Best Cities for Computer and Information Research Scientistss

Cities ranked by purchasing power — where computer and information research scientistss get the most value from their salary after accounting for cost of living. A score above 1.00 means better than national average.

How we calculate this: City Score = (Local Salary ÷ National Median) ÷ (Local Cost ÷ National Avg Cost). A score of 1.20 means 20% better purchasing power than average.

#	Location	Score	Raw Salary	Adjusted Salary	Rent/Income
1	OregonState	1.43	$206,220	$200,214	9%
2	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WAMetro	1.36	$206,220	$191,299	10%
3	WashingtonState	1.34	$202,400	$188,630	11%
4	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WAMetro	1.32	$211,270	$184,838	12%
5	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CAMetro	1.30	$218,420	$181,714	17%
6	New MexicoState	1.28	$165,690	$180,098	8%
7	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GAMetro	1.23	$166,800	$172,314	12%
8	New YorkState	1.15	$181,990	$161,769	12%
9	MassachusettsState	1.12	$170,510	$157,152	16%
10	VirginiaState	1.08	$157,390	$152,068	12%
11	OhioState	1.07	$135,510	$149,900	9%
12	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHMetro	1.07	$170,510	$150,229	18%
13	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MIMetro	1.07	$136,720	$149,912	11%
14	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MDMetro	1.06	$156,750	$148,157	13%
15	MissouriState	1.03	$127,820	$144,266	10%
16	CaliforniaState	1.02	$159,100	$143,722	17%
17	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVMetro	1.02	$161,090	$142,810	15%
18	IllinoisState	1.00	$136,540	$140,185	12%
19	Pittsburgh, PAMetro	1.00	$130,300	$140,865	11%
20	MinnesotaState	0.99	$135,850	$138,622	11%
21	South CarolinaState	0.98	$126,980	$138,022	12%
22	North CarolinaState	0.97	$128,370	$135,985	12%
23	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WIMetro	0.97	$135,880	$136,563	13%
24	AlabamaState	0.96	$117,870	$135,327	10%
25	NevadaState	0.96	$134,310	$134,042	13%
26	PennsylvaniaState	0.96	$130,300	$134,330	12%
27	MarylandState	0.95	$145,310	$133,068	14%
28	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAMetro	0.95	$155,960	$133,871	17%
29	ArizonaState	0.92	$129,760	$128,603	14%
30	MississippiState	0.92	$109,050	$128,597	10%
31	New HampshireState	0.92	$136,160	$128,453	14%
32	New JerseyState	0.92	$140,840	$129,449	15%
33	LouisianaState	0.91	$115,210	$127,869	11%
34	ColoradoState	0.90	$133,160	$126,338	17%
35	District of ColumbiaState	0.90	$144,190	$126,150	17%
36	TexasState	0.90	$121,210	$126,789	14%
37	ConnecticutState	0.87	$131,650	$122,351	14%
38	HawaiiState	0.87	$134,350	$122,136	21%
39	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FLMetro	0.87	$132,680	$122,286	18%
40	Rhode IslandState	0.86	$121,470	$120,866	15%
41	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MDMetro	0.86	$125,320	$121,082	15%
42	TennesseeState	0.85	$108,830	$118,940	14%
43	FloridaState	0.84	$119,810	$118,039	17%
44	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TNMetro	0.82	$111,090	$115,478	17%
45	Kansas City, MO-KSMetro	0.80	$104,670	$112,791	15%
46	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FLMetro	0.79	$109,660	$111,330	19%
47	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SCMetro	0.76	$102,630	$107,129	18%
48	OklahomaState	0.75	$93,100	$105,198	12%
49	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TXMetro	0.73	$94,220	$102,413	17%
50	GeorgiaState	0.70	$92,250	$98,769	18%
51	IndianaState	0.67	$85,460	$94,431	15%
52	UtahState	0.67	$94,700	$94,511	19%
53	MichiganState	0.64	$82,590	$89,480	16%

Data Sources: Salary: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS). Cost of Living: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2025).