Finding a great job that comes with a significant salary boost is one of the top reasons to move to a new city.
The 22 best places to live in America if you want to make a lot of money
U.S. News ranked the best places to live based on each city's quality of life, value, desirability, and job market.
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In its 2017 ranking of the best places to live in America, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on the 100 most populous US cities. Among the factors it considered were affordable housing, a low cost of living, good schools, quality healthcare, and access to well-paying jobs. You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.
Business Insider reranked these cities based on average annual salary to find the cities where residents earned more than $50,000 a year — on par with the national average. They don't all rank highly on U.S. News' overall list, given higher costs of living and other factors, so we've included each city's overall ranking for comparison's sake. For instance, Chicago ranks at No. 19 in terms of salary, but it came in only at No. 83 on the list of 100.
Of the 100 best places to live in the US, here are 22 where you can land the highest-paying jobs:
22. Santa Rosa, California
Population: 495,078
Average annual salary: $50,540
Just 55 miles north of San Francisco sits Santa Rosa, one of Sonoma County's premier wine-country towns. According to US News' local expert, Santa Rosa is an originator of the farm-to-table movement and "a
21. Albany, New York
Population: 877,846
Average annual salary: $50,880
Overall rank on best places to live list: 30
20. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Population: 1,750,865
Average annual salary: $51,150
Overall rank on best places to live list: 7
19. Chicago
Population: 9,534,008
Average annual salary: $51,600
The Midwest's largest city may have a couple of drawbacks, including frigid winters and a high cost of living, but Chicago is also host to a bevy of corporations — 31 in the Fortune 500 — that can set residents up with a high-paying salary, including Boeing, United Airlines, Kraft, and Allstate.
Chicago also has a dynamic restaurant scene — far more than just the deep-dish pizza the city is famous for — as well as world-class museums, the , and the Lollapalooza music festival.
18. Worcester, Massachusetts
Population: 928,405
Average annual salary: $51,630
Though by no means small, Worcester offers a more pastoral atmosphere than many cities its size — known for its rolling hills and nearly 500 acres of parks. A dynamic healthcare sector, including several hospitals and medical-research universities, furnish many residents with lucrative careers.
17. Houston, Texas
Population: 6,346,653
Average annual salary: $51,830
Overall rank on best places to live list: 20
16. Los Angeles
Population: 18,388,091
Average annual salary: $51,766
The country's second-largest city has, well, everything to offer. From mountains and deserts to forests and beaches, there's no shortage of sunny, outdoor activities at the fingertips of Los Angeles' millions of residents and visitors. The job market is varied, too, with top employers in manufacturing, transportation, trade, and business. And the city's "creative economy" provides more than 355,000 jobs in museums, fashion and design, and entertainment.
There's an
15. Portland, Oregon
Population: 2,320,323
Average annual salary: $52,140
Overall rank on best places to live list: 32
14. Philadelphia
Population: 6,035,680
Average annual salary: $52,420
With top-notch colleges and robust health, finance, and education sectors, workers who live in Philadelphia earn competitive salaries from companies like Wells Fargo and the University of Pennsylvania.
The City of Brotherly Love also has a thriving food scene and a passionate sports culture. Tread carefully if you plan to support a rival of the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, or 76ers.
13. Sacramento, California
Population: 2,221,525
Average annual salary: $53,340
As California's state capital, Sacramento is a desirable place to live thanks to a healthy job market, especially in construction, technology, and healthcare. The tourism sector is also growing, hosting multiple conventions and sporting events, including cycling tours and marathons.
The city is also a magnet for outdoors enthusiasts, providing abundant green spaces and easy access to several national parks and forests.
12. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Population: 3,458,790
Average annual salary: $53,450
Overall rank on best places to live list: 17
11. New Haven, Connecticut
Population: 862,224
Average annual salary: $53,680
The small seaside town of New Haven combines "New England charm and global cosmopolitanism," making it the "cultural capital of Connecticut," according to a local expert. The city is home to Yale University, which has long attracted politicians, artists, and innovators to the area, and it's also known for its New Haven-style pizza.
10. Baltimore
Population: 2,769,818
Average annual salary: $53,690
Baltimore — aka Charm City — has experienced an influx of new residents in recent years and a growing bioscience industry that's created a slew of employment opportunities at places like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.
According to a local expert, Baltimore has a flourishing dining scene, timeless and elegant architecture, and a small-town feel that's cherished by locals.
9. San Diego, California
Population: 3,223,096
Average annual salary: $54,210
Overall rank on best places to live list: 22
8. Denver, Colorado
Population: 2,703,972
Average annual salary: $54,450
Overall rank on best places to live list: 2
7. Hartford, Connecticut
Population: 1,214,056
Average annual salary: $56,870
Overall rank on best places to live list: 31
Located in the Connecticut River Valley, Hartford was once the home to notable historic figures, including Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Among the city's historic attractions, today it offers nearby entertainment venues, ski slopes, state parks.
The aerospace, healthcare, and financial services industries dominate the job market in Hartford, which is home to Aetna Inc., United Technologies Corp., and Hartford Hospital.
6. Seattle, Washington
Population: 3,614,361
Average annual salary: $59,060
Overall rank on best places to live list: 6
5. New York City
Population: 20,919,933
Average annual salary: $60,108
The largest city in America is a melting pot for the world's cultures. With five boroughs and dozens of neighborhoods, New York City has endless options for entertainment, cuisine, and recreation. Its cost of living is among the highest in the US, and one local expert said that people often move to "the city that never sleeps" to "test the adage 'if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.'"
As the financial capital of the US, the city is a global hub for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, including Pfizer, Verizon, and Morgan Stanley. Plus, the unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Population: 4,694,565
Average annual salary: $62,070
Overall rank on best places to live list: 8
Boston attracts a diverse group of residents, including everyone from recent college graduates to retirees and musicians to engineers. The historical city — often referred to as the "Cradle of Liberty," according to one local expert — also overflows with team spirit for the Red Sox and 2017 Super Bowl champions, the Patriots.
3. Washington, DC
Population: 5,949,403
Average annual salary: $65,910
Overall rank on best places to live list: 4
2. San Francisco, California
Population: 4,528,894
Average annual salary: $66,900
Overall rank on best places to live list: 16
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1. San Jose, California
Population: 1,925,706
Average annual salary: $78,620
Overall rank on best places to live list: 3