{"h1":"Best cities for financial services pay after cost of living","faq":[{"a":"San Francisco leads the United States for pay after the cost of living in this industry: its median posted salary buys what $173k buys at average US prices.","q":"Which city ranks first: best cities for financial services pay after cost of living?"},{"a":"33 cities have at least 30 openings with pay posted, so the list has 33 entries.","q":"How many cities are ranked?"},{"a":"The score is the median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) for roles at employers in this industry in a city, divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 20 listings in the industry that post a salary are ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"San Francisco leads the United States for pay after the cost of living in this industry: its median posted salary buys what $173k buys at average US prices.","minN":30,"rows":[{"n":396,"bar":1,"key":"CA|san francisco","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/san-francisco","name":"San Francisco","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$200k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+16%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"396"}],"value":173010.3806228374,"change":null,"employers":["OpenAI","Anthropic","University Of California San Francisco Foundation"],"valueLabel":"$173k"},{"n":29,"bar":0.9884886251236401,"key":"VA|mc lean","sub":"VA","href":null,"name":"Mc Lean","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$173k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+1%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"29"}],"value":171018.7932739862,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","Booz Allen Hamilton","Sunrise Senior Living"],"valueLabel":"$171k"},{"n":53,"bar":0.9620064279155189,"key":"DC|washington","sub":"DC","href":"/places/district-of-columbia/city/washington","name":"Washington","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$181k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+9%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"53"}],"value":166437.0982552801,"change":null,"employers":["Anduril Industries","CACI International","Shield AI"],"valueLabel":"$166k"},{"n":62,"bar":0.9598649864986498,"key":"WA|seattle","sub":"WA","href":"/places/washington/city/seattle","name":"Seattle","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$185k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+11%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"62"}],"value":166066.6066606661,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","Blue Origin","Shield AI"],"valueLabel":"$166k"},{"n":1032,"bar":0.9496447602131439,"key":"NY|new york","sub":"NY","href":"/places/new-york/city/new-york","name":"New York","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$185k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+13%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"1,032"}],"value":164298.4014209592,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","Publicis Groupe","Morgan Stanley"],"valueLabel":"$164k"},{"n":60,"bar":0.9487500000000001,"key":"CA|menlo park","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/menlo-park","name":"Menlo Park","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$190k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+16%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"60"}],"value":164143.598615917,"change":null,"employers":["Snowflake","Robinhood Ventures Fund I","Hippocratic AI"],"valueLabel":"$164k"},{"n":22,"bar":0.9292416582406471,"key":"UT|salt lake city","sub":"UT","href":"/places/utah/city/salt-lake-city","name":"Salt Lake City","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$159k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"−1%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"22"}],"value":160768.4529828109,"change":null,"employers":["L3HARRIS Technologies","iCapital","Harris Health Strategic Fund"],"valueLabel":"$161k"},{"n":68,"bar":0.8947541194644697,"key":"TX|addison","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/city/addison","name":"Addison","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$150k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"−3%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"68"}],"value":154801.7507723996,"change":null,"employers":["National Life Group","National Life Insurance Company","Bank of America"],"valueLabel":"$155k"},{"n":32,"bar":0.8841062499999999,"key":"NJ|jersey city","sub":"NJ","href":"/places/new-jersey/city/jersey-city","name":"Jersey City","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$166k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+9%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"32"}],"value":152959.5588235294,"change":null,"employers":["DTCC","Verisk Analytics","JPMorgan Chase"],"valueLabel":"$153k"},{"n":26,"bar":0.879063055062167,"key":"NY|brooklyn","sub":"NY","href":"/places/new-york/city/brooklyn","name":"Brooklyn","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$171k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+13%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"26"}],"value":152087.0337477798,"change":null,"employers":["SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University","Williams-Sonoma","Altana AI"],"valueLabel":"$152k"},{"n":47,"bar":0.8690009891196835,"key":"VA|mclean","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/mclean","name":"McLean","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$152k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+1%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"47"}],"value":150346.1918892186,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","The