Best cities for a water resources engineer
The best cities for water resources engineers are Reno, NV, Fort Worth, TX, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for water resources engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for water resources engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a water resources engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for water resources engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for water resources engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a water resources engineer. While the absolute best city for water resources engineers is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for water resources engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a water resources engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for water resources engineers in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Total water resources engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $87,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 4.44 2. Fort Worth, TX
Total water resources engineer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $85,823 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 1.71 3. Sacramento, CA
Total water resources engineer jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $104,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 9.87 4. Lexington, KY
Total water resources engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $78,975 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 2.89 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total water resources engineer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $85,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 0.87 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Total water resources engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $85,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 1.73 7. Fresno, CA
Total water resources engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $103,828 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 1.84 8. Oakland, CA
Total water resources engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $105,602 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 1.08 9. Chandler, AZ
Total water resources engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $85,149 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 1.55 10. Houston, TX
Total water resources engineer jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $87,547 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.69
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Best cities for water resources engineers
- Reno, NV
- Fort Worth, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Lexington, KY
- Las Vegas, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Fresno, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- Houston, TX
- (13 water resources engineer jobs)
- (11 water resources engineer jobs)
- (80 water resources engineer jobs)
- (7 water resources engineer jobs)
- (8 water resources engineer jobs)
- (7 water resources engineer jobs)
- (4 water resources engineer jobs)
- (4 water resources engineer jobs)
- (6 water resources engineer jobs)
- (30 water resources engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a water resources engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $87,759 | $62,000 | 245,255 | 13 |
| 2 | Fort Worth, TX | $85,823 | $61,000 | 854,113 | 11 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $104,694 | $74,000 | 495,234 | 80 |
| 4 | Lexington, KY | $78,975 | $58,000 | 318,449 | 7 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $85,591 | $60,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,171 | $60,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $103,828 | $73,000 | 522,053 | 4 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $105,602 | $74,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $85,149 | $60,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $87,547 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 30 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $78,773 | $58,000 | 597,337 | 10 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $88,252 | $62,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $85,616 | $61,000 | 1,317,929 | 16 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $85,790 | $61,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $99,881 | $70,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $89,769 | $63,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $87,958 | $62,000 | 947,890 | 12 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $76,925 | $57,000 | 280,364 | 9 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $83,273 | $59,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 20 | Virginia Beach, VA | $79,181 | $57,000 | 452,602 | 18 |
| 21 | New Orleans, LA | $87,523 | $62,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,254 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 23 | Santa Ana, CA | $100,024 | $70,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 24 | Denver, CO | $79,902 | $59,000 | 693,060 | 84 |
| 25 | Omaha, NE | $77,059 | $58,000 | 446,970 | 10 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,715 | $55,000 | 303,625 | 18 |
| 27 | Portland, OR | $84,482 | $62,000 | 639,863 | 15 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $69,576 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 27 |
| 29 | Laredo, TX | $88,064 | $61,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 30 | Colorado Springs, CO | $80,154 | $59,000 | 465,101 | 11 |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $98,739 | $69,000 | 1,406,630 | 23 |
| 32 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,746 | $61,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 33 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,455 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | 19 |
| 34 | North Las Vegas, NV | $85,436 | $60,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $105,776 | $74,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $85,430 | $60,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Lubbock, TX | $86,789 | $62,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 38 | Orlando, FL | $72,240 | $50,000 | 277,173 | 27 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $65,893 | $49,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 40 | Irving, TX | $85,581 | $61,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 41 | Nashville, TN | $73,977 | $54,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 42 | Anchorage, AK | $87,996 | $69,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 43 | Detroit, MI | $81,591 | $60,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 44 | Tampa, FL | $72,564 | $50,000 | 377,165 | 21 |
| 45 | Garland, TX | $85,389 | $61,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 46 | Fremont, CA | $105,441 | $74,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $85,274 | $61,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 48 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $72,619 | $50,000 | 260,999 | 3 |
| 49 | San Jose, CA | $105,412 | $74,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $99,899 | $70,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for water resources engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. water resources engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $104,694 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $96,117 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $93,762 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $88,051 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $87,958 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | $87,572 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $86,275 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,254 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $84,482 |
| 10 | Mahwah, NJ | $80,031 |
| 11 | Englewood, CO | $79,963 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $79,710 |
| 13 | Reston, VA | $79,563 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $77,753 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,455 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $75,685 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $72,564 |
| 18 | Billings, MT | $71,921 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $71,159 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $71,156 |
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Updated January 8, 2025