Best cities for a principal business analyst
The best cities for principal business analysts are Durham, NC, Dallas, TX, and Plano, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal business analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal business analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal business analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal business analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal business analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal business analyst. While the absolute best city for principal business analysts is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal business analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal business analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal business analysts in 2026
1. Durham, NC
Total principal business analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $116,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 11.70 2. Dallas, TX
Total principal business analyst jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $117,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 11.82 3. Plano, TX
Total principal business analyst jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $116,897 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 15.06 4. Austin, TX
Total principal business analyst jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $117,810 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 7.97 5. Irving, TX
Total principal business analyst jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $117,199 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 8.68 6. Raleigh, NC
Total principal business analyst jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $116,936 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 5.84 7. Detroit, MI
Total principal business analyst jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $113,299 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 9.01 8. Madison, WI
Total principal business analyst jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $119,395 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 4.19 9. Boston, MA
Total principal business analyst jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $129,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 12.24 10. Houston, TX
Total principal business analyst jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $117,268 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 4.07
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Best cities for principal business analysts
- Durham, NC
- Dallas, TX
- Plano, TX
- Austin, TX
- Irving, TX
- Raleigh, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Madison, WI
- Boston, MA
- Houston, TX
- (5 principal business analyst jobs)
- (19 principal business analyst jobs)
- (13 principal business analyst jobs)
- (14 principal business analyst jobs)
- (9 principal business analyst jobs)
- (4 principal business analyst jobs)
- (5 principal business analyst jobs)
- (2 principal business analyst jobs)
- (23 principal business analyst jobs)
- (12 principal business analyst jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal business analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $116,905 | $87,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $117,225 | $85,000 | 1,317,929 | 19 |
| 3 | Plano, TX | $116,897 | $85,000 | 286,057 | 13 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $117,810 | $85,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 5 | Irving, TX | $117,199 | $85,000 | 238,289 | 9 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $116,936 | $87,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $113,299 | $82,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $119,395 | $87,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $129,133 | $95,000 | 673,184 | 23 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $117,268 | $85,000 | 2,303,482 | 12 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $142,447 | $102,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $143,821 | $105,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $142,294 | $102,000 | 870,887 | 18 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $115,871 | $86,000 | 842,051 | 5 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $120,132 | $87,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $120,286 | $87,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $119,624 | $88,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $111,784 | $83,000 | 472,522 | 66 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $117,503 | $85,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $117,438 | $85,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $117,397 | $85,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 22 | Lubbock, TX | $118,385 | $86,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $120,037 | $87,000 | 2,704,958 | 15 |
| 24 | Greensboro, NC | $116,570 | $86,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 25 | Garland, TX | $117,007 | $85,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 26 | Winston-Salem, NC | $116,389 | $86,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 27 | Jersey City, NJ | $125,264 | $92,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $107,802 | $78,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 29 | New Orleans, LA | $105,478 | $77,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 30 | Portland, OR | $116,814 | $85,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $115,948 | $83,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | Corpus Christi, TX | $115,962 | $84,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 33 | Memphis, TN | $102,267 | $75,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $124,405 | $104,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $119,598 | $88,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $107,342 | $78,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $102,473 | $76,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 38 | Oakland, CA | $142,126 | $102,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $141,753 | $102,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | Fremont, CA | $141,562 | $102,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 41 | Newark, NJ | $125,241 | $92,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $105,775 | $77,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,267 | $77,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | $141,110 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $129,246 | $94,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $105,192 | $77,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 47 | Fresno, CA | $138,580 | $99,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $105,652 | $78,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $102,495 | $75,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 50 | Fort Wayne, IN | $104,793 | $76,000 | 264,488 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal business analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. principal business analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $143,821 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $142,447 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $129,133 |
| 4 | Ridgefield, CT | $127,066 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $125,264 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $122,278 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $120,542 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $120,037 |
| 9 | Rochester, MN | $119,087 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $117,810 |
| 11 | Wilmington, DE | $117,711 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $116,905 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $116,814 |
| 14 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $116,675 |
| 15 | McLean, VA | $115,543 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $113,299 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $111,784 |
| 18 | Akron, OH | $107,635 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,159 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $98,106 |
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Updated January 8, 2025