Best cities for a data specialist
The best cities for data specialists are San Antonio, TX, Atlanta, GA, and El Paso, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for data specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for data specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a data specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for data specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for data specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a data specialist. While the absolute best city for data specialists is San Antonio, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for data specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a data specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for data specialists in 2025
1. San Antonio, TX
Data specialist jobs in San AntonioTotal data specialist jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $78,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 2.97 2. Atlanta, GA
Data specialist jobs in AtlantaTotal data specialist jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $74,114 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.93 3. El Paso, TX
Data specialist jobs in El PasoTotal data specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $76,868 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 3.25 4. Newark, NJ
Data specialist jobs in NewarkTotal data specialist jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $83,269 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 5.45 5. Oklahoma City, OK
Data specialist jobs in Oklahoma CityTotal data specialist jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $75,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 2.71 6. Fort Worth, TX
Data specialist jobs in Fort WorthTotal data specialist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $75,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.40 7. Houston, TX
Data specialist jobs in HoustonTotal data specialist jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $78,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 2.21 8. Boston, MA
Data specialist jobs in BostonTotal data specialist jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $85,757 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.48 9. Nashville, TN
Data specialist jobs in NashvilleTotal data specialist jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $66,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 3.02 10. Columbus, OH
Data specialist jobs in ColumbusTotal data specialist jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $65,812 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 3.92
Choose from 10+ customizable data specialist resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use data specialist 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 specialist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for data specialists
- San Antonio, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- El Paso, TX
- Newark, NJ
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Fort Worth, TX
- Houston, TX
- Boston, MA
- Nashville, TN
- Columbus, OH
Detailed list of the best cities for a data specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio, TX | $78,640 | $47,000 | 1,492,510 | 33 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,114 | $45,000 | 472,522 | 137 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $76,868 | $46,000 | 683,080 | 7 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $83,269 | $51,000 | 281,764 | 24 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $75,560 | $44,000 | 638,367 | 21 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $75,733 | $45,000 | 854,113 | 15 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $78,349 | $47,000 | 2,303,482 | 94 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $85,757 | $54,000 | 673,184 | 67 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $66,881 | $40,000 | 660,388 | 30 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $65,812 | $39,000 | 860,090 | 66 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $76,977 | $45,000 | 2,704,958 | 96 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,104 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 31 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $79,689 | $47,000 | 672,795 | 13 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $78,194 | $47,000 | 947,890 | 46 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $75,688 | $45,000 | 1,317,929 | 43 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $69,405 | $42,000 | 458,880 | 33 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $66,031 | $40,000 | 842,051 | 95 |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $86,372 | $49,000 | 495,234 | 26 |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $75,770 | $45,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 20 | Irving, TX | $75,606 | $45,000 | 238,289 | 25 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,058 | $45,000 | 303,625 | 16 |
| 22 | Tulsa, OK | $73,636 | $43,000 | 403,090 | 6 |
| 23 | Mesa, AZ | $65,403 | $38,000 | 484,587 | 10 |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $67,028 | $40,000 | 377,165 | 45 |
| 25 | Memphis, TN | $66,370 | $39,000 | 652,717 | 16 |
| 26 | Phoenix, AZ | $65,472 | $38,000 | 1,615,017 | 71 |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | $86,911 | $50,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 28 | New York, NY | $83,991 | $52,000 | 8,537,673 | 230 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $86,334 | $49,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $84,877 | $49,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 31 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,360 | $51,000 | 264,152 | 17 |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $75,286 | $51,000 | 298,192 | 4 |
| 33 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,781 | $47,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 34 | Laredo, TX | $78,780 | $47,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 35 | Scottsdale, AZ | $65,437 | $38,000 | 246,645 | 8 |
| 36 | Louisville, KY | $63,262 | $37,000 | 597,337 | 13 |
| 37 | Saint Paul, MN | $63,058 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 25 |
| 38 | Norfolk, VA | $70,704 | $43,000 | 245,115 | 7 |
| 39 | Durham, NC | $69,294 | $42,000 | 263,016 | 9 |
| 40 | Cleveland, OH | $68,576 | $40,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 41 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $67,065 | $41,000 | 260,999 | 5 |
| 42 | San Francisco, CA | $87,041 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 50 |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | $79,437 | $47,000 | 256,902 | 6 |
| 44 | Garland, TX | $75,515 | $45,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 45 | Plano, TX | $75,378 | $44,000 | 286,057 | 9 |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH | $63,410 | $37,000 | 298,800 | 13 |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $56,784 | $33,000 | 252,551 | 24 |
| 48 | Lubbock, TX | $75,432 | $44,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $72,416 | $44,000 | 681,170 | 67 |
| 50 | Minneapolis, MN | $62,973 | $36,000 | 413,651 | 39 |
Highest paying cities for data specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. data specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $87,041 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $85,757 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $83,991 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,360 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,103 |
| 6 | Newark, DE | $78,748 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $78,640 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $76,977 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $76,271 |
| 10 | Columbus, GA | $75,002 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $72,692 |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $72,416 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $71,445 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $69,405 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $67,028 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $66,370 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $65,812 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $65,472 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $63,058 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $60,817 |
Data specialist best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
Search for data specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025