Best cities for a data analyst
The best cities for data analysts are San Francisco, CA, Detroit, MI, and Jersey City, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for data analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for data analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a data analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for data analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for data analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a data analyst. While the absolute best city for data analysts is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for data analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a data analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for data analysts in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Data analyst jobs in San FranciscoTotal data analyst jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $87,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 6.29 2. Detroit, MI
Data analyst jobs in DetroitTotal data analyst jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $70,301 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 4.19 3. Jersey City, NJ
Data analyst jobs in Jersey CityTotal data analyst jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $82,520 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 4.33 4. Charlotte, NC
Data analyst jobs in CharlotteTotal data analyst jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $72,712 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 4.16 5. Raleigh, NC
Data analyst jobs in RaleighTotal data analyst jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $73,797 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 3.04 6. Durham, NC
Data analyst jobs in DurhamTotal data analyst jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $73,805 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 2.95 7. Cincinnati, OH
Data analyst jobs in CincinnatiTotal data analyst jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $67,230 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 3.76 8. Philadelphia, PA
Data analyst jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal data analyst jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $69,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 3.74 9. Plano, TX
Data analyst jobs in PlanoTotal data analyst jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $69,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 5.86 10. Boston, MA
Data analyst jobs in BostonTotal data analyst jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $78,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 5.05
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Best cities for data analysts
- San Francisco, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Jersey City, NJ
- Charlotte, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Plano, TX
- Boston, MA
Detailed list of the best cities for a data analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $87,591 | $59,000 | 870,887 | 247 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $70,301 | $50,000 | 672,795 | 179 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,520 | $59,000 | 264,152 | 32 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $72,712 | $52,000 | 842,051 | 243 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $73,797 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 160 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $73,805 | $53,000 | 263,016 | 97 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $67,230 | $48,000 | 298,800 | 164 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,941 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 110 |
| 9 | Plano, TX | $69,499 | $49,000 | 286,057 | 133 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $78,717 | $56,000 | 673,184 | 218 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $70,911 | $49,000 | 947,890 | 195 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $87,370 | $59,000 | 420,005 | 75 |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $69,671 | $49,000 | 238,289 | 76 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $69,672 | $50,000 | 472,522 | 177 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $73,341 | $53,000 | 242,203 | 25 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $86,725 | $59,000 | 233,136 | 142 |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $87,362 | $59,000 | 495,234 | 130 |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $70,898 | $49,000 | 2,303,482 | 132 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $73,360 | $52,000 | 2,704,958 | 102 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $69,721 | $49,000 | 1,317,929 | 141 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $68,292 | $49,000 | 860,090 | 219 |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $67,069 | $48,000 | 252,551 | 147 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $81,246 | $54,000 | 704,352 | 169 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $69,075 | $49,000 | 385,809 | 56 |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $71,178 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 155 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,387 | $49,000 | 303,625 | 151 |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $82,722 | $59,000 | 681,170 | 16 |
| 28 | Newark, NJ | $82,476 | $59,000 | 281,764 | 57 |
| 29 | New York, NY | $77,671 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 173 |
| 30 | Norfolk, VA | $75,896 | $55,000 | 245,115 | 48 |
| 31 | Greensboro, NC | $73,502 | $53,000 | 287,027 | 24 |
| 32 | San Jose, CA | $86,249 | $58,000 | 1,025,350 | 156 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $68,461 | $49,000 | 278,508 | 14 |
| 34 | Buffalo, NY | $74,729 | $53,000 | 256,902 | 84 |
| 35 | Scottsdale, AZ | $64,808 | $45,000 | 246,645 | 97 |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $77,319 | $54,000 | 470,130 | 54 |
| 37 | Saint Louis, MO | $64,155 | $46,000 | 311,404 | 15 |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $61,465 | $44,000 | 660,388 | 157 |
| 39 | Baltimore, MD | $79,980 | $57,000 | 614,664 | 166 |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $69,754 | $49,000 | 854,113 | 55 |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $68,918 | $48,000 | 413,651 | 216 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $68,987 | $48,000 | 302,398 | 103 |
| 43 | Milwaukee, WI | $67,607 | $48,000 | 595,047 | 64 |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,517 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 45 | Memphis, TN | $60,399 | $43,000 | 652,717 | 101 |
| 46 | Irvine, CA | $77,072 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 168 |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $69,812 | $47,000 | 245,255 | 23 |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $70,911 | $49,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,617 | $43,000 | 855,164 | 202 |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $69,776 | $49,000 | 392,772 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for data analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. data analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $87,750 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $82,722 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,520 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $81,246 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $79,980 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $78,717 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $77,671 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $76,591 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $73,797 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $73,360 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $71,178 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $70,301 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,941 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $69,672 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $68,918 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $68,292 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $67,069 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $66,659 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,912 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $64,155 |
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Updated January 8, 2025