Best cities for a systems tester
The best cities for systems testers are Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for systems testers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for systems testers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a systems tester or considering a move, this list of the best cities for systems testers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for systems testers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a systems tester. While the absolute best city for systems testers is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for systems testers in 2024.
If you're looking for a systems tester job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for systems testers in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total systems tester jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $126,787 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 16.67 2. San Jose, CA
Total systems tester jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $126,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 12.96 3. San Francisco, CA
Total systems tester jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $127,377 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 9.68 4. San Antonio, TX
Total systems tester jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $91,009 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 55.80 5. Fremont, CA
Total systems tester jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $126,929 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 7.40 6. Austin, TX
Total systems tester jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $90,865 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 19.31 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total systems tester jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $90,422 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 7.39 8. Seattle, WA
Total systems tester jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $110,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 7.64 9. Durham, NC
Total systems tester jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $87,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 25.94 10. Cincinnati, OH
Total systems tester jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $83,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 10.34
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Best cities for systems testers
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Fremont, CA
- Austin, TX
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Durham, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
- (14 systems tester jobs)
- (37 systems tester jobs)
- (39 systems tester jobs)
- (66 systems tester jobs)
- (6 systems tester jobs)
- (52 systems tester jobs)
- (9 systems tester jobs)
- (26 systems tester jobs)
- (17 systems tester jobs)
- (9 systems tester jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a systems tester
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $126,787 | $93,000 | 495,234 | 14 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $126,670 | $93,000 | 1,025,350 | 37 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $127,377 | $94,000 | 870,887 | 39 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $91,009 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 66 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $126,929 | $93,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $90,865 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 52 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,422 | $68,000 | 303,625 | 9 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $110,065 | $82,000 | 704,352 | 26 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $87,441 | $66,000 | 263,016 | 17 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $83,033 | $63,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $89,199 | $68,000 | 238,289 | 13 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,201 | $70,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $86,694 | $67,000 | 595,047 | 7 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $87,578 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $84,783 | $64,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $89,425 | $68,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $119,946 | $88,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $113,132 | $83,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $86,067 | $66,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $112,970 | $83,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Oakland, CA | $127,248 | $93,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $111,885 | $83,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $87,785 | $66,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $126,757 | $93,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $85,272 | $65,000 | 842,051 | 28 |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $87,904 | $66,000 | 246,645 | 6 |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $108,141 | $80,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $83,263 | $63,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $124,452 | $91,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 30 | Toledo, OH | $85,985 | $65,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $90,901 | $69,000 | 2,303,482 | 12 |
| 32 | Bakersfield, CA | $119,565 | $88,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $91,147 | $69,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Jersey City, NJ | $105,220 | $78,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 35 | Dallas, TX | $89,234 | $68,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $105,173 | $78,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 37 | Laredo, TX | $90,966 | $69,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 38 | Corpus Christi, TX | $90,955 | $69,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 39 | Lubbock, TX | $90,154 | $68,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 40 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,592 | $81,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 41 | Los Angeles, CA | $111,083 | $82,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $89,462 | $68,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 43 | Plano, TX | $88,719 | $67,000 | 286,057 | 5 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $98,481 | $73,000 | 673,184 | 11 |
| 45 | Anchorage, AK | $96,597 | $79,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $104,912 | $79,000 | 1,406,630 | 21 |
| 47 | Portland, OR | $96,865 | $72,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $85,112 | $64,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 49 | Garland, TX | $88,915 | $67,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 50 | Greensboro, NC | $86,562 | $66,000 | 287,027 | - |
Highest paying cities for systems testers
| Rank | City | Avg. systems tester salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $127,377 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | $110,173 |
| 3 | Middletown, NJ | $104,984 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $100,128 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $98,481 |
| 6 | Rockville, MD | $96,892 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $96,865 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $94,405 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,201 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $91,009 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $87,578 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $86,694 |
| 13 | Englewood, CO | $85,586 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $84,783 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $84,665 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $83,791 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $83,263 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $82,667 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $78,503 |











