Best cities for an accounting director
The best cities for accounting directors are Raleigh, NC, Boston, MA, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for accounting directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for accounting directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an accounting director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for accounting directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for accounting directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an accounting director. While the absolute best city for accounting directors is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for accounting directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an accounting director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for accounting directors in 2026
1. Raleigh, NC
Total accounting director jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $132,215 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 2.03 2. Boston, MA
Total accounting director jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $159,106 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location quotient: 1.53 3. Reno, NV
Total accounting director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $137,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 1.40 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total accounting director jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $134,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 1.38 5. Oakland, CA
Total accounting director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $157,093 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location quotient: 1.84 6. Stockton, CA
Total accounting director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $156,408 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location quotient: 1.98 7. San Francisco, CA
Total accounting director jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $157,250 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location quotient: 1.59 8. Detroit, MI
Total accounting director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $140,586 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 1.00 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total accounting director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $133,260 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 0.90 10. Tulsa, OK
Total accounting director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $118,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 1.47
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Best cities for accounting directors
- Raleigh, NC
- Boston, MA
- Reno, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Las Vegas, NV
- Tulsa, OK
- (15 accounting director jobs)
- (31 accounting director jobs)
- (3 accounting director jobs)
- (19 accounting director jobs)
- (5 accounting director jobs)
- (2 accounting director jobs)
- (45 accounting director jobs)
- (6 accounting director jobs)
- (6 accounting director jobs)
- (4 accounting director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an accounting director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $132,215 | $86,000 | 458,880 | 15 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $159,106 | $107,000 | 673,184 | 31 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $137,425 | $92,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,112 | $88,000 | 1,567,872 | 19 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $157,093 | $106,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $156,408 | $106,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $157,250 | $106,000 | 870,887 | 45 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $140,586 | $92,000 | 672,795 | 6 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $133,260 | $89,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | $118,575 | $78,000 | 403,090 | 4 |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $143,805 | $94,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $130,897 | $84,000 | 842,051 | 15 |
| 13 | Lexington, KY | $119,599 | $78,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $118,815 | $77,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 15 | Irvine, CA | $146,351 | $98,000 | 266,122 | 17 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $142,758 | $94,000 | 8,537,673 | 121 |
| 17 | Scottsdale, AZ | $119,577 | $79,000 | 246,645 | 5 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $148,000 | $99,000 | 3,976,322 | 34 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $156,418 | $103,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 20 | Fort Wayne, IN | $126,048 | $83,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 21 | Mesa, AZ | $119,281 | $79,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 22 | Oklahoma City, OK | $120,494 | $79,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $127,579 | $84,000 | 2,704,958 | 29 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $119,514 | $77,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 25 | Greensboro, NC | $132,086 | $86,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $156,780 | $106,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 27 | Toledo, OH | $114,735 | $75,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $120,065 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 34 |
| 29 | Louisville, KY | $119,330 | $78,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $132,350 | $86,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $152,311 | $102,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $130,184 | $85,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 33 | Indianapolis, IN | $123,402 | $81,000 | 855,164 | 5 |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $156,365 | $103,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 35 | Sacramento, CA | $156,536 | $106,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 36 | Lincoln, NE | $110,360 | $73,000 | 280,364 | 5 |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $131,962 | $85,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $133,183 | $89,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Fort Worth, TX | $115,560 | $75,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 40 | Henderson, NV | $132,779 | $89,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $118,336 | $78,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $111,908 | $73,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 43 | Fremont, CA | $156,878 | $106,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 44 | San Diego, CA | $144,039 | $97,000 | 1,406,630 | 16 |
| 45 | Denver, CO | $121,218 | $81,000 | 693,060 | 45 |
| 46 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $119,338 | $89,000 | 351,792 | 15 |
| 47 | Cleveland, OH | $115,670 | $76,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $116,959 | $78,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 49 | Houston, TX | $113,860 | $72,000 | 2,303,482 | 41 |
| 50 | Washington, DC | $122,785 | $80,000 | 681,170 | 30 |
Highest paying cities for accounting directors
| Rank | City | Avg. accounting director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | $159,137 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $157,250 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $142,758 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,112 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $133,260 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $132,215 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $131,010 |
| 8 | McLean, VA | $128,025 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $127,579 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $122,785 |
| 11 | Columbus, IN | $122,739 |
| 12 | Englewood, CO | $121,483 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $120,065 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $119,531 |
| 15 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $119,338 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $115,824 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $115,560 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $111,908 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $111,815 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $106,687 |
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Updated January 8, 2025