, KY | $72,203 | $52,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $98,076 | $70,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | Chula Vista, CA | $122,783 | $88,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 45 | Detroit, MI | $71,356 | $52,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 46 | Anchorage, AK | $106,046 | $83,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 47 | Memphis, TN | $81,081 | $59,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $94,031 | $67,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 49 | Raleigh, NC | $72,348 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 50 | Reno, NV | $83,743 | $59,000 | 245,255 | - |
Highest paying cities for system design engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. system design engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $143,257 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $111,697 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $103,444 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,085 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,131 |
| 6 | Andover, MA | $90,746 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $89,820 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,238 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,723 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $78,869 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $78,534 |
| 12 | Huntsville, AL | $76,736 |
| 13 | Wichita, KS | $73,730 |
| 14 | Wilmington, NC | $72,782 |
| 15 | Rockford, IL | $72,323 |
| 16 | Troy, MI | $71,543 |
| 17 | Columbus, IN | $64,940 |
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Updated January 8, 2025