Best cities for a senior investigator
The best cities for senior investigators are Sacramento, CA, Fresno, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior investigators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior investigator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior investigators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior investigators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior investigator. While the absolute best city for senior investigators is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior investigators in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior investigator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior investigators in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total senior investigator jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $91,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 4.88 2. Fresno, CA
Total senior investigator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $86,893 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 4.04 3. Boston, MA
Total senior investigator jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $77,117 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 3.63 4. Portland, OR
Total senior investigator jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $83,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 1.99 5. Oakland, CA
Total senior investigator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $90,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 2.37 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total senior investigator jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $66,852 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 3.27 7. Washington, DC
Total senior investigator jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $80,762 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 5.30 8. Seattle, WA
Total senior investigator jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $92,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 1.34 9. Jersey City, NJ
Total senior investigator jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $72,656 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 4.13 10. Reno, NV
Total senior investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,731 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for senior investigators
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Boston, MA
- Portland, OR
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Washington, DC
- Seattle, WA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Reno, NV
- (9 senior investigator jobs)
- (2 senior investigator jobs)
- (23 senior investigator jobs)
- (6 senior investigator jobs)
- (2 senior investigator jobs)
- (14 senior investigator jobs)
- (27 senior investigator jobs)
- (10 senior investigator jobs)
- (12 senior investigator jobs)
- (0 senior investigator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior investigator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $91,171 | $51,000 | 495,234 | 9 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $86,893 | $48,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $77,117 | $46,000 | 673,184 | 23 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $83,885 | $48,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $90,902 | $51,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,852 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $80,762 | $45,000 | 681,170 | 27 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $92,073 | $52,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 9 | Jersey City, NJ | $72,656 | $42,000 | 264,152 | 12 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $82,731 | $46,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,303 | $41,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $94,330 | $53,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $77,946 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 56 |
| 14 | Newark, NJ | $72,648 | $42,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 15 | North Las Vegas, NV | $74,230 | $41,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $91,127 | $51,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $73,531 | $40,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $60,537 | $34,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $90,274 | $50,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $60,948 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $90,264 | $50,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $89,803 | $50,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $64,518 | $36,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,037 | $34,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $62,997 | $36,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $76,853 | $44,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,918 | $36,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $66,818 | $38,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 29 | Brookhaven, NY | $78,204 | $45,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 30 | Madison, WI | $59,398 | $35,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 31 | Islip, NY | $78,110 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $78,095 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Hempstead, NY | $77,993 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 34 | Denver, CO | $63,707 | $36,000 | 693,060 | 24 |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $82,753 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $68,767 | $59,000 | 351,792 | 6 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $62,053 | $36,000 | 2,704,958 | 23 |
| 38 | Milwaukee, WI | $61,418 | $36,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $76,990 | $44,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 40 | Anchorage, AK | $72,157 | $58,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $50,442 | $29,000 | 280,364 | 4 |
| 42 | Kansas City, MO | $50,378 | $29,000 | 481,420 | 12 |
| 43 | Saint Paul, MN | $52,878 | $32,000 | 302,398 | 16 |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $51,818 | $29,000 | 1,317,929 | 17 |
| 45 | Long Beach, CA | $75,855 | $43,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 46 | Anaheim, CA | $75,846 | $43,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | $75,792 | $43,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $61,754 | $35,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 49 | Santa Ana, CA | $75,573 | $43,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $75,355 | $43,000 | 266,122 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior investigators
| Rank | City | Avg. senior investigator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederick, MD | $93,941 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $92,489 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $91,127 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $83,885 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $80,762 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $77,946 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $77,117 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $72,656 |
| 9 | Reston, VA | $71,422 |
| 10 | Hartford, CT | $71,084 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,852 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $64,932 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $63,707 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $62,053 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,037 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $52,878 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $51,818 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $50,456 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $43,752 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $42,729 |
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Updated January 8, 2025