MITRE","Steampunk"],"valueLabel":"$150k"},{"n":21,"bar":0.8376811594202898,"key":"CA|san jose","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/san-jose","name":"San Jose","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$160k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+10%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"21"}],"value":144927.536231884,"change":null,"employers":["Super Micro Computer","Advanced Micro Devices","Cisco Systems"],"valueLabel":"$145k"},{"n":27,"bar":0.8333676622039136,"key":"TX|westlake","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/city/westlake","name":"Westlake","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$140k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"−3%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"27"}],"value":144181.2564366632,"change":null,"employers":["Charles Schwab","Fidelity Investments","Kiewit Infrastructure South"],"valueLabel":"$144k"},{"n":23,"bar":0.831377201112141,"key":"NY|buffalo","sub":"NY","href":"/places/new-york/city/buffalo","name":"Buffalo","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$155k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+8%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"23"}],"value":143836.8860055607,"change":null,"employers":["Moog Military Aircraft","University at Buffalo","Moog"],"valueLabel":"$144k"},{"n":288,"bar":0.8292012548262547,"key":"IL|chicago","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/chicago","name":"Chicago","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$149k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+4%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"288"}],"value":143460.4247104247,"change":null,"employers":["Publicis Groupe","Northern Trust","Confidential"],"valueLabel":"$143k"},{"n":27,"bar":0.828888441330998,"key":"FL|miami","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/miami","name":"Miami","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$164k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+14%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"27"}],"value":143406.3047285464,"change":null,"employers":["University Of Miami","Royal Caribbean Cruises","Princess Cruises / Holland America Line"],"valueLabel":"$143k"},{"n":48,"bar":0.8198332990750258,"key":"NC|charlotte","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/city/charlotte","name":"Charlotte","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$138k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"−3%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"48"}],"value":141839.6711202467,"change":null,"employers":["Truist Financial","Scout Motors","SMBC Americas"],"valueLabel":"$142k"},{"n":72,"bar":0.8188333333333333,"key":"TX|austin","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/city/austin","name":"Austin","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$139k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"−2%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"72"}],"value":141666.6666666667,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","Advanced Micro Devices","Cloudflare"],"valueLabel":"$142k"},{"n":20,"bar":0.7999060523938573,"key":"CA|newport beach","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/newport-beach","name":"Newport Beach","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$153k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+11%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20"}],"value":138392.0505871725,"change":null,"employers":["Pacific Life","Chipotle Mexican Grill","Smart Financial Credit Union"],"valueLabel":"$138k"},{"n":147,"bar":0.7972183748845799,"key":"MA|boston","sub":"MA","href":"/places/massachusetts/city/boston","name":"Boston","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$149k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+8%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"147"}],"value":137927.054478301,"change":null,"employers":["Vertex Pharmaceuticals","State Street","Confidential"],"valueLabel":"$138k"},{"n":106,"bar":0.7898146126760565,"key":"CA|los angeles","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/los-angeles","name":"Los Angeles","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$155k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+14%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"106"}],"value":136646.1267605634,"change":null,"employers":["K2 Space","Cedars-sinai Medical Center","Apex Space"],"valueLabel":"$137k"},{"n":93,"bar":0.7795204795204795,"key":"GA|atlanta","sub":"GA","href":"/places/georgia/city/atlanta","name":"Atlanta","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$135k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+0%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"93"}],"value":134865.1348651349,"change":null,"employers":["Emory University","Oxford College of Emory University","Capgemini Invent"],"valueLabel":"$135k"},{"n":49,"bar":0.7638457807953443,"key":"TX|dallas","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/city/dallas","name":"Dallas","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$136k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+3%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"49"}],"value":132153.2492725509,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","Shield AI","Texas Instruments"],"valueLabel":"$132k"},{"n":48,"bar":0.7514551526717557,"key":"MN|minneapolis","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/minneapolis","name":"Minneapolis","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$136k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+5%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"48"}],"value":130009.5419847328,"change":null,"employers":["Mortenson","Target ALS Foundation","Ameriprise