Best cities for a preparator
The best cities for preparators are Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, and Islip, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for preparators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for preparators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a preparator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for preparators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for preparators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a preparator. While the absolute best city for preparators is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for preparators in 2024.
If you're looking for a preparator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for preparators in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. New York, NY
Total preparator jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $81,626 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 1.31 3. Islip, NY
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oyster Bay, NY
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Brookhaven, NY
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,909 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Hempstead, NY
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,744 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Boston, MA
Total preparator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $60,234 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 1.33 9. Cleveland, OH
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,268 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. El Paso, TX
Total preparator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,445 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for preparators
- Philadelphia, PA
- New York, NY
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Brookhaven, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Boston, MA
- Cleveland, OH
- El Paso, TX
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Detailed list of the best cities for a preparator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,641 | $23,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 2 | New York, NY | $81,626 | $36,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 3 | Islip, NY | $81,885 | $36,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 4 | Oyster Bay, NY | $81,772 | $36,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 5 | Brookhaven, NY | $81,909 | $37,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 6 | Hempstead, NY | $81,744 | $36,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,830 | $21,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $60,234 | $27,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $44,268 | $21,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $44,445 | $21,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $77,305 | $35,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $52,389 | $23,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 13 | Fort Wayne, IN | $41,978 | $21,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $69,503 | $34,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $65,790 | $29,000 | 681,170 | 1 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $52,409 | $23,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $46,804 | $22,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 18 | Jersey City, NJ | $57,093 | $25,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $52,715 | $23,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 20 | Laredo, TX | $43,331 | $21,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $57,063 | $25,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $38,780 | $19,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $41,276 | $20,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 24 | Virginia Beach, VA | $49,213 | $22,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $52,366 | $23,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Norfolk, VA | $48,928 | $22,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,320 | $21,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 28 | Oakland, CA | $52,070 | $23,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $51,811 | $23,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | Riverside, CA | $50,639 | $23,000 | 324,722 | 6 |
| 31 | Chesapeake, VA | $48,337 | $22,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $40,550 | $19,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 33 | Austin, TX | $41,910 | $20,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,589 | $23,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 35 | San Antonio, TX | $42,676 | $20,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $51,382 | $23,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $42,652 | $20,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $51,148 | $23,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $51,108 | $23,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Irvine, CA | $51,016 | $23,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $40,619 | $19,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $50,636 | $23,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Houston, TX | $41,398 | $20,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 44 | San Diego, CA | $50,617 | $23,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 45 | Fresno, CA | $50,867 | $22,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $39,413 | $19,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $39,365 | $21,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,953 | $19,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $40,654 | $19,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $38,023 | $19,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for preparators
| Rank | City | Avg. preparator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $81,626 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $60,234 |
| 3 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $56,527 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $54,389 |
| 5 | Menlo Park, CA | $52,881 |
| 6 | Frederick, MD | $51,519 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $44,445 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $44,268 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids, MI | $43,568 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $41,052 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $40,550 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $39,082 |
| 13 | Lakeland, FL | $33,838 |
| 14 | Bozeman, MT | $29,021 |
| 15 | Kansas City, KS | $28,939 |
| 16 | Lebanon, TN | $28,854 |
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Updated January 8, 2025