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These Are The 10 Best Cities For Forensic Investigators

By Chris Kolmar
Dec. 14, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

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Top 10 Cities for Forensic Investigators in 2026

If you’re embarking on a career as a forensic investigator or considering a job move, understanding the best locations for your career growth is crucial. As the demand for forensic investigators continues to grow, regional differences in salary and job availability can significantly impact your long-term career prospects.

To assist you in making an informed decision, we’ve analyzed data to identify U.S. cities that offer the best opportunities for forensic investigators. This includes considerations of salary relative to the cost of living and job availability.

Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other reputable sources, we compiled this list of the top cities for forensic investigators:

  1. Springfield, IL
  2. Akron, OH
  3. Las Vegas, NV
  4. Oxnard, CA
  5. Topeka, KS
  6. Los Angeles, CA
  7. Oakland, CA
  8. Reno, NV
  9. Stockton, CA
  10. Sacramento, CA

Springfield, IL, stands out as the top city for forensic investigators in terms of salary and job availability.

On the other hand, if you’re considering where to avoid as a forensic investigator, Montgomery County, PA, ranks at the bottom for job opportunities and salaries.

Read on to discover how we determined the best cities for forensic investigators and more details about the top ten locations.

How We Determined the Best Cities for Forensic Investigators

At Zippia, we engage with individuals across various backgrounds seeking employment. Our research indicates that two key factors are most important to job seekers:

  • Job availability
  • Competitive salary

To identify the best cities for forensic investigators in the U.S., we analyzed job availability and salary data. Our criteria included:

  • Location quotient: a measure of job prevalence within each city.
  • Average annual salary for forensic investigators.
  • Average entry-level salary.

We adjusted salary figures to account for cost of living differences across states, allowing for a more apples-to-apples comparison. This analysis included 80 metropolitan areas, with the primary area designated as the ‘city’ for our study. For instance, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.

Each city was ranked for each criterion, and we averaged these rankings to create a Job Score, with the lowest score identifying the best city for forensic investigators.

1. Springfield, IL

Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $92,290
Average Entry-Level Salary: $61,420
Location Quotient: 4.46

2. Akron, OH

Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $63,960
Average Entry-Level Salary: $49,910
Location Quotient: 2.07

3. Las Vegas, NV

Total Jobs: 190
Average Annual Salary: $72,800
Average Entry-Level Salary: $53,020
Location Quotient: 2.05

4. Oxnard, CA

Total Jobs: 60
Average Annual Salary: $90,160
Average Entry-Level Salary: $51,730
Location Quotient: 2.08

5. Topeka, KS

Total Jobs: 40
Average Annual Salary: $60,400
Average Entry-Level Salary: $46,630
Location Quotient: 3.65

6. Los Angeles, CA

Total Jobs: 700
Average Annual Salary: $89,570
Average Entry-Level Salary: $56,200
Location Quotient: 1.67

7. Oakland, CA

Total Jobs: 260
Average Annual Salary: $78,590
Average Entry-Level Salary: $50,130
Location Quotient: 2.42

8. Reno, NV

Total Jobs: 30
Average Annual Salary: $75,680
Average Entry-Level Salary: $53,650
Location Quotient: 1.53

9. Stockton, CA

Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $74,840
Average Entry-Level Salary: $51,930
Location Quotient: 2.04

10. Sacramento, CA

Total Jobs: 110
Average Annual Salary: $87,500
Average Entry-Level Salary: $60,370
Location Quotient: 1.29

Our Top Cities for Forensic Investigators

For those starting their careers as forensic investigators, these cities should top your list. They offer competitive pay, abundant job opportunities, and potential for career advancement.

