Best cities for an intelligence analyst

The best cities for intelligence analysts are Columbus, OH, Sacramento, CA, and Washington, DC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for intelligence analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for intelligence analysts in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as an intelligence analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for intelligence analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for intelligence analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an intelligence analyst. While the absolute best city for intelligence analysts is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for intelligence analysts in 2024.

If you're looking for an intelligence analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for intelligence analysts in 2025

1. Columbus, OH

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	21
Average annual salary:	$77,370
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$102,000
Location quotient:	1.50

Intelligence analyst jobs in Columbus

2. Sacramento, CA

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$100,439
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$136,000
Location quotient:	1.22

Intelligence analyst jobs in Sacramento

3. Washington, DC

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	64
Average annual salary:	$98,455
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$132,000
Location quotient:	3.54

Intelligence analyst jobs in Washington

4. New Orleans, LA

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$85,861
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$64,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$114,000
Location quotient:	0.70

Intelligence analyst jobs in New Orleans

5. Toledo, OH

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$78,051
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$103,000
Location quotient:	0.72

6. San Francisco, CA

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$101,457
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$74,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$138,000
Location quotient:	0.80

Intelligence analyst jobs in San Francisco

7. Pittsburgh, PA

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	10
Average annual salary:	$72,296
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$54,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$96,000
Location quotient:	1.06

Intelligence analyst jobs in Pittsburgh

8. Baltimore, MD

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	10
Average annual salary:	$90,543
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$121,000
Location quotient:	1.04

Intelligence analyst jobs in Baltimore

9. Seattle, WA

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	14
Average annual salary:	$98,824
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$75,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$130,000
Location quotient:	0.53

Intelligence analyst jobs in Seattle

10. Phoenix, AZ

Total intelligence analyst jobs:	17
Average annual salary:	$76,515
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$104,000
Location quotient:	0.87

Intelligence analyst jobs in Phoenix

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Best cities for intelligence analysts

Columbus, OH
Sacramento, CA
Washington, DC
New Orleans, LA
Toledo, OH
San Francisco, CA
Pittsburgh, PA
Baltimore, MD
Seattle, WA
Phoenix, AZ

Detailed list of the best cities for an intelligence analyst

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Columbus, OH	$77,370	$58,000	860,090	21
2	Sacramento, CA	$100,439	$73,000	495,234	8
3	Washington, DC	$98,455	$73,000	681,170	64
4	New Orleans, LA	$85,861	$64,000	391,495	2
5	Toledo, OH	$78,051	$59,000	278,508	1
6	San Francisco, CA	$101,457	$74,000	870,887	25
7	Pittsburgh, PA	$72,296	$54,000	303,625	10
8	Baltimore, MD	$90,543	$67,000	614,664	10
9	Seattle, WA	$98,824	$75,000	704,352	14
10	Phoenix, AZ	$76,515	$56,000	1,615,017	17
11	Arlington, TX	$70,818	$53,000	392,772	4
12	Saint Paul, MN	$80,667	$62,000	302,398	5
13	Madison, WI	$80,767	$61,000	252,551	3
14	Lubbock, TX	$72,148	$53,000	252,506	1
15	Detroit, MI	$71,142	$53,000	672,795	6
16	Austin, TX	$71,603	$52,000	947,890	27
17	Milwaukee, WI	$80,982	$61,000	595,047	3
18	Fresno, CA	$98,543	$71,000	522,053	1
19	Reno, NV	$81,862	$60,000	245,255	1
20	Tucson, AZ	$75,350	$55,000	530,706	3
21	Philadelphia, PA	$74,211	$54,000	1,567,872	9
22	Cleveland, OH	$78,687	$59,000	385,809	-
23	San Jose, CA	$100,713	$73,000	1,025,350	9
24	Scottsdale, AZ	$76,463	$56,000	246,645	2
25	Fremont, CA	$100,954	$73,000	233,136	2
26	Los Angeles, CA	$92,235	$67,000	3,976,322	17
27	Portland, OR	$88,345	$66,000	639,863	4
28	Cincinnati, OH	$76,290	$58,000	298,800	-
29	Albuquerque, NM	$67,523	$50,000	559,277	8
30	Oakland, CA	$101,293	$74,000	420,005	-
31	Aurora, CO	$73,949	$55,000	361,710	29
32	San Antonio, TX	$71,779	$52,000	1,492,510	7
33	Stockton, CA	$100,602	$73,000	307,072	-
34	Las Vegas, NV	$78,517	$57,000	632,912	-
35	North Las Vegas, NV	$78,380	$57,000	238,702	-
36	Wichita, KS	$76,066	$57,000	389,902	-
37	Colorado Springs, CO	$73,827	$55,000	465,101	20
38	Fort Worth, TX	$70,870	$53,000	854,113	4
39	Henderson, NV	$78,176	$57,000	292,969	-
40	Kansas City, MO	$69,536	$52,000	481,420	7
41	Virginia Beach, VA	$78,071	$58,000	452,602	2
42	Long Beach, CA	$91,257	$66,000	470,130	1
43	Anchorage, AK	$79,373	$65,000	298,192	1
44	Minneapolis, MN	$80,679	$62,000	413,651	3
45	Denver, CO	$73,987	$55,000	693,060	31
46	Omaha, NE	$59,399	$45,000	446,970	10
47	Bakersfield, CA	$96,041	$70,000	376,380	-
48	Glendale, AZ	$76,546	$56,000	245,895	-
49	San Diego, CA	$88,490	$64,000	1,406,630	11
50	Saint Louis, MO	$69,597	$52,000	311,404	8

Highest paying cities for intelligence analysts

Rank	City	Avg. intelligence analyst salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$101,457
2	Seattle, WA	$98,824
3	Washington, DC	$98,455
4	Baltimore, MD	$90,543
5	Arlington, VA	$78,575
6	New York, NY	$78,168
7	Boston, MA	$77,394
8	Columbus, OH	$77,370
9	Phoenix, AZ	$76,515
10	Philadelphia, PA	$74,211
11	Westminster, CO	$74,054
12	Austin, TX	$71,603
13	Chicago, IL	$71,188
14	Columbia, MO	$69,565
15	Huntsville, AL	$66,232
16	Urban Honolulu, HI	$65,047
17	Columbia, SC	$60,878
18	Omaha, NE	$59,399
19	Charlotte, NC	$59,042
20	Atlanta, GA	$58,500