Best cities for a system hardware engineer
The best cities for system hardware engineers are Fremont, CA, San Jose, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for system hardware engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for system hardware engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a system hardware engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for system hardware engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for system hardware engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a system hardware engineer. While the absolute best city for system hardware engineers is Fremont, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for system hardware engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a system hardware engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for system hardware engineers in 2025
1. Fremont, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $142,007 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 13.25 2. San Jose, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $141,527 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 13.43 3. Seattle, WA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $142,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 2.70 4. Austin, TX
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $104,325 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 19.36 5. San Francisco, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $142,853 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 1.52 6. Fort Worth, TX
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $104,710 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 2.30 7. Sacramento, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,808 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oakland, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,637 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Stockton, CA
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,058 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total system hardware engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $107,764 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for system hardware engineers
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- (7 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (25 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (6 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (34 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (4 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (1 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 system hardware engineer jobs)
- (0 system hardware engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a system hardware engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $142,007 | $98,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $141,527 | $97,000 | 1,025,350 | 25 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $142,672 | $101,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $104,325 | $71,000 | 947,890 | 34 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $142,853 | $99,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $104,710 | $72,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $142,808 | $98,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $142,637 | $98,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $142,058 | $98,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $107,764 | $73,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 11 | Wichita, KS | $103,384 | $72,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $104,544 | $72,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $104,283 | $72,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $138,395 | $95,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Lubbock, TX | $108,443 | $74,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $104,224 | $72,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $111,260 | $76,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $133,537 | $91,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Glendale, AZ | $106,111 | $72,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $106,062 | $72,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $104,003 | $71,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 22 | Garland, TX | $103,883 | $71,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 23 | Scottsdale, AZ | $105,973 | $72,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 24 | Plano, TX | $103,771 | $71,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $105,657 | $72,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 26 | Mesa, AZ | $105,641 | $72,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $105,593 | $72,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $121,043 | $82,000 | 1,406,630 | 145 |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $127,934 | $87,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 30 | Irvine, CA | $125,392 | $85,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 31 | Norfolk, VA | $104,217 | $73,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 32 | Houston, TX | $102,860 | $70,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $126,500 | $86,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $104,199 | $71,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $102,388 | $69,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $126,316 | $86,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $125,888 | $85,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 38 | Santa Ana, CA | $125,842 | $85,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,288 | $63,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 40 | Corpus Christi, TX | $101,838 | $69,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,327 | $73,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $89,894 | $62,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 43 | Anchorage, AK | $106,760 | $79,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 44 | Portland, OR | $106,438 | $74,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 45 | Chesapeake, VA | $103,988 | $73,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 46 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,190 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 47 | Chula Vista, CA | $120,486 | $82,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 48 | Boston, MA | $105,613 | $74,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 49 | Brookhaven, NY | $104,949 | $73,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 50 | Islip, NY | $104,837 | $73,000 | 335,543 | - |
Highest paying cities for system hardware engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. system hardware engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $142,853 |
| 2 | Kirkland, WA | $142,525 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $106,753 |
| 4 | Danvers, MA | $105,507 |
| 5 | White Plains, NY | $104,801 |
| 6 | Newport News, VA | $104,330 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $104,325 |
| 8 | Germantown, MD | $100,135 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $92,915 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $92,755 |
| 11 | Allentown, PA | $92,442 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $89,894 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $86,773 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $76,560 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $76,390 |
| 16 | Sunrise, FL | $73,528 |
| 17 | Columbus, IN | $72,899 |
System hardware engineer best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for system hardware engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025