Best cities for a specialist
The best cities for specialists are Corpus Christi, TX, Laredo, TX, and Hempstead, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a specialist. While the absolute best city for specialists is Corpus Christi, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for specialists in 2026
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Specialist jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal specialist jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $64,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 1.39 2. Laredo, TX
Specialist jobs in LaredoTotal specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $65,174 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 1.12 3. Hempstead, NY
Specialist jobs in HempsteadTotal specialist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $72,796 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 2.72 4. San Antonio, TX
Specialist jobs in San AntonioTotal specialist jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $64,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.89 5. El Paso, TX
Specialist jobs in El PasoTotal specialist jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $65,195 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.85 6. Riverside, CA
Specialist jobs in RiversideTotal specialist jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $65,605 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 3.45 7. San Francisco, CA
Specialist jobs in San FranciscoTotal specialist jobs: 207 Average annual salary: $68,663 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.08 8. Irvine, CA
Specialist jobs in IrvineTotal specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $65,750 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.42 9. Houston, TX
Specialist jobs in HoustonTotal specialist jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $64,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 0.76 10. Virginia Beach, VA
Specialist jobs in Virginia BeachTotal specialist jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $62,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 0.99
Choose from 10+ customizable specialist resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use specialist resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your specialist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for specialists
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Laredo, TX
- Hempstead, NY
- San Antonio, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Riverside, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Houston, TX
- Virginia Beach, VA
Detailed list of the best cities for a specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $64,980 | $34,000 | 325,733 | 21 |
| 2 | Laredo, TX | $65,174 | $34,000 | 257,156 | 11 |
| 3 | Hempstead, NY | $72,796 | $39,000 | 759,757 | 6 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $64,886 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 173 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $65,195 | $34,000 | 683,080 | 32 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $65,605 | $34,000 | 324,722 | 137 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $68,663 | $35,000 | 870,887 | 207 |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $65,750 | $34,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $64,443 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | 54 |
| 10 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,546 | $33,000 | 452,602 | 44 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $50,431 | $26,000 | 278,508 | 48 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $58,545 | $31,000 | 458,880 | 160 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $67,391 | $34,000 | 495,234 | 131 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $62,221 | $34,000 | 673,184 | 142 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,879 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 226 |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $57,253 | $30,000 | 287,027 | 44 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $62,299 | $32,000 | 854,113 | 79 |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $49,845 | $25,000 | 292,969 | 21 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $64,680 | $33,000 | 947,890 | 30 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,844 | $32,000 | 303,625 | 128 |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $50,222 | $26,000 | 245,255 | 54 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $67,348 | $34,000 | 522,053 | 30 |
| 23 | New York, NY | $72,662 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 136 |
| 24 | Washington, DC | $69,935 | $37,000 | 681,170 | 101 |
| 25 | Mesa, AZ | $48,978 | $25,000 | 484,587 | 38 |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC | $55,010 | $29,000 | 842,051 | 53 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,917 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 140 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $56,497 | $30,000 | 672,795 | 99 |
| 29 | Gilbert, AZ | $48,985 | $25,000 | 237,133 | 17 |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $62,035 | $32,000 | 1,317,929 | 235 |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $43,993 | $23,000 | 318,449 | 44 |
| 32 | Tucson, AZ | $48,963 | $25,000 | 530,706 | 73 |
| 33 | Newark, NJ | $73,618 | $40,000 | 281,764 | 44 |
| 34 | Anaheim, CA | $65,896 | $34,000 | 351,043 | 25 |
| 35 | Irving, TX | $61,971 | $32,000 | 238,289 | 150 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $59,759 | $32,000 | 2,704,958 | 157 |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,524 | $26,000 | 264,488 | 32 |
| 38 | Winston-Salem, NC | $56,644 | $30,000 | 242,203 | 21 |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $49,800 | $25,000 | 238,702 | 6 |
| 40 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,291 | $26,000 | 559,277 | 77 |
| 41 | Oklahoma City, OK | $42,591 | $23,000 | 638,367 | 145 |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $61,704 | $32,000 | 234,943 | 7 |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | $65,538 | $35,000 | 256,902 | 41 |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $66,250 | $34,000 | 3,976,322 | 111 |
| 45 | Norfolk, VA | $62,343 | $33,000 | 245,115 | 30 |
| 46 | Durham, NC | $58,486 | $31,000 | 263,016 | 62 |
| 47 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,714 | $24,000 | 855,164 | 218 |
| 48 | Madison, WI | $47,006 | $25,000 | 252,551 | 95 |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $62,974 | $33,000 | 252,506 | 9 |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $52,007 | $27,000 | 385,809 | 65 |
Highest paying cities for specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $73,692 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $72,662 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $69,935 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $68,663 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,879 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $64,886 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $62,221 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $62,022 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $59,759 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, NC | $58,632 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $55,221 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,265 |
| 13 | Albany, GA | $52,012 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,917 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $49,165 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,074 |
| 17 | Des Moines, WA | $48,690 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $47,570 |
| 19 | Madison, MS | $47,470 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $47,006 |
Specialist best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025