Best cities for an area director

The best cities for area directors are Chicago, IL, Oakland, CA, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for area directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for area directors in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as an area director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for area directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for area directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an area director. While the absolute best city for area directors is Chicago, IL, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for area directors in 2024.

If you're looking for an area director job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for area directors in 2026

1. Chicago, IL

Total area director jobs:	19
Average annual salary:	$126,472
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$225,000
Location quotient:	0.98

2. Oakland, CA

Total area director jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$136,359
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$74,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$248,000
Location quotient:	1.61

3. Raleigh, NC

Total area director jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$112,949
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$62,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$204,000
Location quotient:	0.98

4. Lubbock, TX

Total area director jobs:	4
Average annual salary:	$105,023
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$187,000
Location quotient:	6.85

5. Sacramento, CA

Total area director jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$135,357
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$74,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$246,000
Location quotient:	1.23

6. Fresno, CA

Total area director jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$133,797
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$244,000
Location quotient:	1.83

7. Albuquerque, NM

Total area director jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$107,681
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$194,000
Location quotient:	1.92

8. Durham, NC

Total area director jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$113,141
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$62,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$204,000
Location quotient:	0.63

9. San Francisco, CA

Total area director jobs:	14
Average annual salary:	$136,583
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$75,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$248,000
Location quotient:	0.72

10. Washington, DC

Total area director jobs:	30
Average annual salary:	$129,863
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$72,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$232,000
Location quotient:	2.66

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Best cities for area directors

Chicago, IL
Oakland, CA
Raleigh, NC
Lubbock, TX
Sacramento, CA
Fresno, CA
Albuquerque, NM
Durham, NC
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC

(19 area director jobs)
(3 area director jobs)
(5 area director jobs)
(4 area director jobs)
(5 area director jobs)
(2 area director jobs)
(5 area director jobs)
(2 area director jobs)
(14 area director jobs)
(30 area director jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for an area director

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Chicago, IL	$126,472	$70,000	2,704,958	19
2	Oakland, CA	$136,359	$74,000	420,005	3
3	Raleigh, NC	$112,949	$62,000	458,880	5
4	Lubbock, TX	$105,023	$58,000	252,506	4
5	Sacramento, CA	$135,357	$74,000	495,234	5
6	Fresno, CA	$133,797	$73,000	522,053	2
7	Albuquerque, NM	$107,681	$59,000	559,277	5
8	Durham, NC	$113,141	$62,000	263,016	2
9	San Francisco, CA	$136,583	$75,000	870,887	14
10	Washington, DC	$129,863	$72,000	681,170	30
11	Long Beach, CA	$123,464	$67,000	470,130	3
12	Boston, MA	$162,342	$91,000	673,184	7
13	Jersey City, NJ	$177,900	$100,000	264,152	3
14	Virginia Beach, VA	$113,648	$63,000	452,602	2
15	San Antonio, TX	$99,562	$54,000	1,492,510	7
16	Austin, TX	$101,020	$55,000	947,890	14
17	Detroit, MI	$97,978	$54,000	672,795	3
18	New York, NY	$134,086	$75,000	8,537,673	27
19	Reno, NV	$106,642	$58,000	245,255	1
20	Columbus, OH	$96,960	$54,000	860,090	6
21	Los Angeles, CA	$125,189	$68,000	3,976,322	16
22	Las Vegas, NV	$103,918	$56,000	632,912	3
23	Newark, NJ	$177,682	$100,000	281,764	-
24	Madison, WI	$104,426	$58,000	252,551	2
25	Denver, CO	$98,848	$56,000	693,060	37
26	Islip, NY	$135,956	$76,000	335,543	-
27	Arlington, TX	$98,804	$55,000	392,772	1
28	Brookhaven, NY	$136,877	$77,000	486,040	-
29	Oyster Bay, NY	$135,501	$76,000	293,214	-
30	Hempstead, NY	$134,742	$76,000	759,757	-
31	Philadelphia, PA	$110,919	$62,000	1,567,872	1
32	Dallas, TX	$98,116	$54,000	1,317,929	10
33	Norfolk, VA	$113,354	$63,000	245,115	1
34	Fort Worth, TX	$99,062	$55,000	854,113	3
35	San Jose, CA	$135,978	$74,000	1,025,350	4
36	Baltimore, MD	$116,990	$65,000	614,664	6
37	Cleveland, OH	$104,107	$58,000	385,809	-
38	New Orleans, LA	$79,675	$43,000	391,495	12
39	Greensboro, NC	$111,190	$61,000	287,027	-
40	Winston-Salem, NC	$110,092	$60,000	242,203	-
41	Seattle, WA	$108,402	$60,000	704,352	16
42	Fremont, CA	$136,092	$74,000	233,136	-
43	Buffalo, NY	$129,664	$73,000	256,902	-
44	Lexington, KY	$80,753	$44,000	318,449	2
45	Stockton, CA	$135,374	$74,000	307,072	-
46	Pittsburgh, PA	$104,468	$58,000	303,625	1
47	Anchorage, AK	$90,692	$53,000	298,192	2
48	Milwaukee, WI	$106,414	$59,000	595,047	-
49	Toledo, OH	$100,877	$56,000	278,508	-
50	Cincinnati, OH	$92,238	$51,000	298,800	3

Highest paying cities for area directors

Rank	City	Avg. area director salary
1	Boston, MA	$162,342
2	Wilmington, DE	$146,285
3	San Francisco, CA	$136,583
4	New York, NY	$134,086
5	Washington, DC	$129,863
6	North Chicago, IL	$127,446
7	Alexandria, VA	$118,246
8	Philadelphia, PA	$110,919
9	Seattle, WA	$108,402
10	Austin, TX	$101,020
11	Denver, CO	$98,848
12	Detroit, MI	$97,978
13	Mankato, MN	$94,433
14	South Bend, IN	$86,557
15	McMinnville, OR	$85,616
16	Des Moines, IA	$82,749
17	Greenville, SC	$81,975
18	New Orleans, LA	$79,675
19	Jacksonville, FL	$75,133
20	Chandler, AZ	$74,099