Best cities for a criminalist
The best cities for criminalists are Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for criminalists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for criminalists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a criminalist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for criminalists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for criminalists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a criminalist. While the absolute best city for criminalists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for criminalists in 2024.
If you're looking for a criminalist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for criminalists in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $112,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 39.81 2. Sacramento, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $110,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 36.51 3. Cleveland, OH
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,507 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Anchorage, AK
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $124,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Long Beach, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $105,576 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 62.32 6. San Francisco, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $112,541 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fremont, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,922 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Reno, NV
Total criminalist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $87,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 25.27 9. San Jose, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,784 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Stockton, CA
Total criminalist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $110,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for criminalists
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Anchorage, AK
- Long Beach, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Reno, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- (2 criminalist jobs)
- (4 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
- (2 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
- (1 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
- (0 criminalist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a criminalist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $112,266 | $59,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $110,999 | $58,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $85,507 | $49,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $124,685 | $75,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 5 | Long Beach, CA | $105,576 | $55,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $112,541 | $59,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $111,922 | $58,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $87,562 | $46,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $111,784 | $58,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $110,999 | $58,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $81,406 | $46,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $106,185 | $55,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $87,471 | $50,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 14 | Lincoln, NE | $86,561 | $49,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $85,378 | $44,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $82,798 | $47,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $109,316 | $57,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $85,233 | $44,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 19 | North Las Vegas, NV | $85,164 | $44,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $108,422 | $56,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $105,412 | $55,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 22 | Santa Ana, CA | $105,235 | $55,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 23 | Irvine, CA | $105,046 | $55,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 24 | Riverside, CA | $105,042 | $55,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 25 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,778 | $44,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,741 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 27 | San Diego, CA | $103,169 | $54,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 28 | New Orleans, LA | $74,252 | $39,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $72,556 | $38,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 30 | Chula Vista, CA | $102,839 | $53,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $88,603 | $49,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $75,951 | $40,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,792 | $39,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 34 | Houston, TX | $71,967 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 35 | Lexington, KY | $76,063 | $42,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 36 | Lubbock, TX | $73,055 | $39,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $73,022 | $39,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 38 | Louisville, KY | $75,145 | $42,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,597 | $43,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $71,904 | $39,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $71,842 | $39,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 42 | Baltimore, MD | $86,974 | $49,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 43 | Garland, TX | $71,308 | $38,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $72,932 | $38,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $71,608 | $39,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,880 | $38,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $71,580 | $39,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 48 | Plano, TX | $71,154 | $38,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 49 | Scottsdale, AZ | $72,766 | $38,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,175 | $46,000 | 264,152 | - |
Highest paying cities for criminalists
| Rank | City | Avg. criminalist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo, CA | $112,402 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $87,562 |
| 3 | Columbia, SC | $72,026 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $71,957 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $71,803 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $64,316 |
| 7 | Ankeny, IA | $63,752 |
| 8 | Hilo, HI | $60,925 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $57,306 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $50,885 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,908 |
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Updated January 8, 2025