Best Cities for Computer Systems Analystss

Cities ranked by purchasing power — where computer systems analystss 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	Rhode IslandState	1.27	$134,630	$133,960	13%
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CAMetro	1.24	$157,140	$130,732	24%
3	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TXMetro	1.19	$122,520	$126,049	16%
4	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GAMetro	1.16	$119,090	$123,027	16%
5	ColoradoState	1.15	$127,750	$121,205	17%
6	WashingtonState	1.14	$129,410	$120,606	18%
7	MassachusettsState	1.12	$128,240	$118,194	21%
8	OregonState	1.12	$121,620	$118,078	16%
9	WyomingState	1.12	$109,780	$118,043	11%
10	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WAMetro	1.12	$127,360	$118,145	17%
11	AlabamaState	1.10	$101,770	$116,843	11%
12	VirginiaState	1.10	$120,840	$116,754	16%
13	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WAMetro	1.10	$133,690	$116,964	20%
14	CaliforniaState	1.09	$127,720	$115,375	21%
15	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SCMetro	1.09	$110,790	$115,647	16%
16	North DakotaState	1.08	$105,470	$113,898	11%
17	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHMetro	1.08	$129,180	$113,815	24%
18	Columbus, OHMetro	1.08	$107,230	$114,684	14%
19	GeorgiaState	1.07	$106,240	$113,747	16%
20	New JerseyState	1.07	$122,890	$112,950	18%
21	North CarolinaState	1.07	$106,850	$113,189	15%
22	OhioState	1.07	$102,320	$113,186	12%
23	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MIMetro	1.07	$103,670	$113,673	14%
24	KansasState	1.06	$100,770	$111,967	12%
25	MichiganState	1.06	$103,410	$112,037	13%
26	TexasState	1.06	$107,390	$112,333	15%
27	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WIMetro	1.06	$112,090	$112,653	16%
28	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVMetro	1.06	$127,040	$112,624	19%
29	South DakotaState	1.04	$99,790	$109,901	12%
30	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TXMetro	1.04	$100,840	$109,609	16%
31	DelawareState	1.03	$110,560	$109,465	15%
32	IndianaState	1.03	$98,810	$109,182	13%
33	MinnesotaState	1.03	$106,350	$108,520	14%
34	WisconsinState	1.03	$100,440	$108,819	13%
35	Kansas City, MO-KSMetro	1.03	$101,340	$109,203	15%
36	IowaState	1.02	$95,920	$107,534	12%
37	KentuckyState	1.02	$95,090	$107,446	12%
38	OklahomaState	1.02	$95,930	$108,395	12%
39	New MexicoState	1.01	$98,220	$106,761	13%
40	South CarolinaState	1.01	$98,280	$106,826	15%
41	Pittsburgh, PAMetro	1.01	$98,550	$106,541	14%
42	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FLMetro	1.01	$105,080	$106,680	20%
43	LouisianaState	1.00	$95,660	$106,171	13%
44	IllinoisState	0.99	$101,570	$104,281	15%
45	TennesseeState	0.99	$95,630	$104,514	16%
46	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAMetro	0.99	$121,560	$104,343	22%
47	MarylandState	0.98	$113,610	$104,038	18%
48	MissouriState	0.98	$92,060	$103,905	13%
49	NevadaState	0.98	$104,060	$103,852	17%
50	ArizonaState	0.97	$103,530	$102,607	17%
51	District of ColumbiaState	0.97	$116,820	$102,205	22%
52	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MDMetro	0.97	$108,980	$103,006	18%
53	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TNMetro	0.97	$99,270	$103,191	19%
54	ConnecticutState	0.96	$109,600	$101,859	17%
55	MississippiState	0.96	$86,280	$101,745	12%
56	New HampshireState	0.96	$107,670	$101,575	18%
57	PennsylvaniaState	0.96	$98,550	$101,598	16%
58	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MDMetro	0.96	$105,050	$101,498	18%
59	FloridaState	0.95	$101,900	$100,394	20%
60	NebraskaState	0.95	$91,810	$100,339	14%
61	UtahState	0.93	$98,770	$98,573	18%
62	New YorkState	0.92	$109,610	$97,431	20%
63	VermontState	0.92	$99,610	$97,180	17%
64	MaineState	0.91	$95,820	$96,012	16%
65	ArkansasState	0.90	$81,760	$94,739	13%
66	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FLMetro	0.90	$103,650	$95,530	24%
67	MontanaState	0.89	$91,310	$94,720	15%
68	AlaskaState	0.80	$88,520	$84,871	19%
69	HawaiiState	0.76	$88,640	$80,582	32%
70	IdahoState	0.74	$75,310	$78,041	19%

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