Best cities for an investigator

The best cities for investigators are Sacramento, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and Riverside, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for investigators in the U.S.

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

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

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

10 best cities for investigators in 2025

1. Sacramento, CA

Total investigator jobs:	23
Average annual salary:	$112,024
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$188,000
Location quotient:	2.36

Investigator jobs in Sacramento

2. Bakersfield, CA

Total investigator jobs:	4
Average annual salary:	$101,679
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$172,000
Location quotient:	1.89

3. Riverside, CA

Total investigator jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$95,084
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$160,000
Location quotient:	2.86

Investigator jobs in Riverside

4. Portland, OR

Total investigator jobs:	29
Average annual salary:	$85,226
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$52,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$139,000
Location quotient:	1.82

Investigator jobs in Portland

5. Raleigh, NC

Total investigator jobs:	18
Average annual salary:	$80,342
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$45,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$140,000
Location quotient:	1.48

Investigator jobs in Raleigh

6. Cleveland, OH

Total investigator jobs:	15
Average annual salary:	$71,372
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$120,000
Location quotient:	2.02

Investigator jobs in Cleveland

7. Washington, DC

Total investigator jobs:	60
Average annual salary:	$97,598
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$57,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$165,000
Location quotient:	2.23

Investigator jobs in Washington

8. Albuquerque, NM

Total investigator jobs:	14
Average annual salary:	$75,039
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$130,000
Location quotient:	2.24

Investigator jobs in Albuquerque

9. Seattle, WA

Total investigator jobs:	62
Average annual salary:	$85,833
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$52,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$139,000
Location quotient:	1.57

Investigator jobs in Seattle

10. Anchorage, AK

Total investigator jobs:	9
Average annual salary:	$75,941
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$99,000
Location quotient:	3.80

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Best cities for investigators

Sacramento, CA
Bakersfield, CA
Riverside, CA
Portland, OR
Raleigh, NC
Cleveland, OH
Washington, DC
Albuquerque, NM
Seattle, WA
Anchorage, AK

Detailed list of the best cities for an investigator

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Sacramento, CA	$112,024	$66,000	495,234	23
2	Bakersfield, CA	$101,679	$59,000	376,380	4
3	Riverside, CA	$95,084	$56,000	324,722	8
4	Portland, OR	$85,226	$52,000	639,863	29
5	Raleigh, NC	$80,342	$45,000	458,880	18
6	Cleveland, OH	$71,372	$42,000	385,809	15
7	Washington, DC	$97,598	$57,000	681,170	60
8	Albuquerque, NM	$75,039	$43,000	559,277	14
9	Seattle, WA	$85,833	$52,000	704,352	62
10	Anchorage, AK	$75,941	$58,000	298,192	9
11	Lubbock, TX	$71,476	$40,000	252,506	4
12	Stockton, CA	$110,853	$65,000	307,072	2
13	Memphis, TN	$66,364	$37,000	652,717	17
14	Reno, NV	$88,688	$52,000	245,255	4
15	Buffalo, NY	$77,863	$47,000	256,902	17
16	Las Vegas, NV	$79,609	$46,000	632,912	13
17	Los Angeles, CA	$96,174	$57,000	3,976,322	49
18	Baltimore, MD	$79,158	$47,000	614,664	63
19	Nashville, TN	$66,518	$37,000	660,388	18
20	Garland, TX	$66,503	$38,000	234,943	2
21	Toledo, OH	$69,798	$41,000	278,508	3
22	Lincoln, NE	$62,462	$36,000	280,364	17
23	Boston, MA	$69,578	$44,000	673,184	7
24	Columbus, OH	$67,454	$39,000	860,090	29
25	San Francisco, CA	$111,801	$66,000	870,887	20
26	Henderson, NV	$78,858	$45,000	292,969	1
27	Kansas City, MO	$63,762	$36,000	481,420	22
28	New Orleans, LA	$56,789	$32,000	391,495	24
29	Durham, NC	$80,719	$46,000	263,016	4
30	Santa Ana, CA	$94,948	$56,000	334,217	2
31	Saint Paul, MN	$67,345	$40,000	302,398	18
32	Austin, TX	$66,376	$38,000	947,890	53
33	Oakland, CA	$111,544	$66,000	420,005	-
34	Fremont, CA	$110,726	$65,000	233,136	-
35	San Jose, CA	$110,066	$65,000	1,025,350	6
36	Fresno, CA	$106,497	$62,000	522,053	1
37	San Diego, CA	$92,248	$54,000	1,406,630	30
38	Arlington, TX	$67,268	$38,000	392,772	3
39	Philadelphia, PA	$65,161	$39,000	1,567,872	28
40	Milwaukee, WI	$73,121	$43,000	595,047	8
41	Greensboro, NC	$79,349	$45,000	287,027	-
42	Chicago, IL	$75,510	$44,000	2,704,958	50
43	Dallas, TX	$66,867	$38,000	1,317,929	38
44	Wichita, KS	$66,122	$37,000	389,902	4
45	North Las Vegas, NV	$79,542	$45,000	238,702	-
46	Charlotte, NC	$73,687	$42,000	842,051	21
47	Irvine, CA	$94,733	$56,000	266,122	6
48	Madison, WI	$71,764	$42,000	252,551	7
49	Winston-Salem, NC	$78,461	$44,000	242,203	-
50	Tucson, AZ	$52,029	$30,000	530,706	23

Highest paying cities for investigators

Rank	City	Avg. investigator salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$111,801
2	Washington, DC	$97,598
3	Seattle, WA	$85,833
4	Portland, OR	$85,226
5	Raleigh, NC	$80,342
6	Providence, RI	$80,024
7	Baltimore, MD	$79,158
8	Albany, NY	$78,994
9	Salt Lake City, UT	$77,812
10	Chicago, IL	$75,510
11	Boston, MA	$69,578
12	Little Rock, AR	$68,847
13	Columbus, OH	$67,454
14	Minneapolis, MN	$67,289
15	Dallas, TX	$66,867
16	Philadelphia, PA	$65,161
17	Portland, ME	$64,169
18	Des Moines, IA	$64,113
19	Kansas City, MO	$63,762
20	Urban Honolulu, HI	$63,388