Best cities for an athletic director
The best cities for athletic directors are Toledo, OH, Oakland, CA, and Stockton, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for athletic directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for athletic directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an athletic director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for athletic directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for athletic directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an athletic director. While the absolute best city for athletic directors is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for athletic directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an athletic director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for athletic directors in 2026
1. Toledo, OH
Total athletic director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $80,474 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 46.66 2. Oakland, CA
Total athletic director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $101,752 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 21.72 3. Stockton, CA
Total athletic director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $100,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 58.44 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total athletic director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $82,741 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 13.22 5. Detroit, MI
Total athletic director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $77,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 14.74 6. Sacramento, CA
Total athletic director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $100,618 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 14.93 7. Columbus, OH
Total athletic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,490 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fresno, CA
Total athletic director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $98,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 37.09 9. Reno, NV
Total athletic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,714 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Cleveland, OH
Total athletic director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,116 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for athletic directors
- Toledo, OH
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Detroit, MI
- Sacramento, CA
- Columbus, OH
- Fresno, CA
- Reno, NV
- Cleveland, OH
- (2 athletic director jobs)
- (2 athletic director jobs)
- (2 athletic director jobs)
- (3 athletic director jobs)
- (3 athletic director jobs)
- (3 athletic director jobs)
- (0 athletic director jobs)
- (2 athletic director jobs)
- (0 athletic director jobs)
- (0 athletic director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an athletic director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $80,474 | $50,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $101,752 | $61,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 3 | Stockton, CA | $100,577 | $61,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $82,741 | $50,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $77,641 | $48,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $100,618 | $61,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $78,490 | $48,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $98,352 | $59,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $87,714 | $53,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $82,116 | $51,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $84,003 | $53,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $82,214 | $53,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,546 | $48,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $102,016 | $61,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $101,173 | $61,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $82,512 | $50,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $82,483 | $50,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $101,383 | $61,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $81,697 | $51,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $93,494 | $56,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | $75,317 | $47,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $92,334 | $55,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,907 | $47,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 24 | Denver, CO | $76,240 | $48,000 | 693,060 | 7 |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $92,866 | $55,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $96,228 | $57,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 27 | Durham, NC | $67,628 | $41,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $84,974 | $52,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 29 | Scottsdale, AZ | $68,687 | $41,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $92,696 | $55,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $90,674 | $54,000 | 1,406,630 | 4 |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $92,521 | $55,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 33 | Lexington, KY | $71,045 | $44,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $74,417 | $48,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $92,296 | $55,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 36 | Aurora, CO | $76,191 | $48,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $70,508 | $44,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 38 | Louisville, KY | $69,720 | $43,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $76,031 | $48,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 40 | Raleigh, NC | $67,450 | $41,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 41 | Chula Vista, CA | $90,441 | $54,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 42 | Greensboro, NC | $67,198 | $41,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,215 | $42,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $70,867 | $47,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $66,930 | $41,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Seattle, WA | $75,386 | $46,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $70,789 | $47,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 48 | Glendale, AZ | $68,862 | $41,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 49 | Phoenix, AZ | $68,812 | $41,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 50 | Brookhaven, NY | $78,071 | $48,000 | 486,040 | - |
Highest paying cities for athletic directors
| Rank | City | Avg. athletic director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alameda, CA | $101,773 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $84,974 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $83,070 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $82,741 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $80,474 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,546 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $77,825 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $77,641 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $76,240 |
| 10 | Cheyenne, WY | $76,035 |
| 11 | Ridgewood, NJ | $75,577 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $75,386 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $75,232 |
| 14 | Alexandria, VA | $72,608 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $70,255 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $65,465 |
| 17 | Asheville, NC | $64,009 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $63,650 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $60,764 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,533 |
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Updated January 8, 2025