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The Top Ten Cities In The USA With Jobs That Pay The Biggest Salaries
Discover the top ten high-paying cities in the USA to maximize your income.
Beth Sanders
October 16, 2024
The Top Ten Cities In The USA With Jobs That Pay The Biggest Salaries
Does moving abroad sound fun? It surely does.
The fun remains when you don’t have the responsibilities on your shoulders. Everyone is struggling to secure a job that meets their expenses. And they are not hesitant to move to a place where they can increase their earnings.
All professionals who want to secure a job have focused on the potential job market in the United States of America, where they can enjoy all the perks of urban life.
Whether you are a recent graduate or an expert, you must have been trying to earn extra money in return for your skills. Here is some advice for you! This is only possible when you choose the right city that balances your living and salary.
This article is here to help you search for the highest-paying cities in the U.S. It gives you a head start in finding the cities where jobs offer the highest paychecks.
Our Research Methodology
We gathered and analyzed data from various reputable sources to create a list of U.S. cities with the highest salaries. We compared the highest average per-month salaries of different cities in the USA. The list starts with the city that offers the highest per-month salary and ends with the one that offers the lowest salary among the top 10 cities.
The average living costs in the USA's cities were taken from LivingCost.org and Numbeo and compared with the average salaries. This was done to make the decision easier for you.
After calculating the average profit margin of working in the high-paying cities of the U.S., the article also noted the key industries and major players empowering the economies of these cities.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Here is a list of US cities with the highest salaries. The list also explains the key sectors that boost each city’s economy and contribute to the highest salaries.
1. San Francisco, California
Average Salary Per Month: $7,938
Deutsche Bank's report labeled San Francisco the highest-paying city in the USA. San Francisco is the main point of attention for businesses, as it houses various well-known companies.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
When it comes to expenses, San Francisco is always on top. The average monthly expense here is around $3,729, that too for a single person. Even after the high cost of living, there is some margin for savings compared to other cities in the USA.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
Key industries in San Francisco that contributed to the higher salaries include IT, Tech, and microprocessors. The major Golden Gale city of San Francisco hosts the corporate headquarters of Uber, Twitter, and Salesforce.
Notable Employers
San Francisco's top employers include:
Uber
Twitter
Salesforce
2. San Jose, California
Average Salary Per Month: $7,344
Also known as the heart of Silicon Valley, it is the land of giant buildings, tech campuses, and suburban homes. The city has provided job opportunities with comparatively higher salaries in the US.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
The average cost of living in San Jose is approximately $3,502, a bit lower than in San Francisco. The balance between earnings and income here is slightly more favorable than in San Francisco.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
The city's most profitable sectors include hardware engineering and software development. IT and mathematics-based fields are the highest-paying fields in the city.
Notable Employers
The top employers in the city include:
Cisco Systems
eBay
Paypal
3. New York City, New York
Average Salary Per Month: $6,729.
Due to its fashion trends, the city has attracted people from all over the world. It has empowered trade and culture for a long time. New York has been labeled the world’s top financial center.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
NYC is also not very favorable for balancing income with living expenses. The average expense is around $3,277. The high cost of living here leaves a small margin for savings compared to other cities in the USA.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
It is a renowned global financial hub. The primary attention points here include Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. Retail trade, business services, financial services, and health services are a few of the major industries that play a significant role in this city’s economy.
Notable Employers
New York’s economy is driven by:
Amazon
Google
McDonald's
Deloitte
IBM
4. Washington, D.C.
Average Per Month Salary: $6,658
Washington is the US capital and the home for all political and legislative sessions. The tourist's choices include the city’s cultural attractions, including Smithsonian museums, theaters, and markets.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
Washington’s average salary covers a month's living expenses. The living expense for a single person costs around $2,860 per month. A person's salary is enough to spend a month here, and the savings margin is over $3,000.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
Washington is famous for government-related posts. It is considered a city of political scientists and economists. The major sectors empowering the city’s economy include healthcare, finance, and research.
Notable Employers
Corporate offices and headquarters of the following tech giants are located in DC:
Twitter
Snapchat
Google
Fannie Mae
Carlyle Group
Danaher
5. Seattle, Washington
Average Monthly Salary: $6,129.04
Seattle is one of the most popular cities in the United States. It has a strong industrial base, especially in the information technology sector. The Pacific Northwest city has gradually become one of the high-paying cities.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
The average monthly expense in Seattle is approximately $2,974. This leaves a savings margin of around $3,000. The lower savings margin makes it important to strategize finances.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
The major sectors that boost the economy of this city include the tech and aerospace industries. In addition to these two sectors, web developers, software developers, and avionics technicians earn the highest salaries.
