Best cities for an academic director
The best cities for academic directors are Reno, NV, Columbus, OH, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for academic directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for academic directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an academic director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for academic directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for academic directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an academic director. While the absolute best city for academic directors is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for academic directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an academic director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for academic directors in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $150,022 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Columbus, OH
Total academic director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $115,288 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 4.27 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. North Las Vegas, NV
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,394 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fort Wayne, IN
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $125,303 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Indianapolis, IN
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $123,000 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Henderson, NV
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,166 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Cincinnati, OH
Total academic director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $112,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 11.75 9. Cleveland, OH
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Glendale, AZ
Total academic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $126,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for academic directors
- Reno, NV
- Columbus, OH
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Henderson, NV
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Glendale, AZ
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Detailed list of the best cities for an academic director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $150,022 | $91,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $115,288 | $72,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $138,408 | $83,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $138,394 | $83,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $125,303 | $78,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $123,000 | $76,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 7 | Henderson, NV | $137,166 | $82,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $112,747 | $69,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $116,947 | $74,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $126,164 | $75,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $140,395 | $84,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $126,134 | $75,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $126,104 | $75,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | $115,278 | $72,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 15 | Mesa, AZ | $125,627 | $74,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $150,093 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 17 | Chandler, AZ | $125,596 | $74,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $125,534 | $74,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $127,608 | $76,000 | 693,060 | 6 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $106,808 | $66,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 21 | Oakland, CA | $149,938 | $91,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $150,881 | $92,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 23 | Stockton, CA | $149,770 | $91,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $123,086 | $76,000 | 2,704,958 | 3 |
| 25 | Detroit, MI | $108,809 | $68,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $149,243 | $90,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $123,643 | $73,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 28 | San Jose, CA | $148,641 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 29 | Louisville, KY | $108,901 | $66,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 30 | Lexington, KY | $109,619 | $67,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $145,623 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,798 | $69,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 33 | Aurora, CO | $127,356 | $76,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $126,378 | $75,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $139,176 | $83,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $130,567 | $78,000 | 324,722 | 9 |
| 37 | Durham, NC | $107,776 | $66,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 38 | Milwaukee, WI | $107,411 | $67,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $107,482 | $66,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $107,474 | $66,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 41 | Los Angeles, CA | $132,308 | $79,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $104,596 | $66,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 43 | New York, NY | $124,047 | $79,000 | 8,537,673 | 30 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $120,572 | $78,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $107,261 | $65,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Brookhaven, NY | $124,603 | $80,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 47 | Islip, NY | $124,419 | $80,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 48 | Oyster Bay, NY | $124,304 | $80,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 49 | Seattle, WA | $118,770 | $71,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $105,913 | $60,000 | 391,495 | - |
Highest paying cities for academic directors
| Rank | City | Avg. academic director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $150,093 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $131,717 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $127,608 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $125,596 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,047 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $123,086 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $120,572 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $115,288 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $109,403 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $108,809 |
| 11 | Providence, RI | $108,490 |
| 12 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $106,983 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $106,808 |
| 14 | New Orleans, LA | $105,913 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $104,821 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $101,563 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $95,887 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $91,142 |
| 19 | Jonesboro, AR | $86,964 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $86,825 |
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Updated January 8, 2025