Best cities for a field investigator
The best cities for field investigators are Fort Wayne, IN, Cleveland, OH, and El Paso, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for field investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for field investigators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a field investigator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for field investigators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for field investigators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a field investigator. While the absolute best city for field investigators is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for field investigators in 2024.
If you're looking for a field investigator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for field investigators in 2026
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Total field investigator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $36,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 3.59 2. Cleveland, OH
Total field investigator jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 2.19 3. El Paso, TX
Total field investigator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $36,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 2.44 4. Sacramento, CA
Total field investigator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $54,145 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 1.00 5. Cincinnati, OH
Total field investigator jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $32,722 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 3.55 6. Long Beach, CA
Total field investigator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $47,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 1.14 7. Laredo, TX
Total field investigator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $35,110 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 4.70 8. Oakland, CA
Total field investigator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $54,539 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 0.73 9. Buffalo, NY
Total field investigator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $43,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 1.36 10. Indianapolis, IN
Total field investigator jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $35,311 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.06
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Best cities for field investigators
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Cleveland, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Long Beach, CA
- Laredo, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Buffalo, NY
- Indianapolis, IN
- (3 field investigator jobs)
- (5 field investigator jobs)
- (2 field investigator jobs)
- (3 field investigator jobs)
- (11 field investigator jobs)
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- (6 field investigator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a field investigator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,919 | $25,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $35,941 | $24,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $36,841 | $24,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $54,145 | $33,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,722 | $22,000 | 298,800 | 11 |
| 6 | Long Beach, CA | $47,859 | $30,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 7 | Laredo, TX | $35,110 | $23,000 | 257,156 | 1 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $54,539 | $33,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 9 | Buffalo, NY | $43,257 | $29,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,311 | $24,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $34,055 | $23,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $54,731 | $33,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $35,615 | $24,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $34,864 | $23,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,248 | $30,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $43,014 | $28,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $32,540 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,076 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $35,301 | $24,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 20 | Fremont, CA | $54,132 | $33,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $53,862 | $32,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $38,758 | $24,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 23 | Stockton, CA | $53,809 | $32,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $34,110 | $23,000 | 842,051 | 10 |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,274 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $51,816 | $31,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Anchorage, AK | $46,625 | $38,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $50,082 | $31,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $47,697 | $30,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 30 | Toledo, OH | $35,469 | $24,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $29,406 | $20,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $47,581 | $30,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 33 | Irvine, CA | $47,439 | $30,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 34 | Riverside, CA | $47,334 | $30,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 35 | Brookhaven, NY | $43,682 | $29,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $43,617 | $29,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Virginia Beach, VA | $33,889 | $23,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 38 | San Diego, CA | $46,154 | $29,000 | 1,406,630 | 1 |
| 39 | Oyster Bay, NY | $43,590 | $29,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $43,488 | $29,000 | 8,537,673 | 7 |
| 41 | Hempstead, NY | $43,536 | $29,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 42 | Kansas City, MO | $29,869 | $21,000 | 481,420 | 11 |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $29,227 | $20,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 44 | Chula Vista, CA | $45,980 | $29,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 45 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,167 | $22,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 46 | Dallas, TX | $33,629 | $22,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 47 | Durham, NC | $35,680 | $24,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 48 | North Las Vegas, NV | $35,028 | $22,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 49 | Winston-Salem, NC | $35,126 | $24,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 50 | Seattle, WA | $39,136 | $26,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for field investigators
| Rank | City | Avg. field investigator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $54,731 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $43,488 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $43,014 |
| 4 | Fort Lee, NJ | $39,859 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $39,136 |
| 6 | New Haven, CT | $38,919 |
| 7 | Columbia, MD | $37,083 |
| 8 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,919 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $36,767 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,076 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $35,941 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,660 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $34,864 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $34,110 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,274 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $32,747 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $32,540 |
| 18 | Fargo, ND | $32,182 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $31,495 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $31,305 |
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Updated January 8, 2025