Notable Employers
The notable employers include:
Amazon
Boeing
Starbucks
Microsoft
6. Los Angeles, California
Average Salary Per Month: $6,998
Los Angeles is a city in the USA where ambitions are rewarded. It has also been named “Silicon Beach.” The name was given because it features over 500 tech startups, including Google and Facebook offices.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
The per-month cost of living for a person living alone in Los Angeles is approximately $4,400. The average monthly salary here is $6,998, which leaves savings of around $2,500 every month. This means the average earning in Los Angeles supports living a moderate life here while buying a new car on lease.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
The key sectors behind the city’s strong economy are entertainment, aerospace, fashion, tourism, and international trade. The highly paying sectors are healthcare, telecommunication, and finance among these.
Notable Employers
The city’s key employers are listed here:
Facebook
Google
Northrop Grumman
University of California
Snapchat
7. Boston, Massachusetts
Average Salary Per Month: $6,494
Boston is a historical city in the USA. People call it the educational hub of the United States because of some of the world's renowned universities and research institutions. If you’re looking to study further, get a job, and live alone, Boston might just be perfect for you.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
According to Livingcost.org, the average living expense in Boston is approximately $3,345. An individual can save up to $2,000 - $3,000 here, depending on how much they spend on other luxuries. The probability of savings is almost similar to that of other moderately expensive cities in the USA.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
The city’s highly-paid sectors include software development, biotechnological advancements, aerospace engineering, and finance. Unlike other cities in the USA, Boston has been dominated by biologists.
Notable Employers
The city’s notable employers include:
Wayfair
DraftKings
Biogen
8. Atlanta, GA
Average Salary Per Month: $5,968
Atlanta is often called the "Capital of the South." Its strategic location attracts finance and technology experts. The city offers competitive salaries and a high quality of life.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
The average monthly salary in Atlanta is $5,968, and the cost of living is around $2,648. It is comparatively less than other cities in the USA. The savings margin is around $3,000 here, which allows a favorable balance between salary and expenses.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
The technology, Finance, and Healthcare sectors are the key industries contributing to the higher salaries in Atlanta. Film and industries have also become major players as film production and media management are growing here.
Notable Employers
The city houses the headquarters of:
Coca-Cola Company
The Home Depot
Delta Air Lines
9. Chicago, IL
Average Monthly Salary: $4,728.64
The city is known for its rich history and diverse culture. Its economic strength is boosted by its strategic location as a transportation hub. The technology and healthcare industry makes it one of the most economically dynamic cities in the USA.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
For a bachelor, it will cost around $2,613 per month to live in Chicago. With this average expense, one can save around $2,000. However, due to less average salary, the savings margin is less than other cities.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
Chicago is home to 12 Fortune Global 500 firms and 66 Fortune Global 1000 firms. The economy of this city all depends on finance, technology, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. There are various opportunities for people around the world in this place.
Notable Employers
The city’s notable employers are:
McDonald’s
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Boeing
United Airlines
10. San Diego, CA
Average Salary Per Month: $4,652
This mesmerizing coastal city is recognized for its stunning beaches. Institutions like the University of California are major contributors to its recognition. Naval bases and international trade have made the city's economy strong.
Cost of Living vs. Salary
If you want to live in San Diego alone, you’re going to need around $3,427. However, with an average salary of over $4500, you can easily save up to $1,200.
Key Industries Contributing to High Salaries
Tourism, international trade, defense, and research are some of the essential industries that contribute to the overall economy of San Diego's. The tech sector here is growing at a fast pace. It's mainly in the telecommunication and cybersecurity fields.
Notable Employers
San Diego’s high-paying employers are:
Qualcomm
U.S. Navy
Scripps Health
Sharp HealthCare
Summing Up
In the end, this is just a list of a few cities that have the potential to match your lifestyle needs. However, you need to consider multiple factors while looking to secure a dream job in high-paying cities in the U.S.
The list we provided includes the highest pay in the U.S. However, we didn't end there. We also compared the salaries with the average cost of living in those cities so you can make a better choice. Now, it’s up to you to choose whichever city is close to your family and has great salary potential.
References
InsiderMonkey. (2024): 10 Cities with Highest Average Salary in the US
The Travel. (2024): 7 Cities In The U.S. With The Highest Salaries
InsiderMonkey. (2024): 30 Cities with Highest Average Salary in the US
Merchant Maverick. (2021): The 10 Best US Cities For Pay In 2021
LivingCost.org (2024): International Cost of Living Calculator
