Best paying cities for marketing specialists, after cost of living
After cost of living, marketing specialist pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $128,587) and least far in Pittsburgh (worth $66,727).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $141,960 | 110.4 | $128,587 | +63% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $123,250 | 115.6 | $106,618 | +35% |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $102,390 | 108.3 | $94,543 | +20% |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $99,040 | 105.8 | $93,611 | +19% |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,910 | 104.8 | $93,426 | +19% |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $102,170 | 111.1 | $91,962 | +17% |
| 7 | New York, NY | $100,520 | 112.6 | $89,272 | +13% |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $82,930 | 97.3 | $85,231 | +8% |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $80,460 | 98.1 | $82,018 | +4% |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $85,350 | 105.4 | $80,977 | +3% |
| 11 | Nashville, TN | $77,240 | 96.3 | $80,208 | +2% |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $87,160 | 108.9 | $80,037 | +2% |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $79,030 | 100.1 | $78,951 | 0% |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $74,130 | 95.1 | $77,950 | −1% |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $80,400 | 103.6 | $77,606 | −1% |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,420 | 102.6 | $77,407 | −2% |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $77,100 | 100.3 | $76,869 | −2% |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $75,210 | 100.9 | $74,539 | −5% |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,670 | 100.2 | $74,521 | −5% |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $78,630 | 106.7 | $73,693 | −6% |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $82,990 | 113.6 | $73,055 | −7% |
| 22 | Dallas, TX | $75,240 | 103.1 | $72,978 | −7% |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,590 | 103.3 | $72,207 | −8% |
| 24 | Orlando, FL | $72,860 | 101.4 | $71,854 | −9% |
| 25 | Baltimore, MD | $74,620 | 104.5 | $71,407 | −9% |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $79,440 | 111.9 | $70,992 | −10% |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $65,950 | 94.7 | $69,641 | −12% |
| 28 | Miami, FL | $78,990 | 114.2 | $69,168 | −12% |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $67,370 | 98.6 | $68,327 | −13% |
| 30 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,190 | 94.7 | $66,727 | −15% |
U.S. median for marketing specialists: $78,760. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, SOC 13-1161); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.