Conversely, here are the less favorable cities for forensic investigators:

  1. Montgomery County, PA
  2. Madison, WI
  3. Newark, NJ

Detailed List of the Best Cities for Forensic Investigators

Rank State Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Springfield, IL $92,290 $61,420 50
2 Akron, OH $63,960 $49,910 70
3 Las Vegas, NV $72,800 $53,020 190
4 Oxnard, CA $90,160 $51,730 60
5 Topeka, KS $60,400 $46,630 40
6 Los Angeles, CA $89,570 $56,200 700
7 Oakland, CA $78,590 $50,130 260
8 Reno, NV $75,680 $53,650 30
9 Stockton, CA $74,840 $51,930 50
10 Sacramento, CA $87,500 $60,370 110
11 Birmingham, AL $66,820 $42,090 70
12 Albany, NY $68,550 $48,270 130
13 Indianapolis, IN $60,640 $40,780 170
14 Columbus, OH $60,480 $44,290 150
15 Anaheim, CA $81,970 $48,050 240
16 Jackson, MS $52,980 $34,320 90
17 Tacoma, WA $65,380 $50,260 40
18 Lincoln, NE $56,070 $41,770 30
19 Springfield, MO $52,150 $40,440 30
20 San Diego, CA $76,340 $53,730 150
21 San Francisco, CA $84,210 $55,890 70
22 Phoenix, AZ $57,970 $36,340 570
23 San Jose, CA $75,510 $56,280 90
24 Portland, OR $65,130 $48,480 140
25 Riverside, CA $64,840 $44,060 240
26 Seattle, WA $66,330 $48,280 160
27 Miami, FL $62,400 $40,550 170
28 Denver, CO $62,950 $43,060 210
29 Jefferson City, MO $47,030 $31,970 70
30 Flagstaff, AZ $56,880 $33,120 40
31 Lake County, IL $72,080 $44,100 30
32 Salt Lake City, UT $52,440 $36,510 120
33 Chicago, IL $68,940 $43,460 330
34 Omaha, NE $52,400 $40,780 70
35 St. Louis, MO $78,400 $35,170 40
36 Boise City, ID $49,410 $33,160 50
37 Colorado Springs, CO $58,120 $42,860 40
38 Baton Rouge, LA $50,780 $32,700 100
39 Warren, MI $64,250 $41,360 30
40 Houston, TX $61,430 $38,480 160
41 Richmond, VA $62,230 $35,960 100
42 Kansas City, MO $45,880 $29,430 310
43 Philadelphia, PA $55,710 $39,920 100
44 West Palm Beach, FL $58,760 $38,470 80
45 Little Rock, AR $40,380 $29,590 130
46 Tucson, AZ $50,130 $31,550 120
47 Austin, TX $47,770 $33,350 170
48 Redding, CA $55,300 $33,670 30
49 Knoxville, TN $51,730 $33,270 50
50 Nashville, TN $45,630 $27,720 250
51 Fresno, CA $61,340 $35,970 60
52 New York, NY $66,010 $44,080 470
53 Fayetteville, NC $42,390 $32,730 30
54 Tampa, FL $47,980 $33,110 280
55 Fort Lauderdale, FL $51,590 $34,180 140
56 Pensacola, FL $41,610 $30,550 70
57 Bakersfield, CA $55,090 $40,180 40
58 Tallahassee, FL $40,270 $27,170 160
59 Oklahoma City, OK $57,870 $18,900 90
60 Wichita, KS $48,640 $34,250 30
61 Fort Worth, TX $52,750 $33,240 100
62 Baltimore, MD $59,230 $33,970 230
63 Raleigh, NC $46,820 $34,580 80
64 Lakeland, FL $44,300 $32,720 40
65 Minneapolis, MN $56,400 $38,560 40
66 Orlando, FL $45,210 $30,170 220
67 Dallas, TX $52,110 $33,540 150
68 Durham, NC $45,920 $35,400 30
69 Atlanta, GA $53,130 $32,540 160
70 Cape Coral, FL $42,390 $27,620 50
71 Virginia Beach, VA $54,470 $34,210 90
72 Jacksonville, FL $43,270 $31,890 110
73 El Paso, TX $39,900 $32,730 40
74 Charlotte, NC $47,720 $34,390 80
75 Corpus Christi, TX $35,890 $21,150 30
76 Grand Rapids, MI $49,420 $18,110 60
77 San Antonio, TX $45,090 $27,650 100
78 Newark, NJ $55,180 $32,370 40
79 Madison, WI $45,850 $27,580 40
80 Montgomery County, PA $37,410 $25,920 70
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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