Best cities for a student athlete
The best cities for student athletes are Brookhaven, NY, Islip, NY, and Saint Paul, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for student athletes vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for student athletes in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a student athlete or considering a move, this list of the best cities for student athletes to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for student athletes. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a student athlete. While the absolute best city for student athletes is Brookhaven, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for student athletes in 2024.
10 best cities for student athletes in 2025
1. Brookhaven, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Islip, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Saint Paul, MN
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,663 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oyster Bay, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Minneapolis, MN
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,630 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Hempstead, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. New York, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $69,120 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 3.99 8. Jersey City, NJ
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $60,242 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Newark, NJ
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $60,205 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Buffalo, NY
Total student athlete jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $68,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for student athletes
- Brookhaven, NY
- Islip, NY
- Saint Paul, MN
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Minneapolis, MN
- Hempstead, NY
- New York, NY
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Buffalo, NY
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Detailed list of the best cities for a student athlete
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookhaven, NY | $69,939 | $38,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 2 | Islip, NY | $69,647 | $38,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,663 | $33,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 4 | Oyster Bay, NY | $69,536 | $38,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,630 | $33,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 6 | Hempstead, NY | $69,295 | $38,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 7 | New York, NY | $69,120 | $38,000 | 8,537,673 | 8 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $60,242 | $33,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $60,205 | $33,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 10 | Buffalo, NY | $68,044 | $38,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $52,148 | $29,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $66,052 | $36,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,789 | $30,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $52,467 | $28,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Lincoln, NE | $50,165 | $29,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,918 | $29,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $50,894 | $29,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $50,782 | $29,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $50,721 | $30,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 20 | Lubbock, TX | $47,636 | $27,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $61,933 | $34,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 22 | San Francisco, CA | $61,827 | $34,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $60,390 | $33,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $61,764 | $34,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 25 | Stockton, CA | $61,619 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $55,367 | $30,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $61,523 | $34,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 28 | San Jose, CA | $61,318 | $34,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $59,331 | $33,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,638 | $33,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 31 | Long Beach, CA | $58,535 | $33,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $58,457 | $33,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $52,301 | $29,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 34 | Anaheim, CA | $58,521 | $33,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 35 | Austin, TX | $46,835 | $27,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $48,963 | $28,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | Detroit, MI | $46,981 | $26,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 38 | New Orleans, LA | $46,456 | $27,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $58,489 | $33,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $46,703 | $27,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | $58,478 | $33,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 42 | Fort Worth, TX | $46,681 | $27,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $46,608 | $27,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | San Diego, CA | $58,092 | $33,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 45 | El Paso, TX | $48,235 | $28,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 46 | Irving, TX | $46,485 | $27,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 47 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,950 | $26,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 48 | Chula Vista, CA | $58,022 | $33,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $46,460 | $27,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $61,208 | $34,000 | 681,170 | - |
Highest paying cities for student athletes
| Rank | City | Avg. student athlete salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $69,120 |
| 2 | Amherst, MA | $65,794 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,318 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $61,208 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $55,896 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,789 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $51,758 |
| 8 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $47,120 |
| 9 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,501 |
| 10 | Greenville, NC | $43,488 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $41,036 |
| 12 | Saint Charles, MO | $40,505 |
| 13 | Boca Raton, FL | $37,809 |
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Updated January 8, 2025