Best cities for a systems designer
The best cities for systems designers are Lubbock, TX, Irving, TX, and Nashville, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for systems designers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for systems designers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a systems designer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for systems designers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for systems designers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a systems designer. While the absolute best city for systems designers is Lubbock, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for systems designers in 2024.
If you're looking for a systems designer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for systems designers in 2025
1. Lubbock, TX
Total systems designer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $100,245 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 5.16 2. Irving, TX
Total systems designer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $99,631 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 3.91 3. Nashville, TN
Total systems designer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $92,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 2.94 4. Fort Worth, TX
Total systems designer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $99,658 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 2.80 5. Milwaukee, WI
Total systems designer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $96,158 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 5.48 6. Boston, MA
Total systems designer jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $110,755 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 4.10 7. Chicago, IL
Total systems designer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $113,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 1.87 8. Seattle, WA
Total systems designer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $126,887 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 1.83 9. Austin, TX
Total systems designer jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $98,241 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 3.46 10. Dallas, TX
Total systems designer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $99,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 1.51
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Best cities for systems designers
- Lubbock, TX
- Irving, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Milwaukee, WI
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- (1 systems designer jobs)
- (10 systems designer jobs)
- (5 systems designer jobs)
- (3 systems designer jobs)
- (7 systems designer jobs)
- (19 systems designer jobs)
- (12 systems designer jobs)
- (10 systems designer jobs)
- (15 systems designer jobs)
- (6 systems designer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a systems designer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock, TX | $100,245 | $72,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 2 | Irving, TX | $99,631 | $71,000 | 238,289 | 10 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $92,998 | $67,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 4 | Fort Worth, TX | $99,658 | $71,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $96,158 | $70,000 | 595,047 | 7 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $110,755 | $78,000 | 673,184 | 19 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $113,910 | $83,000 | 2,704,958 | 12 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $126,887 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $98,241 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 15 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $99,589 | $71,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $97,531 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 15 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $100,975 | $73,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $99,758 | $71,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 14 | Plano, TX | $99,626 | $71,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 15 | Arlington, TX | $99,615 | $71,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $100,998 | $72,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Garland, TX | $99,595 | $71,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $92,820 | $66,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $92,898 | $67,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $97,523 | $68,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 21 | Madison, WI | $96,150 | $70,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 22 | Chandler, AZ | $93,872 | $68,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,096 | $68,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 24 | Cincinnati, OH | $82,598 | $59,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,044 | $58,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 26 | San Francisco, CA | $109,010 | $78,000 | 870,887 | 14 |
| 27 | Corpus Christi, TX | $95,982 | $66,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 28 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,688 | $65,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 29 | Laredo, TX | $95,847 | $66,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 30 | Las Vegas, NV | $94,107 | $67,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 31 | Baltimore, MD | $101,134 | $72,000 | 614,664 | 7 |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $94,093 | $67,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,078 | $65,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO | $86,479 | $63,000 | 481,420 | 4 |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $102,956 | $84,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $93,608 | $67,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $98,407 | $71,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 38 | Scottsdale, AZ | $94,145 | $68,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 39 | Oklahoma City, OK | $89,690 | $65,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $94,086 | $68,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Long Beach, CA | $98,391 | $71,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $93,921 | $68,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | New Orleans, LA | $91,822 | $63,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $93,863 | $68,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $80,987 | $58,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 46 | Irvine, CA | $98,158 | $71,000 | 266,122 | 8 |
| 47 | Tucson, AZ | $93,136 | $67,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 48 | Charlotte, NC | $80,965 | $57,000 | 842,051 | 10 |
| 49 | Portland, OR | $99,687 | $73,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 50 | Tulsa, OK | $88,622 | $64,000 | 403,090 | - |
Highest paying cities for systems designers
| Rank | City | Avg. systems designer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $126,887 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $113,910 |
| 3 | Quincy, MA | $110,803 |
| 4 | Novato, CA | $109,508 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $101,134 |
| 6 | Irving, TX | $99,631 |
| 7 | Waukesha, WI | $96,164 |
| 8 | Tempe, AZ | $93,940 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $92,898 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,078 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $89,532 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $88,443 |
| 13 | Edison, NJ | $88,257 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $88,203 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $82,684 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $82,501 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $82,355 |
| 18 | Columbus, IN | $81,113 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $80,987 |
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Updated January 8, 2025