Best cities for a systems engineer/systems administrator
The best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator are Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for systems engineers/systems administrator vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a systems engineer/systems administrator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for systems engineers/systems administrator. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a systems engineer/systems administrator. While the absolute best city for systems engineers/systems administrator is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator in 2024.
If you're looking for a systems engineer/systems administrator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $122,465 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 7.24 2. Fremont, CA
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $122,413 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 5.16 3. Seattle, WA
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $99,548 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 89.32 4. Austin, TX
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $87,946 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 8.80 5. San Antonio, TX
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $87,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 4.71 6. Dallas, TX
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $86,289 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 8.48 7. Omaha, NE
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $90,287 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 4.88 8. Chandler, AZ
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $87,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 17.43 9. San Francisco, CA
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $122,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 1.38 10. San Jose, CA
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $122,393 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 1.47
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Best cities for systems engineers/systems administrator
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Omaha, NE
- Chandler, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- (2 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (3 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (218 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (17 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (4 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (15 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (3 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (5 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (4 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
- (3 systems engineer/systems administrator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a systems engineer/systems administrator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $122,465 | $88,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $122,413 | $88,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $99,548 | $74,000 | 704,352 | 218 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $87,946 | $65,000 | 947,890 | 17 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $87,919 | $64,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $86,289 | $64,000 | 1,317,929 | 15 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $90,287 | $68,000 | 446,970 | 3 |
| 8 | Chandler, AZ | $87,407 | $64,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $122,634 | $88,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $122,393 | $88,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $89,849 | $67,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,848 | $65,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $104,719 | $77,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $109,139 | $79,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $99,577 | $72,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $121,353 | $87,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $97,178 | $70,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $87,826 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 19 | North Las Vegas, NV | $97,024 | $70,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $120,320 | $86,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $119,751 | $86,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 22 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,633 | $64,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,545 | $64,000 | 1,615,017 | 7 |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $87,530 | $64,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $96,527 | $69,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | El Paso, TX | $88,480 | $65,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $90,282 | $67,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 28 | Fort Worth, TX | $86,544 | $64,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $115,162 | $83,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,944 | $63,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 31 | Lincoln, NE | $89,516 | $67,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $86,876 | $64,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | $79,567 | $58,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 34 | Durham, NC | $82,766 | $60,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $86,531 | $64,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | $83,303 | $61,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 37 | Irving, TX | $86,202 | $64,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 38 | Long Beach, CA | $107,890 | $78,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $107,821 | $78,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $87,559 | $64,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | $107,649 | $78,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 42 | Cleveland, OH | $80,852 | $58,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $107,460 | $78,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Scottsdale, AZ | $87,522 | $64,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $107,159 | $78,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 46 | Mesa, AZ | $87,397 | $64,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $87,386 | $64,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,378 | $61,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $104,770 | $76,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 50 | Tucson, AZ | $87,107 | $64,000 | 530,706 | - |
Highest paying cities for systems engineers/systems administrator
| Rank | City | Avg. systems engineer/systems administrator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $122,636 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $99,548 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $92,099 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $91,299 |
| 5 | Bowie, MD | $91,255 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $90,420 |
| 7 | Bellevue, NE | $90,215 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,357 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $87,946 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $87,559 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $86,567 |
| 12 | Columbus, MS | $84,863 |
| 13 | Jacksonville, NC | $82,904 |
| 14 | Bismarck, ND | $81,600 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $81,330 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $80,400 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $79,620 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $79,567 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $78,164 |
| 20 | Huntsville, AL | $77,245 |