Best cities for an information scientist
The best cities for information scientists are Oakland, CA, Raleigh, NC, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for information scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for information scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an information scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for information scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for information scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an information scientist. While the absolute best city for information scientists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for information scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for an information scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for information scientists in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total information scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $105,777 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 179.15 2. Raleigh, NC
Total information scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $84,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 87.67 3. Fremont, CA
Total information scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $105,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 198.69 4. San Jose, CA
Total information scientist jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $104,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 314.30 5. Seattle, WA
Total information scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $99,951 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 47.32 6. Jersey City, NJ
Total information scientist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $91,681 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 347.33 7. Sacramento, CA
Total information scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $106,067 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 82.14 8. Charlotte, NC
Total information scientist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $81,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 125.19 9. San Francisco, CA
Total information scientist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $105,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 57.09 10. Portland, OR
Total information scientist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $104,668 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 33.53
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Best cities for information scientists
- Oakland, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Sacramento, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Portland, OR
- (3 information scientist jobs)
- (4 information scientist jobs)
- (7 information scientist jobs)
- (39 information scientist jobs)
- (7 information scientist jobs)
- (20 information scientist jobs)
- (3 information scientist jobs)
- (13 information scientist jobs)
- (10 information scientist jobs)
- (2 information scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an information scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $105,777 | $59,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 2 | Raleigh, NC | $84,732 | $48,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $105,352 | $59,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $104,999 | $58,000 | 1,025,350 | 39 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $99,951 | $54,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,681 | $54,000 | 264,152 | 20 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $106,067 | $59,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $81,883 | $46,000 | 842,051 | 13 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $105,898 | $59,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $104,668 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $87,993 | $48,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $84,971 | $48,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,297 | $48,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,568 | $45,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $84,404 | $48,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 16 | New York, NY | $90,104 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 93 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $105,467 | $58,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $84,078 | $47,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,663 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $91,792 | $54,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $94,034 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $82,119 | $45,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $103,041 | $57,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $82,041 | $45,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $81,630 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $74,685 | $42,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 27 | Newark, NJ | $91,584 | $54,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 28 | Memphis, TN | $72,793 | $41,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,310 | $42,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $71,885 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,993 | $56,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 32 | Brookhaven, NY | $91,128 | $54,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $90,863 | $54,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Plano, TX | $74,574 | $41,000 | 286,057 | 5 |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $73,639 | $43,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $90,619 | $54,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $90,413 | $54,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $72,134 | $42,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 39 | Austin, TX | $73,484 | $41,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 40 | Lubbock, TX | $77,109 | $43,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $77,046 | $43,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 42 | Long Beach, CA | $94,680 | $53,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 43 | Dallas, TX | $74,576 | $41,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 44 | Anaheim, CA | $94,642 | $53,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | $94,514 | $53,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $74,682 | $41,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 47 | Houston, TX | $72,549 | $41,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 48 | Santa Ana, CA | $94,319 | $53,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 49 | Buffalo, NY | $84,200 | $50,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 50 | Irving, TX | $74,660 | $41,000 | 238,289 | - |
Highest paying cities for information scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. information scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $106,067 |
| 2 | Hillsboro, OR | $105,303 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $99,951 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,681 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $91,663 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $90,104 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $85,395 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,297 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $81,883 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $80,227 |
| 11 | Rockville, MD | $76,763 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,310 |
| 13 | Oak Ridge, TN | $75,995 |
| 14 | Plano, TX | $74,574 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $69,985 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $68,730 |
| 17 | Waukesha, WI | $66,249 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $66,241 |
| 19 | Lakewood, CO | $63,819 |
| 20 | Alpharetta, GA | $63,086 |











