Best cities for a policy analyst
The best cities for policy analysts are Boston, MA, Portland, OR, and Washington, DC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for policy analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for policy analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a policy analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for policy analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for policy analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a policy analyst. While the absolute best city for policy analysts is Boston, MA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for policy analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a policy analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for policy analysts in 2026
1. Boston, MA
Total policy analyst jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $85,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 2.06 2. Portland, OR
Total policy analyst jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $78,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 3.02 3. Washington, DC
Total policy analyst jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $87,636 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 20.11 4. Pittsburgh, PA
Total policy analyst jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $71,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 1.36 5. Saint Paul, MN
Total policy analyst jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $70,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 2.68 6. New York, NY
Total policy analyst jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $86,059 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 0.95 7. Raleigh, NC
Total policy analyst jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $67,908 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 2.63 8. Seattle, WA
Total policy analyst jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $91,000 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.73 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total policy analyst jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $74,346 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 0.64 10. Winston-Salem, NC
Total policy analyst jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $66,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 2.12
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Best cities for policy analysts
- Boston, MA
- Portland, OR
- Washington, DC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Saint Paul, MN
- New York, NY
- Raleigh, NC
- Seattle, WA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Winston-Salem, NC
- (43 policy analyst jobs)
- (30 policy analyst jobs)
- (82 policy analyst jobs)
- (12 policy analyst jobs)
- (15 policy analyst jobs)
- (91 policy analyst jobs)
- (20 policy analyst jobs)
- (18 policy analyst jobs)
- (9 policy analyst jobs)
- (3 policy analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a policy analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $85,324 | $62,000 | 673,184 | 43 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $78,032 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 30 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $87,636 | $62,000 | 681,170 | 82 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,322 | $51,000 | 303,625 | 12 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $70,642 | $52,000 | 302,398 | 15 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $86,059 | $62,000 | 8,537,673 | 91 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $67,908 | $48,000 | 458,880 | 20 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $91,000 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 18 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,346 | $53,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem, NC | $66,452 | $47,000 | 242,203 | 3 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $87,555 | $75,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $82,619 | $58,000 | 420,005 | 15 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,140 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,075 | $49,000 | 855,164 | 13 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $66,349 | $48,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $76,484 | $55,000 | 481,420 | 3 |
| 17 | Arlington, TX | $66,925 | $47,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 18 | Durham, NC | $67,877 | $48,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 19 | Fort Wayne, IN | $69,635 | $50,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $82,354 | $57,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 21 | Saint Louis, MO | $76,975 | $55,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,163 | $47,000 | 595,047 | 9 |
| 23 | Madison, WI | $63,369 | $46,000 | 252,551 | 16 |
| 24 | Baltimore, MD | $77,344 | $55,000 | 614,664 | 50 |
| 25 | Norfolk, VA | $79,932 | $56,000 | 245,115 | 1 |
| 26 | Brookhaven, NY | $86,602 | $62,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $74,200 | $53,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 28 | Islip, NY | $86,461 | $62,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 29 | San Francisco, CA | $82,757 | $58,000 | 870,887 | 23 |
| 30 | Oyster Bay, NY | $86,312 | $62,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 31 | Denver, CO | $73,039 | $52,000 | 693,060 | 36 |
| 32 | Hempstead, NY | $86,225 | $62,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $68,585 | $49,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 34 | Toledo, OH | $62,645 | $45,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 35 | Lincoln, NE | $60,867 | $44,000 | 280,364 | 13 |
| 36 | Greensboro, NC | $66,950 | $47,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 37 | Buffalo, NY | $83,582 | $60,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 38 | Glendale, AZ | $75,172 | $54,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 39 | Nashville, TN | $59,805 | $43,000 | 660,388 | 14 |
| 40 | Stockton, CA | $82,141 | $57,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 41 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,071 | $54,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $73,659 | $52,000 | 324,722 | 12 |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $70,609 | $52,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $74,928 | $54,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 45 | Austin, TX | $67,217 | $47,000 | 947,890 | 8 |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $61,569 | $44,000 | 860,090 | 13 |
| 47 | Mesa, AZ | $74,907 | $54,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 48 | New Orleans, LA | $60,660 | $42,000 | 391,495 | 6 |
| 49 | Gilbert, AZ | $74,888 | $54,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $81,523 | $58,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for policy analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. policy analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $91,000 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $87,636 |
| 3 | Albany, NY | $86,207 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $85,324 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $82,757 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $80,865 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $78,564 |
| 8 | Salem, OR | $78,304 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $77,344 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,140 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $73,039 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,322 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $70,642 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $69,271 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $67,908 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $67,217 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $63,369 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $62,117 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $61,569 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $60,867 |
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Updated January 8, 2025