Certificate"],"valueLabel":"$130k"},{"n":94,"bar":0.7353330373001777,"key":"NY|new york","sub":"NY","href":"/places/new-york/city/new-york","name":"New York","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$143k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+13%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"94"}],"value":127220.2486678508,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","Publicis Groupe","Morgan Stanley"],"valueLabel":"$127k"},{"n":21,"bar":0.7156190476190476,"key":"MD|rockville","sub":"MD","href":"/places/maryland/city/rockville","name":"Rockville","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$130k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"+5%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"21"}],"value":123809.5238095238,"change":null,"employers":["Financial Industry Regulatory Authority","The Emmes Company","BAE Systems"],"valueLabel":"$124k"},{"n":34,"bar":0.693388167539267,"key":"OH|columbus","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/columbus","name":"Columbus","rank":27,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$115k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"−5%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"34"}],"value":119963.3507853403,"change":null,"employers":["State of Ohio","Nationwide","Ohio State University-Newark Campus"],"valueLabel":"$120k"},{"n":33,"bar":0.6888580931263858,"key":"KY|louisville","sub":"KY","href":"/places/kentucky/city/louisville","name":"Louisville","rank":28,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$108k"},{"label":"State prices vs US average","value":"−10%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"33"}],"value":119179.600886918,"change":null,"employers":["BrightSpring Health Services","Norton Healthcare","GE Appliances"],"valueLabel":"$119k"},{"n":20,"bar":0.6873513513513514,"key":"MO|kansas city","sub":"MO","href":"/places/missouri/city/kansas-city","name":"Kansas City","rank":29,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$110k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"−7%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20"}],"value":118918.9189189189,"change":null,"employers":["JE Dunn Construction","Catalent Pharma Solutions","Commerce Bank"],"valueLabel":"$119k"},{"n":20,"bar":0.6599224137931035,"key":"TX|houston","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/city/houston","name":"Houston","rank":30,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$113k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"−1%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20"}],"value":114173.4279918864,"change":null,"employers":["Axiom Space","Trinzic","Fervo Energy"],"valueLabel":"$114k"},{"n":32,"bar":0.6596303270564915,"key":"FL|tampa","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/tampa","name":"Tampa","rank":31,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$115k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+1%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"32"}],"value":114122.8939544103,"change":null,"employers":["DTCC","University of South Florida","Tampa Electric"],"valueLabel":"$114k"},{"n":22,"bar":0.5735237173281704,"key":"AZ|phoenix","sub":"AZ","href":"/places/arizona/city/phoenix","name":"Phoenix","rank":32,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$103k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+3%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"22"}],"value":99225.55663117135,"change":null,"employers":["Honeywell Aerospace","State of Arizona","American Society for Microbiology"],"valueLabel":"$99k"},{"n":24,"bar":0.5552725647899911,"key":"CA|san diego","sub":"CA","href":"/places/california/city/san-diego","name":"San Diego","rank":33,"stats":[{"label":"Median posted pay","value":"$108k"},{"label":"Local prices vs US average","value":"+12%"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"24"}],"value":96067.91778373548,"change":null,"employers":["Qualcomm Inc/De","Qualcomm Technologies","General Atomics"],"valueLabel":"$96k"}],"slug":"best-cities-for-financial-services-pay-vs-cost-of-living","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"us","kind":"national","name":"United States"},"title":"Best cities for financial services pay after cost of living","family":"Industry markets","method":["The score is the median posted annual salary (the midpoint of each posted range) for roles at employers in this industry in a city, divided by its local price level, with the United States at 100.","Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the city's metro area, or its state where no metro figure exists. Only cities with at least 20 listings in the industry that post a salary are ranked.","A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score."],"builtAt":"2026-11-03T03:57:58.028Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"icpay","sources":["NextChapter job data: posted annual salary ranges","Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024 (metro areas and states)"],"baseline":{"label":"the typical city in our data","valueLabel":"$151k"},"keyFacts":["#1 San Francisco, CA: $173k","#2 Mc Lean, VA: $171k","#3 Washington, DC: $166k","33 cities ranked in the United States","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["The top ten is tightly packed: San Francisco leads on $173k, and #10 Brooklyn is at $152k.","Salt Lake City reaches #7 on a sample of 22 openings with pay posted, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.","New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,032 openings with pay posted behind its figure.","Cities with fewer than 30 openings with pay posted are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-financial-services-pay-vs-cost-of-living"}