Best cities for an investigative analyst
The best cities for investigative analysts are Garland, TX, Detroit, MI, and New Orleans, LA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for investigative analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for investigative analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an investigative analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for investigative analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for investigative analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an investigative analyst. While the absolute best city for investigative analysts is Garland, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for investigative analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for an investigative analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for investigative analysts in 2025
1. Garland, TX
Total investigative analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $117,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 16.47 2. Detroit, MI
Total investigative analyst jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $121,268 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 2.88 3. New Orleans, LA
Total investigative analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $149,517 Lowest 10 percent warn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 3.32 4. Austin, TX
Total investigative analyst jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $118,219 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 3.42 5. Saint Paul, MN
Total investigative analyst jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $117,030 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 8.72 6. Lincoln, NE
Total investigative analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $113,242 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 11.06 7. Albuquerque, NM
Total investigative analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $121,527 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 2.28 8. Omaha, NE
Total investigative analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $113,252 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 3.58 9. Urban Honolulu, HI
Total investigative analyst jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $146,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $125,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 4.86 10. Washington, DC
Total investigative analyst jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $141,578 Lowest 10 percent warn: $118,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 10.04
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Best cities for investigative analysts
- Garland, TX
- Detroit, MI
- New Orleans, LA
- Austin, TX
- Saint Paul, MN
- Lincoln, NE
- Albuquerque, NM
- Omaha, NE
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Washington, DC
- (2 investigative analyst jobs)
- (4 investigative analyst jobs)
- (2 investigative analyst jobs)
- (15 investigative analyst jobs)
- (11 investigative analyst jobs)
- (8 investigative analyst jobs)
- (2 investigative analyst jobs)
- (5 investigative analyst jobs)
- (4 investigative analyst jobs)
- (38 investigative analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an investigative analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garland, TX | $117,297 | $96,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $121,268 | $100,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $149,517 | $123,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $118,219 | $97,000 | 947,890 | 15 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $117,030 | $97,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | $113,242 | $94,000 | 280,364 | 8 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $121,527 | $100,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $113,252 | $94,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 9 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $146,386 | $125,000 | 351,792 | 4 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $141,578 | $118,000 | 681,170 | 38 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $112,796 | $94,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $131,609 | $109,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $122,542 | $103,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $119,952 | $98,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $139,526 | $116,000 | 614,664 | 5 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $118,844 | $97,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $102,351 | $85,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 18 | Laredo, TX | $118,801 | $97,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $113,867 | $94,000 | 481,420 | 4 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $124,114 | $101,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | Corpus Christi, TX | $118,618 | $97,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 22 | San Antonio, TX | $118,405 | $97,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 23 | Norfolk, VA | $116,545 | $97,000 | 245,115 | 3 |
| 24 | Anchorage, AK | $132,284 | $116,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $118,127 | $97,000 | 2,303,482 | 4 |
| 26 | Dallas, TX | $117,407 | $96,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 27 | Minneapolis, MN | $117,023 | $97,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $112,480 | $93,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,336 | $85,000 | 855,164 | 12 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $122,220 | $101,000 | 2,704,958 | 14 |
| 31 | Lubbock, TX | $117,874 | $97,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $111,914 | $92,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $119,898 | $98,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Henderson, NV | $119,773 | $98,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 35 | Virginia Beach, VA | $116,571 | $97,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $117,496 | $96,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 37 | Arlington, TX | $117,484 | $96,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $105,868 | $87,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $117,389 | $96,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 40 | Tucson, AZ | $111,497 | $91,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $102,624 | $85,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $117,239 | $96,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 43 | Sacramento, CA | $127,723 | $104,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 44 | Seattle, WA | $129,259 | $108,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $114,674 | $96,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $113,912 | $94,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 47 | Jacksonville, FL | $109,468 | $91,000 | 880,619 | 5 |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $100,094 | $83,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 49 | Louisville, KY | $99,861 | $82,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $102,170 | $84,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for investigative analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. investigative analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $141,578 |
| 2 | Annapolis, MD | $139,511 |
| 3 | Juneau, AK | $133,136 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $129,769 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $128,106 |
| 6 | Carson City, NV | $124,237 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $123,341 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $122,542 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $122,220 |
| 10 | Santa Fe, NM | $121,151 |
| 11 | Lansing, MI | $121,076 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $118,219 |
| 13 | Bismarck, ND | $117,248 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $117,030 |
| 15 | Providence, RI | $116,919 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $116,516 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $115,260 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $115,036 |
| 19 | Trenton, NJ | $114,708 |
| 20 | Jefferson City, MO | $113,949 |
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Updated January 8, 2025