Cities are ranked based on the projected median income for business and financial operations occupations, which includes accountants, auditors, financial analysts, human resource specialists, management analysts and purchasing agents.

1. San Francisco: $127,318
2. Jersey City, New Jersey: $124,962
3. Oakland, California: $120,688
4. Washington, D.C.: $120,507
5. Irvine, California: $115,987
6. San Jose, California: $115,756
7. Atlanta: $110,959
8. Frisco, Texas: $110,083
9. Boston: $109,926
10. Huntington Beach, California: $106,818

Top 10 Cities Where Computer and Mathematical Occupations Earn Most

Cities are ranked based on the projected median income of computer and mathematical occupations, which includes software developers, computer programmers, data scientists, network and computer system administrators, and mathematicians.

1. San Jose, California: $180,150
2. San Francisco: $167,112
3. Seattle: $160,360
4. Oakland, California: $150,198
5. Jersey City, New Jersey: $127,496
6. Frisco, Texas: $126,578
7. San Diego: $119,787
8. Washington, D.C.: $114,912
9. New York City: $114,824
10. Irvine, California: $113,652

Top 10 Cities Where Engineers and Architects Earn Most

Cities are ranked based on the projected median income for engineering and architecture occupations, including civil engineers, mechanical engineers, architects, surveyors, and engineering technicians.

1. San Jose, California: $154,627
2. San Francisco: $145,753
3. Irvine, California: $144,528
4. Aurora, Colorado: $134,130
5. Frisco, Texas: $125,601
6. Sacramento, California: $123,318
7. Santa Clarita, California: $120,643
8. Oakland, California: $120,597
9. Huntington Beach, California: $120,334
10. Chula Vista, California: $116,459

Top 10 Cities Where Legal Occupations Earn the Most

Cities are ranked based on the projected median income for legal occupations, which includes lawyers, judges, paralegals and legal assistants.

1. San Francisco: $224,370
2. San Jose, California: $214,999
3. Oakland, California: $209,395
4. Salt Lake City: $205,781
5. Glendale, California: $199,612
6. Atlanta: $185,225
7. Richmond, Virginia: $184,716
8. Frisco, Texas: $171,849
9. Denver: $168,883
10. Washington, D.C.: $168,250

Top 10 Cities Where Teachers Earn the Most

Cities are ranked based on the projected median income for educational instruction and library occupations.

1. Yonkers, New York: $94,654
2. Washington, D.C.: $87,893
3. Irvine, California: $85,732
4. San Jose, California: $83,288
5. Seattle: $82,870
6. Long Beach, California: $80,987
7. Huntington Beach, California: $79,007
8. Chula Vista, California: $78,052
9. Tacoma, Washington: $77,349
10. Spokane, Washington: $76,947

Top 10 Cities Where Healthcare Professionals Earn the Most

Cities are ranked based on the projected median income for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, which includes physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. 

1. Oakland, California: $181,819
2. Irvine, California: $175,884
3. San Francisco: $157,932
4. Chesapeake, Virginia: $156,350
5. Chattanooga, Tennessee: $150,374
6. Glendale, California: $147,723
7. Phoenix: $145,432
8. Nashville, Tennessee: $143,001
9. Tulsa, Oklahoma: $141,822
10. Tampa, Florida: $139,150

Data and Methodology

This SmartAsset study examined data for 100 of the largest U.S. cities that had available data. Data for median income by occupation comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2023. Income by career is weighted between men's and women's median income based on the percentage makeup of local demographics according to Census Bureau population data for 2023.