Best cities for a first officer
The best cities for first officers are Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Corpus Christi, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for first officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for first officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a first officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for first officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for first officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a first officer. While the absolute best city for first officers is Chicago, IL, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for first officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a first officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for first officers in 2026
1. Chicago, IL
Total first officer jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $101,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 5.73 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total first officer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $91,277 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.27 3. Corpus Christi, TX
Total first officer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $85,752 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 4.00 4. Cleveland, OH
Total first officer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $92,637 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.58 5. El Paso, TX
Total first officer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $86,038 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.60 6. Cincinnati, OH
Total first officer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $89,527 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.42 7. Houston, TX
Total first officer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $85,933 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 1.06 8. Anchorage, AK
Total first officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $89,596 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 5.41 9. Fort Worth, TX
Total first officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $84,766 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 1.10 10. Dallas, TX
Total first officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $84,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 1.19
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Best cities for first officers
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Cleveland, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Houston, TX
- Anchorage, AK
- Fort Worth, TX
- Dallas, TX
- (62 first officer jobs)
- (12 first officer jobs)
- (1 first officer jobs)
- (1 first officer jobs)
- (1 first officer jobs)
- (1 first officer jobs)
- (13 first officer jobs)
- (3 first officer jobs)
- (2 first officer jobs)
- (8 first officer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a first officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $101,068 | $66,000 | 2,704,958 | 62 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,277 | $61,000 | 1,567,872 | 12 |
| 3 | Corpus Christi, TX | $85,752 | $55,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $92,637 | $61,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $86,038 | $55,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $89,527 | $58,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $85,933 | $55,000 | 2,303,482 | 13 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $89,596 | $56,000 | 298,192 | 3 |
| 9 | Fort Worth, TX | $84,766 | $54,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $84,659 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $101,946 | $68,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $77,890 | $49,000 | 632,912 | 10 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $91,190 | $59,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,972 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 15 | Newark, NJ | $87,805 | $59,000 | 281,764 | 67 |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $90,962 | $59,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | New York, NY | $104,897 | $70,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $98,352 | $61,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 19 | Hempstead, NY | $104,933 | $71,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 20 | Islip, NY | $104,822 | $71,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 21 | Oyster Bay, NY | $104,760 | $70,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $86,089 | $55,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 23 | Brookhaven, NY | $104,620 | $70,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $86,171 | $55,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 25 | Orlando, FL | $76,939 | $51,000 | 277,173 | 10 |
| 26 | Laredo, TX | $85,774 | $55,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 27 | Fort Wayne, IN | $82,181 | $53,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 28 | San Francisco, CA | $92,638 | $59,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 29 | Lubbock, TX | $84,809 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 30 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,068 | $52,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 31 | Jacksonville, FL | $77,207 | $51,000 | 880,619 | 4 |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $84,759 | $54,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 33 | Irving, TX | $84,622 | $54,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,633 | $50,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 35 | Garland, TX | $84,507 | $54,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 36 | Plano, TX | $84,409 | $54,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $71,707 | $47,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 38 | Tucson, AZ | $78,721 | $50,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 39 | Glendale, AZ | $78,659 | $50,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 40 | Detroit, MI | $77,657 | $51,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $78,643 | $50,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $78,351 | $49,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $79,501 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $78,626 | $50,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $77,796 | $49,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Tampa, FL | $76,930 | $51,000 | 377,165 | 3 |
| 47 | Mesa, AZ | $78,601 | $50,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 48 | Henderson, NV | $77,786 | $49,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 49 | Sacramento, CA | $91,542 | $58,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 50 | Scottsdale, AZ | $78,563 | $50,000 | 246,645 | - |
Highest paying cities for first officers
| Rank | City | Avg. first officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | $101,946 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $101,068 |
| 3 | Tacoma, WA | $98,507 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $92,638 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $92,637 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,277 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $89,596 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $87,805 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $86,171 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $83,121 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $83,039 |
| 12 | Salisbury, MD | $81,897 |
| 13 | Saint George, UT | $79,795 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $79,146 |
| 15 | Des Moines, IA | $79,009 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $77,890 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $77,207 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $73,323 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $71,660 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,575 |
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Updated January 8, 2025