Best cities for a security specialist

The best cities for security specialists are Washington, DC, Norfolk, VA, and Anchorage, AK, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for security specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for security specialists in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a security specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for security specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for security specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a security specialist. While the absolute best city for security specialists is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for security specialists in 2024.

If you're looking for a security specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for security specialists in 2026

1. Washington, DC

Total security specialist jobs:	162
Average annual salary:	$93,095
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$184,000
Location quotient:	2.76

Security specialist jobs in Washington

2. Norfolk, VA

Total security specialist jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$77,954
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$159,000
Location quotient:	2.18

Security specialist jobs in Norfolk

3. Anchorage, AK

Total security specialist jobs:	9
Average annual salary:	$59,591
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$83,000
Location quotient:	1.75

Security specialist jobs in Anchorage

4. Baltimore, MD

Total security specialist jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$76,756
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$151,000
Location quotient:	0.80

Security specialist jobs in Baltimore

5. San Antonio, TX

Total security specialist jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$57,715
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$110,000
Location quotient:	0.84

Security specialist jobs in San Antonio

6. Buffalo, NY

Total security specialist jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$79,163
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$148,000
Location quotient:	0.77

Security specialist jobs in Buffalo

7. Cleveland, OH

Total security specialist jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$52,215
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$27,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$99,000
Location quotient:	1.24

Security specialist jobs in Cleveland

8. Austin, TX

Total security specialist jobs:	52
Average annual salary:	$57,414
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$109,000
Location quotient:	0.77

Security specialist jobs in Austin

9. Saint Louis, MO

Total security specialist jobs:	50
Average annual salary:	$50,869
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$28,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$90,000
Location quotient:	1.54

Security specialist jobs in Saint Louis

10. Albuquerque, NM

Total security specialist jobs:	26
Average annual salary:	$49,799
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$27,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$90,000
Location quotient:	1.92

Security specialist jobs in Albuquerque

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Best cities for security specialists

Washington, DC
Norfolk, VA
Anchorage, AK
Baltimore, MD
San Antonio, TX
Buffalo, NY
Cleveland, OH
Austin, TX
Saint Louis, MO
Albuquerque, NM

Detailed list of the best cities for a security specialist

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington, DC	$93,095	$46,000	681,170	162
2	Norfolk, VA	$77,954	$38,000	245,115	16
3	Anchorage, AK	$59,591	$42,000	298,192	9
4	Baltimore, MD	$76,756	$38,000	614,664	25
5	San Antonio, TX	$57,715	$30,000	1,492,510	25
6	Buffalo, NY	$79,163	$42,000	256,902	8
7	Cleveland, OH	$52,215	$27,000	385,809	20
8	Austin, TX	$57,414	$30,000	947,890	52
9	Saint Louis, MO	$50,869	$28,000	311,404	50
10	Albuquerque, NM	$49,799	$27,000	559,277	26
11	Nashville, TN	$44,127	$23,000	660,388	43
12	Arlington, TX	$55,265	$29,000	392,772	3
13	Anaheim, CA	$54,691	$29,000	351,043	13
14	Milwaukee, WI	$52,813	$29,000	595,047	13
15	Henderson, NV	$44,623	$24,000	292,969	14
16	Chula Vista, CA	$54,119	$29,000	267,172	4
17	Detroit, MI	$50,100	$26,000	672,795	20
18	New Orleans, LA	$50,531	$25,000	391,495	11
19	Philadelphia, PA	$65,040	$33,000	1,567,872	27
20	Reno, NV	$45,451	$25,000	245,255	18
21	New York, NY	$82,292	$43,000	8,537,673	141
22	Boston, MA	$68,070	$36,000	673,184	40
23	Raleigh, NC	$56,523	$28,000	458,880	13
24	Fort Worth, TX	$55,320	$29,000	854,113	8
25	Greensboro, NC	$55,263	$28,000	287,027	4
26	Riverside, CA	$54,673	$29,000	324,722	9
27	North Las Vegas, NV	$44,582	$24,000	238,702	2
28	Mesa, AZ	$43,214	$23,000	484,587	21
29	Newark, NJ	$62,161	$32,000	281,764	8
30	Pittsburgh, PA	$60,643	$31,000	303,625	12
31	Plano, TX	$54,518	$29,000	286,057	16
32	Dallas, TX	$55,019	$29,000	1,317,929	26
33	Irving, TX	$54,981	$29,000	238,289	17
34	Houston, TX	$56,978	$29,000	2,303,482	39
35	Indianapolis, IN	$44,061	$24,000	855,164	43
36	Los Angeles, CA	$54,879	$29,000	3,976,322	77
37	Wichita, KS	$45,498	$26,000	389,902	7
38	Chesapeake, VA	$77,253	$37,000	237,940	1
39	Kansas City, MO	$49,202	$28,000	481,420	14
40	Chicago, IL	$58,321	$32,000	2,704,958	54
41	Winston-Salem, NC	$54,605	$28,000	242,203	2
42	Seattle, WA	$47,176	$29,000	704,352	81
43	Brookhaven, NY	$82,616	$43,000	486,040	-
44	Islip, NY	$82,557	$43,000	335,543	-
45	Oyster Bay, NY	$82,480	$43,000	293,214	-
46	Fresno, CA	$56,797	$30,000	522,053	5
47	Hempstead, NY	$82,410	$43,000	759,757	-
48	Sacramento, CA	$57,617	$31,000	495,234	15
49	Lincoln, NE	$38,376	$22,000	280,364	26
50	Virginia Beach, VA	$78,235	$38,000	452,602	1

Highest paying cities for security specialists

Rank	City	Avg. security specialist salary
1	Washington, DC	$93,095
2	Arlington, VA	$83,178
3	New York, NY	$82,292
4	Boston, MA	$68,070
5	Philadelphia, PA	$65,040
6	Chicago, IL	$58,321
7	San Francisco, CA	$58,183
8	Austin, TX	$57,414
9	Raleigh, NC	$56,523
10	Portland, ME	$53,769
11	Saint Louis, MO	$50,869
12	Detroit, MI	$50,100
13	Atlanta, GA	$49,671
14	Minneapolis, MN	$48,203
15	Seattle, WA	$47,176
16	Columbus, OH	$46,608
17	Huntsville, AL	$46,097
18	Las Vegas, NV	$44,663
19	Indianapolis, IN	$44,061
20	Phoenix, AZ	$43,266