A method to measure a magnetic field is provided. The method includes applying an alternating drive current to a drive strap overlaying a magnetoresistive sensor to shift an operating point of the magnetoresistive sensor to a low noise region. An alternating magnetic drive field is generated in the magnetoresistive sensor by the alternating drive current. When the magnetic field to be measured is superimposed on the alternating magnetic drive field in the magnetoresistive sensor, the method further comprises extracting a second harmonic component of an output of the magnetoresistive sensor. The magnetic field to be measured is proportional to a signed amplitude of the extracted second harmonic component.