Best Cities for Statistical Assistantss

Cities ranked by purchasing power — where statistical assistantss 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	CaliforniaState	1.48	$82,580	$74,598	33%
2	ConnecticutState	1.41	$76,140	$70,762	25%
3	MissouriState	1.31	$58,610	$66,151	21%
4	IllinoisState	1.29	$63,410	$65,103	25%
5	MassachusettsState	1.29	$70,470	$64,949	38%
6	NebraskaState	1.29	$59,620	$65,158	21%
7	New JerseyState	1.27	$69,480	$63,860	31%
8	South CarolinaState	1.27	$58,970	$64,098	26%
9	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHMetro	1.24	$70,570	$62,176	43%
10	MinnesotaState	1.19	$58,580	$59,776	26%
11	WashingtonState	1.18	$63,660	$59,329	36%
12	WisconsinState	1.15	$53,400	$57,855	24%
13	ArizonaState	1.12	$56,900	$56,392	32%
14	FloridaState	1.12	$57,200	$56,355	36%
15	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WAMetro	1.11	$63,660	$55,696	41%
16	MarylandState	1.09	$59,690	$54,661	34%
17	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MIMetro	1.08	$49,660	$54,452	29%
18	MichiganState	1.07	$49,660	$53,803	27%
19	OhioState	1.05	$47,980	$53,075	26%
20	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVMetro	1.05	$59,690	$52,917	40%
21	TennesseeState	1.04	$47,780	$52,219	32%
22	IndianaState	1.03	$46,860	$51,779	27%
23	KentuckyState	1.03	$45,660	$51,593	25%
24	OklahomaState	1.03	$46,010	$51,989	25%
25	Pittsburgh, PAMetro	1.03	$47,740	$51,611	30%
26	PennsylvaniaState	1.00	$48,740	$50,247	32%
27	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TNMetro	0.99	$47,780	$49,667	39%
28	MaineState	0.96	$48,050	$48,146	32%
29	TexasState	0.91	$43,590	$45,596	38%
30	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MDMetro	0.90	$46,950	$45,362	41%
31	New YorkState	0.82	$46,520	$41,351	48%
32	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TXMetro	0.80	$38,930	$40,051	49%
33	HawaiiState	0.73	$40,240	$36,582	71%

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