Best cities for a data architect
The best cities for data architects are Detroit, MI, Sacramento, CA, and Indianapolis, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for data architects vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for data architects in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a data architect or considering a move, this list of the best cities for data architects to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for data architects. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a data architect. While the absolute best city for data architects is Detroit, MI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for data architects in 2024.
If you're looking for a data architect job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for data architects in 2025
1. Detroit, MI
Total data architect jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $104,709 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 7.04 2. Sacramento, CA
Total data architect jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $138,458 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 4.03 3. Indianapolis, IN
Total data architect jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $103,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 4.38 4. Columbus, OH
Total data architect jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $98,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 4.90 5. Arlington, TX
Total data architect jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $102,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 7.00 6. Irving, TX
Total data architect jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $102,268 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 7.17 7. Nashville, TN
Total data architect jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $96,141 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 4.57 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total data architect jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $109,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 3.54 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total data architect jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $106,290 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 2.88 10. San Francisco, CA
Total data architect jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $140,382 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 2.21
Choose from 10+ customizable data architect resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use data architect resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your data architect resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for data architects
- Detroit, MI
- Sacramento, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Columbus, OH
- Arlington, TX
- Irving, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Phoenix, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- (62 data architect jobs)
- (35 data architect jobs)
- (72 data architect jobs)
- (91 data architect jobs)
- (14 data architect jobs)
- (118 data architect jobs)
- (50 data architect jobs)
- (92 data architect jobs)
- (58 data architect jobs)
- (92 data architect jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a data architect
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $104,709 | $77,000 | 672,795 | 62 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $138,458 | $99,000 | 495,234 | 35 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,776 | $77,000 | 855,164 | 72 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $98,699 | $73,000 | 860,090 | 91 |
| 5 | Arlington, TX | $102,431 | $75,000 | 392,772 | 14 |
| 6 | Irving, TX | $102,268 | $75,000 | 238,289 | 118 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $96,141 | $72,000 | 660,388 | 50 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,364 | $80,000 | 1,615,017 | 92 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,290 | $78,000 | 1,567,872 | 58 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $140,382 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 92 |
| 11 | Plano, TX | $102,002 | $75,000 | 286,057 | 73 |
| 12 | Chandler, AZ | $109,196 | $80,000 | 247,477 | 13 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $139,973 | $101,000 | 233,136 | 18 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $103,753 | $76,000 | 303,625 | 36 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $139,866 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | 62 |
| 16 | Gilbert, AZ | $109,149 | $79,000 | 237,133 | 3 |
| 17 | Glendale, AZ | $109,410 | $80,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $133,624 | $96,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $102,452 | $75,000 | 854,113 | 27 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $103,317 | $76,000 | 947,890 | 99 |
| 21 | Scottsdale, AZ | $109,257 | $80,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 22 | Dallas, TX | $102,301 | $75,000 | 1,317,929 | 99 |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | $99,772 | $74,000 | 458,880 | 49 |
| 24 | Memphis, TN | $95,781 | $71,000 | 652,717 | 24 |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $140,157 | $101,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC | $97,061 | $72,000 | 842,051 | 102 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,395 | $77,000 | 632,912 | 18 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $100,367 | $74,000 | 385,809 | 10 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $105,806 | $79,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 30 | Cincinnati, OH | $96,459 | $72,000 | 298,800 | 18 |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $93,320 | $70,000 | 252,551 | 35 |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $97,555 | $74,000 | 302,398 | 46 |
| 33 | Atlanta, GA | $97,050 | $72,000 | 472,522 | 183 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $110,881 | $80,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $126,561 | $92,000 | 3,976,322 | 81 |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,505 | $74,000 | 413,651 | 78 |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,200 | $82,000 | 264,152 | 55 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $138,957 | $100,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Boston, MA | $109,336 | $81,000 | 673,184 | 100 |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $102,575 | $75,000 | 2,303,482 | 88 |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $108,726 | $79,000 | 530,706 | 7 |
| 42 | Fresno, CA | $137,073 | $99,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 43 | Milwaukee, WI | $94,155 | $70,000 | 595,047 | 24 |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $93,630 | $69,000 | 638,367 | 28 |
| 45 | Lincoln, NE | $88,459 | $66,000 | 280,364 | 36 |
| 46 | Santa Ana, CA | $125,276 | $91,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 47 | Norfolk, VA | $105,651 | $78,000 | 245,115 | 11 |
| 48 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $96,160 | $70,000 | 260,999 | 12 |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $106,227 | $76,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $109,146 | $79,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for data architects
| Rank | City | Avg. data architect salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $140,382 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $111,335 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,200 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $109,992 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,364 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $109,336 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $109,206 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,290 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $105,605 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $104,709 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $104,614 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,776 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $103,317 |
| 14 | Hartford, CT | $101,756 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, NC | $99,993 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $98,699 |
| 17 | Tallahassee, FL | $97,800 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $97,567 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,505 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $97,099 |
Data architect best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for data architect jobs
Updated January 8, 2025