Best cities for an operational security specialist
The best cities for operational security specialists are Kansas City, MO, Cleveland, OH, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for operational security specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for operational security specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an operational security specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for operational security specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for operational security specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an operational security specialist. While the absolute best city for operational security specialists is Kansas City, MO, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for operational security specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for an operational security specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for operational security specialists in 2026
1. Kansas City, MO
Total operational security specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $39,504 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 4.64 2. Cleveland, OH
Total operational security specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $35,676 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 2.48 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total operational security specialist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $41,173 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 10.45 4. Washington, DC
Total operational security specialist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $56,550 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 2.05 5. Boston, MA
Total operational security specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $53,227 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 1.93 6. Tulsa, OK
Total operational security specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $37,716 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 4.11 7. Philadelphia, PA
Total operational security specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $40,114 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Saint Paul, MN
Total operational security specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $41,182 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 3.08 9. San Jose, CA
Total operational security specialist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $46,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 3.33 10. Omaha, NE
Total operational security specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $40,599 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.85
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Best cities for operational security specialists
- Kansas City, MO
- Cleveland, OH
- Minneapolis, MN
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- Tulsa, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Saint Paul, MN
- San Jose, CA
- Omaha, NE
- (5 operational security specialist jobs)
- (2 operational security specialist jobs)
- (20 operational security specialist jobs)
- (6 operational security specialist jobs)
- (7 operational security specialist jobs)
- (2 operational security specialist jobs)
- (0 operational security specialist jobs)
- (3 operational security specialist jobs)
- (12 operational security specialist jobs)
- (2 operational security specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an operational security specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $39,504 | $31,000 | 481,420 | 5 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $35,676 | $25,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,173 | $33,000 | 413,651 | 20 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $56,550 | $36,000 | 681,170 | 6 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $53,227 | $33,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $37,716 | $28,000 | 403,090 | 2 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $40,114 | $25,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,182 | $33,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $46,434 | $31,000 | 1,025,350 | 12 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $40,599 | $32,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $38,270 | $30,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $41,385 | $28,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $41,343 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $41,316 | $28,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $45,143 | $36,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $46,540 | $31,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 17 | Anchorage, AK | $53,897 | $47,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $42,090 | $29,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,190 | $25,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $36,154 | $26,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,125 | $28,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $45,772 | $28,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | New York, NY | $45,272 | $28,000 | 8,537,673 | 15 |
| 24 | Islip, NY | $45,719 | $28,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 25 | Laredo, TX | $37,658 | $25,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 26 | San Antonio, TX | $37,201 | $25,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $45,531 | $28,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 28 | Hempstead, NY | $45,496 | $28,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $40,539 | $32,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 30 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,597 | $30,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $42,787 | $33,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 32 | Corpus Christi, TX | $37,313 | $25,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | $38,032 | $26,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 34 | Wichita, KS | $36,896 | $28,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $40,745 | $25,000 | 281,764 | 13 |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $34,695 | $25,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | Oakland, CA | $46,485 | $31,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 38 | Fremont, CA | $46,439 | $31,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,080 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $40,814 | $25,000 | 264,152 | 7 |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $37,963 | $26,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $46,226 | $31,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | Sacramento, CA | $46,167 | $31,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 44 | Austin, TX | $36,890 | $25,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 45 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,363 | $30,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $45,983 | $31,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $35,859 | $25,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,613 | $31,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 49 | Raleigh, NC | $35,576 | $25,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 50 | Houston, TX | $36,691 | $25,000 | 2,303,482 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for operational security specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. operational security specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $56,550 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $53,227 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,540 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $45,272 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $45,143 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,182 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $40,814 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $40,465 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,363 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $38,270 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,125 |
| 12 | Boulder, CO | $37,602 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $37,201 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $35,101 |
| 15 | Grove City, OH | $33,642 |
| 16 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $33,193 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $31,747 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $31,417 |











