Best cities for an expert
The best cities for experts are Bakersfield, CA, Santa Ana, CA, and Anaheim, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for experts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for experts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an expert or considering a move, this list of the best cities for experts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for experts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an expert. While the absolute best city for experts is Bakersfield, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for experts in 2024.
If you're looking for an expert job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for experts in 2026
1. Bakersfield, CA
Expert jobs in BakersfieldTotal expert jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $124,944 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $260,000 Location quotient: 1.69 2. Santa Ana, CA
Expert jobs in Santa AnaTotal expert jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $120,604 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 2.21 3. Anaheim, CA
Expert jobs in AnaheimTotal expert jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $120,723 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 1.17 4. Sacramento, CA
Expert jobs in SacramentoTotal expert jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $131,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $274,000 Location quotient: 0.98 5. Oakland, CA
Expert jobs in OaklandTotal expert jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $133,687 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $277,000 Location quotient: 0.80 6. San Diego, CA
Expert jobs in San DiegoTotal expert jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $119,681 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.92 7. Raleigh, NC
Expert jobs in RaleighTotal expert jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $83,887 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 1.79 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Expert jobs in PittsburghTotal expert jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $94,435 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.87 9. Washington, DC
Expert jobs in WashingtonTotal expert jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $109,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 1.37 10. Fort Worth, TX
Expert jobs in Fort WorthTotal expert jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $78,009 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 2.00
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Best cities for experts
- Bakersfield, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Washington, DC
- Fort Worth, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for an expert
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $124,944 | $59,000 | 376,380 | 9 |
| 2 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,604 | $58,000 | 334,217 | 13 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $120,723 | $58,000 | 351,043 | 7 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $131,295 | $62,000 | 495,234 | 24 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $133,687 | $64,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $119,681 | $57,000 | 1,406,630 | 66 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $83,887 | $47,000 | 458,880 | 55 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,435 | $56,000 | 303,625 | 31 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $109,011 | $65,000 | 681,170 | 93 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $78,009 | $37,000 | 854,113 | 39 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,771 | $58,000 | 3,976,322 | 61 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $98,011 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 65 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $84,770 | $40,000 | 947,890 | 64 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $80,370 | $38,000 | 245,255 | 10 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | $134,147 | $64,000 | 870,887 | 59 |
| 16 | Chula Vista, CA | $119,733 | $57,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $109,032 | $54,000 | 704,352 | 57 |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,330 | $35,000 | 632,912 | 33 |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $75,041 | $35,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $70,385 | $37,000 | 660,388 | 36 |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $85,668 | $41,000 | 1,492,510 | 24 |
| 22 | Fort Wayne, IN | $75,197 | $43,000 | 264,488 | 7 |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $128,097 | $61,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 24 | Columbus, OH | $77,489 | $44,000 | 860,090 | 41 |
| 25 | Garland, TX | $76,558 | $37,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $78,741 | $47,000 | 385,809 | 13 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $77,328 | $37,000 | 1,317,929 | 59 |
| 28 | Toledo, OH | $77,647 | $45,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 29 | Buffalo, NY | $108,044 | $65,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 30 | New York, NY | $112,187 | $69,000 | 8,537,673 | 202 |
| 31 | Winston-Salem, NC | $82,572 | $46,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,545 | $59,000 | 1,567,872 | 24 |
| 33 | Saint Louis, MO | $80,469 | $42,000 | 311,404 | 29 |
| 34 | Norfolk, VA | $86,365 | $51,000 | 245,115 | 7 |
| 35 | San Jose, CA | $133,021 | $64,000 | 1,025,350 | 20 |
| 36 | Portland, OR | $103,930 | $51,000 | 639,863 | 21 |
| 37 | Fremont, CA | $133,206 | $64,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 38 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $97,578 | $50,000 | 351,792 | 16 |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $80,366 | $44,000 | 842,051 | 45 |
| 40 | Lincoln, NE | $68,653 | $35,000 | 280,364 | 15 |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $87,532 | $49,000 | 2,704,958 | 73 |
| 42 | Atlanta, GA | $76,600 | $40,000 | 472,522 | 90 |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $86,759 | $41,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 44 | Houston, TX | $83,990 | $40,000 | 2,303,482 | 73 |
| 45 | Plano, TX | $76,189 | $37,000 | 286,057 | 28 |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,509 | $40,000 | 855,164 | 34 |
| 47 | Miami, FL | $69,039 | $35,000 | 453,579 | 47 |
| 48 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,585 | $36,000 | 246,645 | 11 |
| 49 | Stockton, CA | $131,538 | $63,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $120,405 | $57,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
Highest paying cities for experts
| Rank | City | Avg. expert salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $134,147 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $112,187 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $109,032 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $109,011 |
| 5 | Beaverton, OR | $104,337 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $98,011 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,545 |
| 8 | Bridgewater, NJ | $92,624 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $87,532 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $87,079 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $84,770 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $83,887 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $81,141 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $80,469 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $78,741 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $77,094 |
| 17 | Baltimore, MD | $76,876 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,858 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, AR | $75,660 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,330 |
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Updated January 8, 2025