Ranking the best cities for influencers
As the influencer economy grows, choosing the right city can make all the difference for content creators. From job opportunities to social media engagement, some cities are better equipped to support a thriving influencer career. This study explores the best cities for influencers, highlights global hotspots, and breaks down the key factors contributing to influencer success across various locations.
Key takeaways
- Long Beach, CA, is the top city for influencers, followed by New York City and Miami, FL.
- Long Beach and Oakland lead with 1,082 and 752 job posts per 100,000 residents, making California a hotspot for influencer careers.
- Influencers in San Jose and San Francisco earn the highest annual salaries, at $127,882 and $121,327, respectively.
- London (167M) and Paris (145M) top Instagram hashtag counts as the most frequently featured international cities in Instagram posts.
Summary/Overview
Best U.S. cities for aspiring influencers
Using data from Indeed and Instagram, we ranked the 50 most populated U.S. cities to find the top locations for aspiring social media influencers. We based our ranking on the following weighted metrics:
- Job posts per 100,000 city residents (35%)
- Average annual salaries for influencer marketing jobs (35%)
- Number of city-specific Instagram hashtags (30%)
Job availability and competitive salaries are key factors in building a career, while high Instagram hashtag activity signals strong local engagement and increased visibility. Together, these factors point to cities that offer the best chances for influencer success.
Some cities stand out for their unique mix of career opportunities, financial rewards, and social media visibility. After analyzing the data, Long Beach, California, emerged as the top city for influencers, followed by New York, New York, and Miami, Florida.
Californian cities also led the salary rankings, with San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland offering the highest average pay. New York, Miami, and Los Angeles were the most frequently featured cities in Instagram posts.
Where influencers thrive and where they struggle
Influencer careers are flourishing in certain locales, with California standing out as a prime destination for aspiring social media stars. From job availability to competitive salaries, some cities offer far more favorable conditions than others for influencers to grow their careers.
Long Beach and Oakland lead the way in terms of job opportunities, with 1,082 and 752 influencer marketing job postings per 100,000 residents, respectively. This finding indicates that California is a hotspot for influencer careers, providing many opportunities for those looking to break into the industry.
As for salary potential, San Jose and San Francisco top the charts, offering the highest annual salaries for influencer marketing jobs. San Jose leads with an impressive average salary of $127,882, followed closely by San Francisco at $121,327.
To put that into perspective, San Jose's salary average is 146% higher than Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the average salary for influencer marketing jobs is $52,032 — the least lucrative city for influencers in our study. This disparity reflects the higher cost of living in San Jose, as well as the concentration of tech companies and digital marketing roles in Silicon Valley, where demand for influencer marketing professionals is much greater than in smaller markets like Tulsa.
Global hotspots for Instagram content
When it comes to creating buzz on Instagram, a few international cities dominate hashtag activity. These global destinations not only inspire influencers but also generate massive engagement through millions of posts.
London and Paris were the top Instagrammable cities, with 167 million and 145 million hashtags, respectively. Both cities continue to be favorites, thanks to their iconic landmarks, rich culture, and timeless appeal. Istanbul, New York City, and Dubai rounded out the top five most Instagram-worthy cities.
Istanbul's vibrant mix of history and stunning architecture likely helped it earn 134 million hashtags, while New York City's unique energy and famous landmarks (like Times Square) secured 133 million. Dubai, with its modern skyscrapers and luxury beach resorts, reached 127 million hashtags, making it a must-visit for influencers looking to make standout content.
Cities offering the greatest potential for influencers
From job opportunities and competitive salaries to global Instagram hotspots, the cities in this study offer the best environments for aspiring influencers to thrive. Whether it's the abundant career options in California or the international appeal of cities like London and Paris, influencers have endless opportunities to grow their presence and create engaging content. No matter where you choose to build your brand, these cities provide the perfect mix of inspiration, visibility, and financial potential to take your influencer career to the next level.
Methodology
For this campaign, we collected data from Indeed and Instagram to determine which cities in the U.S. and globally are the best for influencers. Our analysis focused on the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. and 40 of the most vibrant cities worldwide. We evaluated cities based on three key metrics:
- Number of job opportunities per 100K residents (35%)
- Source: Indeed Worldwide
- Average annual salaries for marketing influencer jobs (35%)
- Source: Indeed Worldwide
- Cities most frequently featured in Instagram posts (30%)
- Source: Instagram
Fair use statement
This data can be shared for non-commercial purposes by crediting the original article.