Best cities for a master
The best cities for masters are El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, and Virginia Beach, VA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for masters vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for masters in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a master or considering a move, this list of the best cities for masters to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for masters. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a master. While the absolute best city for masters is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for masters in 2024.
If you're looking for a master job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for masters in 2025
1. El Paso, TX
Total master jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $89,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 2.75 2. Houston, TX
Total master jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $89,430 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 0.95 3. Virginia Beach, VA
Total master jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $97,002 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 0.85 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total master jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $81,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.74 5. Kansas City, MO
Total master jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $76,691 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 1.54 6. Chesapeake, VA
Total master jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $96,486 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 0.53 7. Louisville, KY
Total master jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $79,579 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 0.57 8. Memphis, TN
Total master jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $69,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.72 9. Norfolk, VA
Total master jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $96,678 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 0.39 10. Austin, TX
Total master jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $89,246 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 0.36
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Best cities for masters
- El Paso, TX
- Houston, TX
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Kansas City, MO
- Chesapeake, VA
- Louisville, KY
- Memphis, TN
- Norfolk, VA
- Austin, TX
- (11 master jobs)
- (75 master jobs)
- (4 master jobs)
- (25 master jobs)
- (23 master jobs)
- (1 master jobs)
- (7 master jobs)
- (10 master jobs)
- (2 master jobs)
- (17 master jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a master
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $89,463 | $47,000 | 683,080 | 11 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $89,430 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 75 |
| 3 | Virginia Beach, VA | $97,002 | $53,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,569 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | 25 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $76,691 | $42,000 | 481,420 | 23 |
| 6 | Chesapeake, VA | $96,486 | $53,000 | 237,940 | 1 |
| 7 | Louisville, KY | $79,579 | $43,000 | 597,337 | 7 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $69,607 | $38,000 | 652,717 | 10 |
| 9 | Norfolk, VA | $96,678 | $53,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $89,246 | $48,000 | 947,890 | 17 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,643 | $42,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $83,251 | $44,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $80,100 | $40,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 14 | Wichita, KS | $65,800 | $36,000 | 389,902 | 5 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $90,065 | $48,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $62,848 | $34,000 | 242,203 | 8 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $82,160 | $41,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $79,585 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 31 |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $85,579 | $45,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 20 | Tucson, AZ | $66,008 | $34,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $71,169 | $39,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 22 | Atlanta, GA | $79,605 | $44,000 | 472,522 | 26 |
| 23 | Newark, NJ | $93,558 | $51,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $64,861 | $35,000 | 458,880 | 12 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $71,124 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 11 |
| 26 | Fort Worth, TX | $85,560 | $45,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $66,023 | $34,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $85,400 | $45,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,969 | $36,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 30 | Lexington, KY | $81,239 | $44,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $74,461 | $40,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 32 | Scottsdale, AZ | $66,041 | $34,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $63,501 | $34,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,102 | $41,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $71,359 | $39,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 36 | Plano, TX | $84,879 | $45,000 | 286,057 | 5 |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | $82,367 | $41,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $61,536 | $33,000 | 446,970 | 10 |
| 39 | Laredo, TX | $91,094 | $49,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH | $67,324 | $36,000 | 298,800 | 5 |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $90,977 | $49,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Saint Louis, MO | $79,189 | $43,000 | 311,404 | 6 |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $75,549 | $41,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $85,639 | $45,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 45 | Irving, TX | $85,299 | $45,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 46 | Oakland, CA | $83,219 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | $59,004 | $32,000 | 403,090 | 8 |
| 48 | Irvine, CA | $76,319 | $39,000 | 266,122 | 12 |
| 49 | Garland, TX | $85,090 | $45,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,161 | $34,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for masters
| Rank | City | Avg. master salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $89,463 |
| 2 | Charleston, WV | $86,063 |
| 3 | Washington, MI | $83,546 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $83,472 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,569 |
| 6 | Worcester, MA | $80,156 |
| 7 | Alpharetta, GA | $79,702 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $76,691 |
| 9 | Tacoma, WA | $75,471 |
| 10 | Columbus, IN | $75,298 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $73,728 |
| 12 | Barberton, OH | $72,533 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $71,124 |
| 14 | Washington, UT | $68,883 |
| 15 | Hillsboro, OR | $67,702 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $67,617 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,161 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $66,027 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $64,861 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,078 |
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Updated January 8, 2025