Best cities for a tool engineer
The best cities for tool engineers are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and Long Beach, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for tool engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for tool engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a tool engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for tool engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for tool engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a tool engineer. While the absolute best city for tool engineers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for tool engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a tool engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for tool engineers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $151,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 3.05 2. San Jose, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $150,050 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 1.95 3. Long Beach, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $133,538 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 3.22 4. Fremont, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $150,444 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 1.47 5. Austin, TX
Total tool engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $98,611 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 2.94 6. Seattle, WA
Total tool engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $119,413 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 1.52 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $135,421 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 1.03 8. Mesa, AZ
Total tool engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $100,424 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 2.09 9. Oakland, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $150,866 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. San Diego, CA
Total tool engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $127,852 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 1.30
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Best cities for tool engineers
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Austin, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Oakland, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (31 tool engineer jobs)
- (14 tool engineer jobs)
- (2 tool engineer jobs)
- (3 tool engineer jobs)
- (20 tool engineer jobs)
- (13 tool engineer jobs)
- (9 tool engineer jobs)
- (1 tool engineer jobs)
- (0 tool engineer jobs)
- (8 tool engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a tool engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $151,027 | $109,000 | 870,887 | 31 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $150,050 | $108,000 | 1,025,350 | 14 |
| 3 | Long Beach, CA | $133,538 | $96,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $150,444 | $108,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $98,611 | $71,000 | 947,890 | 20 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $119,413 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 13 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $135,421 | $98,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 8 | Mesa, AZ | $100,424 | $72,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $150,866 | $109,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $127,852 | $92,000 | 1,406,630 | 8 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $150,587 | $109,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $150,341 | $108,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $132,326 | $95,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $147,352 | $106,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $116,027 | $84,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $109,220 | $78,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Bakersfield, CA | $142,848 | $103,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,079 | $79,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 19 | North Las Vegas, NV | $110,055 | $79,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $120,054 | $88,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $98,900 | $71,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 22 | Anaheim, CA | $133,422 | $96,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $133,120 | $96,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $132,834 | $96,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | Lexington, KY | $84,683 | $63,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $98,308 | $70,000 | 2,303,482 | 6 |
| 27 | Albuquerque, NM | $103,761 | $75,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 28 | El Paso, TX | $100,771 | $73,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 29 | Lubbock, TX | $99,021 | $72,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 30 | Chula Vista, CA | $127,139 | $92,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 31 | Fort Worth, TX | $97,595 | $71,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 32 | Glendale, AZ | $101,281 | $73,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $86,947 | $65,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,248 | $73,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $98,633 | $70,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $85,794 | $64,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $101,230 | $73,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 38 | Corpus Christi, TX | $98,426 | $70,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 39 | Chandler, AZ | $100,362 | $72,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 40 | Oklahoma City, OK | $86,777 | $64,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $100,261 | $72,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 42 | Arlington, TX | $97,538 | $71,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 43 | Irving, TX | $97,429 | $71,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $97,414 | $71,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 45 | Garland, TX | $97,277 | $70,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 46 | Plano, TX | $97,233 | $70,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $84,676 | $63,000 | 311,404 | 6 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $97,413 | $70,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Aurora, CO | $94,403 | $69,000 | 361,710 | 3 |
| 50 | Raleigh, NC | $85,942 | $64,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for tool engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. tool engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $151,270 |
| 2 | Hillsboro, OR | $120,279 |
| 3 | Everett, WA | $119,580 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $104,228 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $102,916 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,248 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $98,611 |
| 8 | Annapolis, MD | $97,447 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $95,540 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $93,714 |
| 11 | New Orleans, LA | $93,507 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $92,045 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $90,817 |
| 14 | Columbus, GA | $88,400 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $87,532 |
| 16 | Sterling Heights, MI | $86,990 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $84,676 |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | $80,265 |
| 19 | Wichita, KS | $79,289 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $78,038 |
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Updated January 8, 2025