Best cities for a principal analyst
The best cities for principal analysts are San Francisco, CA, Durham, NC, and Chandler, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal analyst. While the absolute best city for principal analysts is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal analysts in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total principal analyst jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $145,142 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 3.40 2. Durham, NC
Total principal analyst jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $108,937 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 4.05 3. Chandler, AZ
Total principal analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $111,252 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 5.53 4. Seattle, WA
Total principal analyst jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $138,773 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.82 5. Raleigh, NC
Total principal analyst jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $109,146 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 2.53 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total principal analyst jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $105,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 4.99 7. Albuquerque, NM
Total principal analyst jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $114,856 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 2.47 8. Houston, TX
Total principal analyst jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $109,196 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 3.03 9. Columbus, OH
Total principal analyst jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $103,777 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 2.46 10. San Jose, CA
Total principal analyst jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $144,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.24
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Best cities for principal analysts
- San Francisco, CA
- Durham, NC
- Chandler, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Raleigh, NC
- Philadelphia, PA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Houston, TX
- Columbus, OH
- San Jose, CA
- (31 principal analyst jobs)
- (6 principal analyst jobs)
- (5 principal analyst jobs)
- (14 principal analyst jobs)
- (6 principal analyst jobs)
- (22 principal analyst jobs)
- (3 principal analyst jobs)
- (31 principal analyst jobs)
- (10 principal analyst jobs)
- (8 principal analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $145,142 | $105,000 | 870,887 | 31 |
| 2 | Durham, NC | $108,937 | $81,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 3 | Chandler, AZ | $111,252 | $81,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $138,773 | $102,000 | 704,352 | 14 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $109,146 | $81,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,011 | $77,000 | 1,567,872 | 22 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $114,856 | $84,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $109,196 | $79,000 | 2,303,482 | 31 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $103,777 | $76,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $144,717 | $104,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $122,860 | $90,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $124,382 | $90,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $105,166 | $77,000 | 1,317,929 | 27 |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $117,352 | $86,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $122,472 | $88,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 16 | Louisville, KY | $116,430 | $86,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $143,247 | $103,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $122,210 | $88,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,832 | $95,000 | 3,976,322 | 33 |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $101,967 | $75,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $130,081 | $94,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $109,371 | $79,000 | 947,890 | 9 |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $144,982 | $105,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $121,463 | $87,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $144,819 | $105,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Atlanta, GA | $102,195 | $75,000 | 472,522 | 94 |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $109,803 | $80,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $129,601 | $94,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | $144,086 | $104,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 30 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,443 | $81,000 | 264,152 | 25 |
| 31 | Cleveland, OH | $105,133 | $78,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 32 | Toledo, OH | $103,884 | $77,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $110,694 | $81,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $95,639 | $71,000 | 672,795 | 9 |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $142,707 | $103,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | Laredo, TX | $109,815 | $79,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 37 | Lincoln, NE | $95,933 | $71,000 | 280,364 | 5 |
| 38 | Boston, MA | $109,209 | $82,000 | 673,184 | 65 |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $107,170 | $79,000 | 2,704,958 | 34 |
| 40 | Phoenix, AZ | $111,582 | $81,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $109,546 | $79,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Bakersfield, CA | $139,102 | $100,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 43 | Norfolk, VA | $106,718 | $79,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $129,179 | $94,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $111,626 | $81,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $97,142 | $72,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $93,536 | $68,000 | 391,495 | 22 |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $107,424 | $79,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 49 | Scottsdale, AZ | $111,491 | $81,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 50 | Greensboro, NC | $107,933 | $80,000 | 287,027 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. principal analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $145,142 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $138,773 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $122,860 |
| 4 | Wallingford, CT | $111,214 |
| 5 | Woodbridge, NJ | $109,459 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $109,371 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $109,209 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $107,736 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $107,170 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $106,589 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $105,014 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,011 |
| 13 | Annapolis, MD | $104,847 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $103,777 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $102,195 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $101,427 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $98,513 |
| 18 | Boca Raton, FL | $97,668 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,913 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $94,389 |
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Updated January 8, 2025