Best cities for a help desk specialist
The best cities for help desk specialists are Anchorage, AK, Fort Wayne, IN, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for help desk specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for help desk specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a help desk specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for help desk specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for help desk specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a help desk specialist. While the absolute best city for help desk specialists is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for help desk specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a help desk specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for help desk specialists in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Total help desk specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $70,342 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 1.40 2. Fort Wayne, IN
Total help desk specialist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $48,973 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 2.43 3. Toledo, OH
Total help desk specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $56,774 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.79 4. Washington, DC
Total help desk specialist jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $66,254 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 2.51 5. Detroit, MI
Total help desk specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $56,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.84 6. Cincinnati, OH
Total help desk specialist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $49,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 1.31 7. Oakland, CA
Total help desk specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $64,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 1.11 8. Newark, NJ
Total help desk specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $66,986 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 0.91 9. Boston, MA
Total help desk specialist jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $59,822 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 1.04 10. Urban Honolulu, HI
Total help desk specialist jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $63,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 2.54
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Best cities for help desk specialists
- Anchorage, AK
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Toledo, OH
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
- Cincinnati, OH
- Oakland, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Boston, MA
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- (2 help desk specialist jobs)
- (4 help desk specialist jobs)
- (1 help desk specialist jobs)
- (41 help desk specialist jobs)
- (5 help desk specialist jobs)
- (8 help desk specialist jobs)
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- (9 help desk specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a help desk specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $70,342 | $59,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 2 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,973 | $32,000 | 264,488 | 4 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $56,774 | $37,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $66,254 | $43,000 | 681,170 | 41 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $56,073 | $37,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,824 | $34,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $64,876 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $66,986 | $44,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $59,822 | $41,000 | 673,184 | 21 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,648 | $52,000 | 351,792 | 9 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $69,219 | $46,000 | 8,537,673 | 58 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,297 | $34,000 | 559,277 | 6 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $47,251 | $32,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $46,383 | $31,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $58,312 | $38,000 | 614,664 | 12 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $63,506 | $43,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $67,290 | $45,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $53,999 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 19 | Virginia Beach, VA | $49,602 | $32,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,507 | $37,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 21 | San Francisco, CA | $65,012 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 15 |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,241 | $36,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $42,161 | $29,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $69,470 | $46,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,375 | $31,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 26 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,237 | $31,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 27 | Islip, NY | $69,416 | $46,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $58,630 | $39,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 29 | Oyster Bay, NY | $69,339 | $46,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 30 | Chesapeake, VA | $48,945 | $32,000 | 237,940 | 1 |
| 31 | Hempstead, NY | $69,302 | $46,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $40,250 | $28,000 | 252,506 | 6 |
| 33 | Saint Paul, MN | $54,280 | $36,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 34 | Seattle, WA | $65,094 | $45,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 35 | Sacramento, CA | $64,975 | $42,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $53,952 | $36,000 | 2,704,958 | 13 |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,828 | $35,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $48,265 | $32,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 39 | Norfolk, VA | $49,444 | $32,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,281 | $37,000 | 3,976,322 | 19 |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $55,872 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,582 | $32,000 | 1,615,017 | 10 |
| 43 | Jersey City, NJ | $67,012 | $44,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $38,595 | $27,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $44,402 | $30,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO | $45,109 | $31,000 | 465,101 | 7 |
| 47 | Stockton, CA | $64,540 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 48 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,835 | $33,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 49 | San Jose, CA | $64,102 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 50 | Fremont, CA | $64,444 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
Highest paying cities for help desk specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. help desk specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $69,219 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $66,254 |
| 3 | Fairfield, CA | $65,143 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $65,094 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $63,506 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $59,822 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $58,312 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,507 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $56,073 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,241 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $53,999 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $53,952 |
| 13 | Arlington, VA | $52,487 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,297 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,582 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $46,383 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $46,086 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,237 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $44,402 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $42,812 |
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Updated January 8, 2025