:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/topsalariesnews0-1000-8bdfce00e33741b1be7b1c49cac60c09.jpg "The Cities That Give You the Best Shot at a 0K Salary—And Where Your Money Will Go the Furthest")
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Key Takeaways
- Two California metros—San Jose and San Francisco—lead the list of areas offering the strongest odds of earning six-figure salaries.
- ScoutLogic compared nearly 40 U.S. metro areas to identify where high-paying jobs and reasonable costs best align for workers in 2025.
- Though Boston and Seattle have more six-figure jobs than some peers, they ranked below more affordable metros like Denver, Washington, D.C., and Portland.
For many Americans, reaching a six-figure salary marks a significant career milestone—but in addition to your skills, education, and industry, where you live can make all the difference.
In some metropolitan areas in the U.S., a $100,000-plus salary is more attainable than in others. Tech hubs, government centers, and regions with strong corporate presence tend to offer more high-paying roles, while living costs determine how far those earnings go. A recent study by ScoutLogic compared nearly 40 metropolitan areas nationwide to find where workers have the greatest chance of earning six figures right now—and the top locations are spread across the country.
How Location Shapes Your Odds of Earning $100K
The study found that geography plays a measurable role in salary potential. Regions with thriving tech, government, and corporate sectors tend to offer more six-figure opportunities, while local costs determine how far those earnings go.
ScoutLogic, a provider of human resource screening services, determined the best areas for six-figure salaries by evaluating the percentage of jobs paying an annual salary of at least $100,000, median household income, salary growth, and estimated monthly expenses. Based on the data, each metro area received a score based on the opportunity for a six-figure salary, taking typical monthly expenses in the region into account. The study included data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and cost-of-living databases.
“This study reveals which metros create the prime conditions for high earners: strong job markets, competitive salaries, and manageable living expenses,” said David Garcia, co-founder and CEO of ScoutLogic. Location isn’t the only factor, though; it’s also important to consider where your skills are in demand, he said.
Why It Matters to You
Where you live plays a major role in your earning potential. This study highlights cities that combine strong job markets, solid salaries, and manageable living costs.
The 5 U.S. Metros Leading the Six-Figure Salary Rankings
California claims the top two spots on the list: San Jose and San Francisco. San Jose, the largest city in Silicon Valley, hosts major tech companies such as Apple and Google. San Francisco, often considered the financial hub of the western U.S., is home to leading brokerages and banking firms.
In third place is Colorado’s Denver area, which offers a wide range of opportunities in tech, aerospace, and energy. Lockheed Martin (LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) are among the major space employers to have a strong presence in the region.
Next is the Washington, D.C. region, which includes parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. Alongside the federal government, key industries here include healthcare, education, and cybersecurity.
Rounding out the top five is the Portland area, which spans Oregon and Washington. Nike (NKE), Fred Meyer, and Columbia Sportswear (COLM) are headquartered here, and major employers such as Intel (INTC) and Boeing (BA) continue to drive the region’s job growth.
How Other Major Metros Compare
The remaining metro areas in the top 10 are spread across the country and balance pay potential with cost of living. Boston and Seattle each have a higher share of six-figure jobs than cities like Denver or Portland but scored lower overall because of steeper living costs.
San Diego, Charlotte, and Salt Lake City also rank in the top 10, combining solid income potential with comparatively moderate expenses. Salt Lake City stands out as the most affordable of the group, showing that even a smaller share of $100,000-plus jobs can still go a long way there.
Here are all of the metro areas included in the study:
| Top U.S. Metro Areas for $100,000 Salaries | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Percentage of jobs paying $100K+ | Median household income | Annual salary growth rate (2023 to 2024) | Estimated monthly costs | Six-Figure Opportunity Score |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 64.7% | $157,444 | 6.5% | $1,547 | 93 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 59.8% | $133,780 | 2.8% | $1,616 | 63 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 18.4% | $102,339 | 5.4% | $1,317 | 41 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 26.4% | $123,896 | 2.3% | $1,485 | 37 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 13.2% | $94,573 | 5.7% | $1,310 | 36 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 10.0% | $95,045 | 5.4% | $1,139 | 35 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 22.6% | $112,484 | 3.0% | $1,480 | 34 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 21.2% | $112,594 | 3.7% | $1,608 | 34 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 16.6% | $102,285 | 3.6% | $1,381 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 13.9% | $80,201 | 5.0% | $1,233 | 30 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 13.7% | $97,638 | 3.2% | $1,140 | 29 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16.2% | $93,525 | 3.8% | $1,406 | 28 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 11.3% | $86,338 | 4.8% | $1,339 | 28 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 15.3% | $97,300 | 3.2% | $1,272 | 28 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CA | 10.6% | $93,986 | 4.9% | $1,449 | 28 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 12.1% | $80,458 | 4.4% | $1,134 | 27 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 13.1% | $87,155 | 3.9% | $1,255 | 26 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 11.5% | $84,703 | 4.1% | $1,239 | 25 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 13.3% | $98,180 | 2.8% | $1,248 | 25 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 9.5% | $82,499 | 4.5% | $1,225 | 25 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 12.3% | $75,123 | 4.4% | $1,205 | 24 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 11.0% | $79,490 | 3.7% | $1,064 | 24 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 12.5% | $96,066 | 2.7% | $1,209 | 24 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 7.6% | $77,013 | 4.6% | $1,110 | 24 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 19.0% | $97,334 | 3.1% | $1,724 | 23 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 12.5% | $88,850 | 3.0% | $1,313 | 22 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 11.1% | $73,481 | 4.6% | $1,364 | 22 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 6.8% | $81,927 | 3.9% | $1,145 | 22 |
| Columbus, OH | 10.4% | $79,847 | 4.0% | $1,289 | 22 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 8.1% | $77,065 | 3.9% | $1,218 | 20 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 10.6% | $71,254 | 3.8% | $1,232 | 19 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 7.2% | $75,611 | 3.9% | $1,174 | 19 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 8.2% | $76,404 | 3.5% | $1,134 | 19 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 12.4% | $89,273 | 2.6% | $1,383 | 18 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 7.7% | $74,297 | 3.0% | $1,079 | 17 |
| Cleveland, OH | 9.6% | $68,507 | 3.1% | $1,162 | 16 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 9.2% | $78,225 | 2.7% | $1,200 | 16 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 6.4% | $73,845 | 2.2% | $1,172 | 11 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 6.8% | $73,942 | 2.1% | $1,282 | 9 |
The findings highlight where six-figure earnings are the most attainable, showing how job markets and living costs vary widely across U.S. metro areas.
