Best cities for a hacker
The best cities for hackers are Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for hackers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for hackers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a hacker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for hackers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for hackers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a hacker. While the absolute best city for hackers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for hackers in 2024.
If you're looking for a hacker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for hackers in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $98,399 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,840 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Cleveland, OH
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Durham, NC
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,382 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Raleigh, NC
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Toledo, OH
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,748 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Columbus, OH
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $92,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Milwaukee, WI
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $93,631 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Greensboro, NC
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,527 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Cincinnati, OH
Total hacker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,984 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for hackers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cleveland, OH
- Durham, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Toledo, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Greensboro, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
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Detailed list of the best cities for a hacker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $98,399 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $95,840 | $62,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $94,064 | $61,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $95,382 | $62,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $95,198 | $62,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $92,748 | $60,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $92,198 | $60,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $93,631 | $61,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC | $94,527 | $61,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $88,984 | $58,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | $93,980 | $61,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $92,311 | $60,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $95,191 | $63,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $90,805 | $59,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,172 | $63,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $95,072 | $62,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $91,546 | $59,000 | 842,051 | 2 |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,128 | $63,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 19 | Mesa, AZ | $95,057 | $62,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 20 | Gilbert, AZ | $95,051 | $62,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $94,644 | $62,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 22 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,041 | $68,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 23 | Norfolk, VA | $103,978 | $68,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 24 | Lexington, KY | $85,345 | $55,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 25 | Chesapeake, VA | $103,698 | $68,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 26 | Baltimore, MD | $106,829 | $69,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | $84,347 | $55,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $90,705 | $59,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $84,435 | $55,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,491 | $58,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 31 | North Las Vegas, NV | $88,394 | $58,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $88,338 | $58,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $96,493 | $65,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 34 | San Francisco, CA | $104,742 | $69,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 35 | Chicago, IL | $92,335 | $60,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $79,744 | $52,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 37 | El Paso, TX | $86,634 | $57,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $97,939 | $63,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $97,895 | $63,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 40 | Indianapolis, IN | $81,831 | $53,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $98,865 | $64,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Albuquerque, NM | $85,408 | $56,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 43 | Islip, NY | $98,766 | $64,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 44 | Austin, TX | $84,469 | $55,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 45 | Memphis, TN | $78,276 | $51,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 46 | Oakland, CA | $104,637 | $69,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $85,194 | $56,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 48 | Oyster Bay, NY | $98,646 | $64,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $104,449 | $69,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 50 | Hempstead, NY | $98,585 | $64,000 | 759,757 | - |
Highest paying cities for hackers
| Rank | City | Avg. hacker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $104,742 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $98,450 |
| 3 | Morrisville, NC | $95,107 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $92,335 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $90,805 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $84,469 |
| 7 | Macon, GA | $83,889 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $79,525 |
| 9 | Palm Bay, FL | $78,431 |
| 10 | Maryland Heights, MO | $75,246 |
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Updated January 8, 2025