Best cities for an entrepreneur

The best cities for entrepreneurs are Islip, NY, Brookhaven, NY, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for entrepreneurs vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as an entrepreneur or considering a move, this list of the best cities for entrepreneurs to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for entrepreneurs. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an entrepreneur. While the absolute best city for entrepreneurs is Islip, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for entrepreneurs in 2024.

If you're looking for an entrepreneur job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for entrepreneurs in 2026

1. Islip, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$108,686
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$194,000
Location quotient:	0.00

2. Brookhaven, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$108,653
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$194,000
Location quotient:	0.00

3. New York, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	13
Average annual salary:	$108,513
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$195,000
Location quotient:	3.49

4. Hempstead, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$108,620
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$195,000
Location quotient:	0.00

5. Oyster Bay, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$108,590
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$194,000
Location quotient:	0.00

6. Detroit, MI

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$82,405
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$45,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$149,000
Location quotient:	0.00

7. Cleveland, OH

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$78,070
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$142,000
Location quotient:	0.00

8. Buffalo, NY

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$104,185
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$57,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$188,000
Location quotient:	0.00

9. Toledo, OH

Total entrepreneur jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$76,233
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$41,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$138,000
Location quotient:	0.00

10. Boston, MA

Total entrepreneur jobs:	93
Average annual salary:	$82,013
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$143,000
Location quotient:	114.18

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Best cities for entrepreneurs

Islip, NY
Brookhaven, NY
New York, NY
Hempstead, NY
Oyster Bay, NY
Detroit, MI
Cleveland, OH
Buffalo, NY
Toledo, OH
Boston, MA

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(13 entrepreneur jobs)
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(93 entrepreneur jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for an entrepreneur

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Islip, NY	$108,686	$60,000	335,543	-
2	Brookhaven, NY	$108,653	$60,000	486,040	-
3	New York, NY	$108,513	$60,000	8,537,673	13
4	Hempstead, NY	$108,620	$60,000	759,757	-
5	Oyster Bay, NY	$108,590	$60,000	293,214	-
6	Detroit, MI	$82,405	$45,000	672,795	-
7	Cleveland, OH	$78,070	$42,000	385,809	-
8	Buffalo, NY	$104,185	$57,000	256,902	-
9	Toledo, OH	$76,233	$41,000	278,508	-
10	Boston, MA	$82,013	$46,000	673,184	93
11	Columbus, OH	$75,208	$40,000	860,090	-
12	Milwaukee, WI	$74,698	$41,000	595,047	-
13	San Francisco, CA	$90,559	$45,000	870,887	8
14	Jersey City, NJ	$87,729	$48,000	264,152	-
15	Washington, DC	$98,492	$53,000	681,170	1
16	Newark, NJ	$87,693	$48,000	281,764	-
17	Chicago, IL	$79,527	$44,000	2,704,958	-
18	Cincinnati, OH	$71,031	$38,000	298,800	-
19	Seattle, WA	$82,917	$45,000	704,352	-
20	Madison, WI	$72,410	$40,000	252,551	-
21	Oakland, CA	$90,186	$45,000	420,005	-
22	Fremont, CA	$89,501	$44,000	233,136	-
23	Virginia Beach, VA	$81,543	$43,000	452,602	-
24	Sacramento, CA	$89,325	$44,000	495,234	-
25	Norfolk, VA	$81,406	$43,000	245,115	-
26	Chesapeake, VA	$81,088	$42,000	237,940	-
27	Philadelphia, PA	$65,464	$36,000	1,567,872	12
28	San Jose, CA	$89,091	$44,000	1,025,350	-
29	Stockton, CA	$88,722	$44,000	307,072	-
30	Durham, NC	$69,169	$36,000	263,016	-
31	Raleigh, NC	$69,069	$36,000	458,880	-
32	Fresno, CA	$85,195	$42,000	522,053	-
33	Memphis, TN	$57,912	$31,000	652,717	-
34	Greensboro, NC	$68,119	$35,000	287,027	-
35	Austin, TX	$60,430	$31,000	947,890	5
36	Winston-Salem, NC	$67,489	$35,000	242,203	-
37	Bakersfield, CA	$81,119	$40,000	376,380	-
38	Charlotte, NC	$64,475	$33,000	842,051	-
39	Anchorage, AK	$70,175	$42,000	298,192	-
40	Pittsburgh, PA	$62,881	$34,000	303,625	-
41	Los Angeles, CA	$76,030	$38,000	3,976,322	8
42	Saint Paul, MN	$66,101	$37,000	302,398	-
43	Houston, TX	$60,315	$31,000	2,303,482	-
44	Minneapolis, MN	$65,976	$37,000	413,651	-
45	San Antonio, TX	$60,308	$31,000	1,492,510	-
46	Baltimore, MD	$76,921	$41,000	614,664	-
47	Portland, OR	$68,461	$37,000	639,863	-
48	El Paso, TX	$60,287	$31,000	683,080	-
49	Nashville, TN	$59,924	$32,000	660,388	-
50	Riverside, CA	$74,334	$37,000	324,722	4

Highest paying cities for entrepreneurs

Rank	City	Avg. entrepreneur salary
1	New York, NY	$108,513
2	San Francisco, CA	$90,559
3	Newark, NJ	$87,693
4	Brockton, MA	$82,756
5	Renton, WA	$82,654
6	Lansing, MI	$80,921
7	Akron, OH	$78,031
8	Wilmington, DE	$77,778
9	Baltimore, MD	$76,921
10	Philadelphia, PA	$65,464
11	Concord, NC	$65,394
12	Alpharetta, GA	$62,676
13	Boulder, CO	$60,622
14	Austin, TX	$60,430
15	Indianapolis, IN	$54,787
16	Columbia, SC	$49,890
17	Jacksonville, FL	$45,828
18	Salt Lake City, UT	$43,769