Best cities for a compensation analyst
The best cities for compensation analysts are Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Newark, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for compensation analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for compensation analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a compensation analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for compensation analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for compensation analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a compensation analyst. While the absolute best city for compensation analysts is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for compensation analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a compensation analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for compensation analysts in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total compensation analyst jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $91,849 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 2.19 2. Sacramento, CA
Total compensation analyst jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $92,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 1.87 3. Newark, NJ
Total compensation analyst jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $79,401 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 2.57 4. Portland, OR
Total compensation analyst jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $79,071 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.76 5. Minneapolis, MN
Total compensation analyst jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $72,722 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.67 6. San Francisco, CA
Total compensation analyst jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $92,042 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 1.38 7. Saint Paul, MN
Total compensation analyst jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $72,737 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.56 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total compensation analyst jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $65,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 3.08 9. Arlington, TX
Total compensation analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $65,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 3.12 10. Detroit, MI
Total compensation analyst jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $67,794 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 1.56
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Best cities for compensation analysts
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Portland, OR
- Minneapolis, MN
- San Francisco, CA
- Saint Paul, MN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Detroit, MI
- (7 compensation analyst jobs)
- (13 compensation analyst jobs)
- (10 compensation analyst jobs)
- (20 compensation analyst jobs)
- (21 compensation analyst jobs)
- (46 compensation analyst jobs)
- (10 compensation analyst jobs)
- (17 compensation analyst jobs)
- (5 compensation analyst jobs)
- (11 compensation analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a compensation analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $91,849 | $63,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $92,878 | $64,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $79,401 | $56,000 | 281,764 | 10 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $79,071 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 20 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $72,722 | $54,000 | 413,651 | 21 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $92,042 | $64,000 | 870,887 | 46 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $72,737 | $54,000 | 302,398 | 10 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,295 | $47,000 | 854,113 | 17 |
| 9 | Arlington, TX | $65,266 | $47,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $67,794 | $49,000 | 672,795 | 11 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $67,655 | $48,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $91,111 | $63,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $88,356 | $63,000 | 704,352 | 24 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $74,446 | $64,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 15 | Chesapeake, VA | $72,830 | $52,000 | 237,940 | 4 |
| 16 | Irvine, CA | $80,587 | $58,000 | 266,122 | 14 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $75,668 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 25 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $64,046 | $46,000 | 458,880 | 15 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,252 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 12 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $65,444 | $47,000 | 947,890 | 22 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,216 | $58,000 | 3,976,322 | 26 |
| 22 | Toledo, OH | $56,264 | $40,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $76,900 | $52,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 24 | Buffalo, NY | $72,410 | $51,000 | 256,902 | 9 |
| 25 | San Jose, CA | $90,527 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | 13 |
| 26 | Denver, CO | $68,201 | $50,000 | 693,060 | 66 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $65,210 | $47,000 | 1,317,929 | 22 |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $65,455 | $47,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 29 | Jersey City, NJ | $79,484 | $56,000 | 264,152 | 7 |
| 30 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,058 | $45,000 | 638,367 | 7 |
| 31 | Stockton, CA | $91,531 | $63,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 32 | Lincoln, NE | $54,839 | $40,000 | 280,364 | 11 |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,956 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $65,087 | $46,000 | 2,303,482 | 39 |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $63,291 | $45,000 | 842,051 | 25 |
| 36 | Columbus, OH | $55,620 | $40,000 | 860,090 | 19 |
| 37 | Atlanta, GA | $65,552 | $47,000 | 472,522 | 34 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $57,057 | $42,000 | 252,551 | 12 |
| 39 | Fresno, CA | $87,573 | $61,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 40 | Anaheim, CA | $80,770 | $58,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $64,548 | $47,000 | 2,704,958 | 41 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $55,990 | $40,000 | 246,645 | 8 |
| 43 | Long Beach, CA | $80,882 | $58,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $65,763 | $47,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $67,593 | $48,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Henderson, NV | $67,299 | $48,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $65,222 | $47,000 | 238,289 | 8 |
| 48 | Plano, TX | $65,150 | $47,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,955 | $40,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $75,635 | $54,000 | 681,170 | 28 |
Highest paying cities for compensation analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. compensation analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $92,878 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $88,356 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $79,071 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $75,828 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $75,668 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $75,635 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $75,475 |
| 8 | McLean, VA | $74,047 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $72,737 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,252 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $70,432 |
| 12 | Dover, DE | $69,099 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $68,201 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $67,792 |
| 15 | Lansing, MI | $67,435 |
| 16 | Portland, ME | $67,325 |
| 17 | Bismarck, ND | $65,996 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $65,552 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $65,444 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $64,548 |
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Updated January 8, 2025