In this article, we will look at the 10 cities with highest average salary in the US. We have also discussed the growing economic importance of smaller cities in another article. If you are interested in reading about that along with a more extensive list, head straight to the 30 Cities With Highest Average Salary in the US.
10. San Diego, CA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $5,290.58
San Diego’s economy is driven by defense, tourism, international trade, and research/manufacturing sectors. Forbes named it the best city to launch a small business in 2014. The median household income rose to $79,646 in 2018 and property values averaged $654,700, and the typical household owned two cars.
9. Chicago, IL
Average Monthly Net Salary: $5,300.68
Chicago has the third-largest US labor pool, housing 66 Fortune 1000 companies and 12 Fortune Global 500 firms. Home to aerospace giant Boeing, McDonald’s, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Chicago was a prime location for corporate relocations from 2013 to 2018. Despite losing three Fortune 500 companies in 2022, it still holds 35, second only to New York City.
8. Atlanta, GA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $5,476.30
The city proudly houses the global headquarters of renowned corporations, including The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines. With a highly educated workforce, as 45% of adults aged 25 or older hold at least a four-year college degree, Atlanta attracts numerous corporations, with over 75% of Fortune 1000 companies conducting business operations in the metro area.
7. Boston, MA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $6,054.24
Boston is a global city that ranks among the top 30 economically powerful cities worldwide, with the sixth-largest metropolitan economy in the US. Boston’s colleges contribute over $4.8 billion annually as they attract international students globally. A hub for technology and biotechnology, the city leads in life sciences.
Massachusetts is the state with the highest average salary in the US.
6. Los Angeles, CA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $6,317.54
Los Angeles has a diverse economy driven by international trade, entertainment, aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, and tourism. The most important sectors in the city are finance, telecommunications, law, healthcare, and transportation. Ranking 19th globally for financial competitiveness, the city is a major film production hub with Paramount Pictures located within the Thirty-Mile Zone. As the largest US. manufacturing center, and its busy ports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, are crucial for Pacific Rim trade.
5. Seattle, WA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $6,711.14
Seattle hosts major Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Nearby, Issaquah houses Costco, while Bellevue is home to T-Mobile and Paccar. The region is a hub for technology, retail, and healthcare, with Nintendo of America and Providence Health & Services contributing to the rich business environment. Seattle is one of the top 10 cities with highest average salary in the US.
4. Washington, DC
Average Monthly Net Salary: $6,750.73
Between 2009 and 2016, Washington, D.C., consistently led US states in gross domestic product per capita, reaching $160,472 in 2016—nearly three times that of Massachusetts. As of 2022, the metropolitan area’s unemployment rate was 3.1%, ranking 171 out of 389 areas. In 2019, DC had the highest US median household income at $92,266.
3. New York, NY
Average Monthly Net Salary: $6,933.79
New York City has the largest municipal economy in the US, with the 2022 gross metropolitan product reaching $2.1 trillion and a population of 23.6 million. Renowned as the global financial hub, it hosts the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq and is ranked as the world’s premier financial centre by Wall Street.
2. San Jose, CA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $7,188.18
As of 2018, the CSA shared by San Jose and San Francisco ranked as the country’s third-largest urban economy, with a GDP of $1.03 trillion. San Jose, within this economic powerhouse, operates as the 18th Foreign-Trade Zone in the US., granted jurisdiction over trade in several counties since 1974.
1. San Francisco, CA
Average Monthly Net Salary: $7,602.39
San Francisco has a diverse service economy, spanning professional services, tourism, finance, and technology. In 2019, the five-county metropolitan area saw a 3.8% real GDP growth to $592 billion, while the 14-county combined statistical area, including San Jose, had a GDP of $1.086 trillion—ranking 3rd among CSAs, surpassing many countries. As of 2019, San Francisco County ranked 7th in the US for per capita income at $139,405, with neighboring Marin and San Mateo Counties also in the top income ranks. San Francisco is the highest-paying city in the world according to Deutsche Bank research. San Francisco is the city with the highest average salary in the US.
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