Best cities for a team lead engineer
The best cities for team lead engineers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for team lead engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for team lead engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a team lead engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for team lead engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for team lead engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a team lead engineer. While the absolute best city for team lead engineers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for team lead engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a team lead engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for team lead engineers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total team lead engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $162,222 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location quotient: 7.71 2. San Francisco, CA
Total team lead engineer jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $162,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location quotient: 5.89 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total team lead engineer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $125,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 20.07 4. Gilbert, AZ
Total team lead engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $124,633 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 10.15 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total team lead engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $122,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 2.61 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total team lead engineer jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $149,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 3.15 7. Chandler, AZ
Total team lead engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $124,706 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 2.47 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total team lead engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $115,085 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 2.84 9. Detroit, MI
Total team lead engineer jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $110,383 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 18.59 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total team lead engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $125,367 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.77
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Best cities for team lead engineers
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
- (6 team lead engineer jobs)
- (48 team lead engineer jobs)
- (17 team lead engineer jobs)
- (2 team lead engineer jobs)
- (5 team lead engineer jobs)
- (22 team lead engineer jobs)
- (2 team lead engineer jobs)
- (7 team lead engineer jobs)
- (32 team lead engineer jobs)
- (9 team lead engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a team lead engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $162,222 | $115,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $162,409 | $115,000 | 870,887 | 48 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $125,350 | $87,000 | 246,645 | 17 |
| 4 | Gilbert, AZ | $124,633 | $87,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $122,214 | $85,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $149,585 | $105,000 | 3,976,322 | 22 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | $124,706 | $87,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $115,085 | $82,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $110,383 | $79,000 | 672,795 | 32 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $125,367 | $87,000 | 1,615,017 | 9 |
| 11 | Plano, TX | $118,515 | $83,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $118,593 | $85,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $161,855 | $114,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $161,819 | $114,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $161,524 | $114,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $161,538 | $114,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $117,476 | $81,000 | 2,303,482 | 28 |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $159,159 | $112,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $118,745 | $83,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $127,888 | $90,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | North Las Vegas, NV | $122,149 | $85,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $118,770 | $83,000 | 238,289 | 7 |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $155,167 | $109,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 24 | Mesa, AZ | $124,748 | $87,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 25 | Jersey City, NJ | $136,092 | $98,000 | 264,152 | 6 |
| 26 | Glendale, AZ | $125,396 | $88,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $121,412 | $84,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $132,361 | $96,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $121,401 | $85,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | $112,564 | $80,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 31 | El Paso, TX | $121,470 | $85,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $147,016 | $103,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 33 | Newark, NJ | $136,038 | $98,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | $97,208 | $69,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 35 | Tulsa, OK | $100,369 | $71,000 | 403,090 | 4 |
| 36 | San Diego, CA | $141,928 | $99,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 37 | Lubbock, TX | $120,398 | $84,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 38 | Austin, TX | $118,255 | $82,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | $148,112 | $104,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 40 | Anaheim, CA | $147,974 | $104,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | $147,614 | $103,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $118,964 | $83,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $147,479 | $103,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $122,545 | $86,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 45 | Arlington, TX | $118,890 | $83,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $104,025 | $74,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 47 | New York, NY | $127,936 | $92,000 | 8,537,673 | 67 |
| 48 | New Orleans, LA | $109,178 | $75,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $109,802 | $78,000 | 472,522 | 21 |
| 50 | Saint Louis, MO | $101,400 | $72,000 | 311,404 | 10 |
Highest paying cities for team lead engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. team lead engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $162,409 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $136,092 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $132,361 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $127,936 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $125,367 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $123,662 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $122,631 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $118,964 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $115,085 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $113,889 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $112,564 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $112,436 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $110,383 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $109,802 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $108,944 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $105,480 |
| 17 | Huntsville, AL | $102,563 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $101,400 |
| 19 | Olathe, KS | $99,324 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $97,034 |
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Updated January 8, 2025