Best cities for a business analyst
The best cities for business analysts are Pittsburgh, PA, Cincinnati, OH, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for business analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for business analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a business analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for business analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for business analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a business analyst. While the absolute best city for business analysts is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for business analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a business analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for business analysts in 2026
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Business analyst jobs in PittsburghTotal business analyst jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $72,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 12.03 2. Cincinnati, OH
Business analyst jobs in CincinnatiTotal business analyst jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $70,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 10.99 3. Columbus, OH
Business analyst jobs in ColumbusTotal business analyst jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $71,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 9.42 4. Fremont, CA
Business analyst jobs in FremontTotal business analyst jobs: 123 Average annual salary: $91,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 19.26 5. San Jose, CA
Business analyst jobs in San JoseTotal business analyst jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $91,768 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 10.55 6. Detroit, MI
Business analyst jobs in DetroitTotal business analyst jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $71,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 7.46 7. Madison, WI
Business analyst jobs in MadisonTotal business analyst jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $70,109 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 10.23 8. Jersey City, NJ
Business analyst jobs in Jersey CityTotal business analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $80,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 23.75 9. Durham, NC
Business analyst jobs in DurhamTotal business analyst jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $73,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 8.33 10. Newark, NJ
Business analyst jobs in NewarkTotal business analyst jobs: 186 Average annual salary: $80,613 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 12.83
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Best cities for business analysts
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Madison, WI
- Jersey City, NJ
- Durham, NC
- Newark, NJ
Detailed list of the best cities for a business analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,263 | $52,000 | 303,625 | 53 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $70,854 | $51,000 | 298,800 | 191 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $71,698 | $52,000 | 860,090 | 218 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $91,684 | $64,000 | 233,136 | 123 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $91,768 | $64,000 | 1,025,350 | 165 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $71,806 | $52,000 | 672,795 | 211 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $70,109 | $51,000 | 252,551 | 38 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $80,648 | $57,000 | 264,152 | 8 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $73,075 | $53,000 | 263,016 | 145 |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $80,613 | $57,000 | 281,764 | 186 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $71,753 | $52,000 | 842,051 | 139 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $88,529 | $63,000 | 704,352 | 138 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $72,279 | $52,000 | 385,809 | 246 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $91,920 | $64,000 | 870,887 | 27 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $91,686 | $64,000 | 420,005 | 198 |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $72,769 | $52,000 | 287,027 | 150 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $73,023 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 26 |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $72,005 | $51,000 | 246,645 | 254 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,972 | $53,000 | 1,567,872 | 48 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $72,499 | $53,000 | 413,651 | 228 |
| 21 | Nashville, TN | $66,429 | $48,000 | 660,388 | 117 |
| 22 | Louisville, KY | $68,840 | $50,000 | 597,337 | 140 |
| 23 | Fort Wayne, IN | $70,093 | $51,000 | 264,488 | 109 |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $84,636 | $59,000 | 334,217 | 157 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $72,617 | $52,000 | 242,203 | 87 |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $66,345 | $47,000 | 238,289 | 255 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,903 | $52,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $84,990 | $59,000 | 470,130 | 151 |
| 29 | Plano, TX | $66,322 | $47,000 | 286,057 | 129 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $72,961 | $53,000 | 2,704,958 | 122 |
| 31 | Norfolk, VA | $72,884 | $52,000 | 245,115 | 5 |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $84,408 | $59,000 | 266,122 | 186 |
| 33 | Indianapolis, IN | $69,422 | $50,000 | 855,164 | 164 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $66,586 | $47,000 | 2,303,482 | 212 |
| 35 | Sacramento, CA | $89,299 | $62,000 | 495,234 | 154 |
| 36 | Memphis, TN | $65,050 | $47,000 | 652,717 | 106 |
| 37 | New York, NY | $77,893 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 181 |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,092 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 55 |
| 39 | Reno, NV | $76,999 | $54,000 | 245,255 | 60 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $72,516 | $53,000 | 302,398 | 132 |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $67,129 | $47,000 | 947,890 | 55 |
| 42 | Portland, OR | $81,906 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 111 |
| 43 | North Las Vegas, NV | $74,658 | $52,000 | 238,702 | 7 |
| 44 | Toledo, OH | $71,812 | $52,000 | 278,508 | 16 |
| 45 | Henderson, NV | $74,612 | $52,000 | 292,969 | 18 |
| 46 | Milwaukee, WI | $70,364 | $51,000 | 595,047 | 31 |
| 47 | Dallas, TX | $66,336 | $47,000 | 1,317,929 | 65 |
| 48 | Chandler, AZ | $71,817 | $51,000 | 247,477 | 171 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $67,021 | $48,000 | 472,522 | 111 |
| 50 | San Antonio, TX | $67,138 | $47,000 | 1,492,510 | 121 |
Highest paying cities for business analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. business analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain View, CA | $91,966 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $88,529 |
| 3 | Washington, NJ | $81,060 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $77,893 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $76,558 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $76,558 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $73,976 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,972 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $73,886 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $72,961 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, NC | $72,704 |
| 12 | Bloomington, MN | $72,518 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $72,421 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,092 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $71,698 |
| 16 | Washington, MI | $71,680 |
| 17 | Richmond, IN | $69,804 |
| 18 | Bellevue, NE | $68,075 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,561 |
| 20 | Alpharetta, GA | $67,262 |











