Best cities for a business executive

The best cities for business executives are Colorado Springs, CO, Philadelphia, PA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for business executives vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for business executives in the U.S.

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

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for business executives in 2024.

If you're looking for a business executive job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for business executives in 2026

1. Colorado Springs, CO

Total business executive jobs:	7
Average annual salary:	$96,296
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$48,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$190,000
Location quotient:	10.57

2. Philadelphia, PA

Total business executive jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$90,442
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$175,000
Location quotient:	3.37

3. Boston, MA

Total business executive jobs:	6
Average annual salary:	$106,318
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$191,000
Location quotient:	2.74

4. Milwaukee, WI

Total business executive jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$88,912
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$171,000
Location quotient:	3.31

5. New York, NY

Total business executive jobs:	18
Average annual salary:	$112,658
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$214,000
Location quotient:	1.79

6. Cleveland, OH

Total business executive jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$85,071
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$168,000
Location quotient:	2.05

7. Pittsburgh, PA

Total business executive jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$85,011
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$169,000
Location quotient:	2.16

8. Seattle, WA

Total business executive jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$105,946
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$197,000
Location quotient:	1.93

9. Newark, NJ

Total business executive jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$91,486
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$48,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$174,000
Location quotient:	8.41

10. Buffalo, NY

Total business executive jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$113,627
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$217,000
Location quotient:	0.00

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Best cities for business executives

Colorado Springs, CO
Philadelphia, PA
Boston, MA
Milwaukee, WI
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Seattle, WA
Newark, NJ
Buffalo, NY

(7 business executive jobs)
(5 business executive jobs)
(6 business executive jobs)
(2 business executive jobs)
(18 business executive jobs)
(1 business executive jobs)
(2 business executive jobs)
(5 business executive jobs)
(3 business executive jobs)
(0 business executive jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a business executive

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Colorado Springs, CO	$96,296	$48,000	465,101	7
2	Philadelphia, PA	$90,442	$46,000	1,567,872	5
3	Boston, MA	$106,318	$59,000	673,184	6
4	Milwaukee, WI	$88,912	$46,000	595,047	2
5	New York, NY	$112,658	$59,000	8,537,673	18
6	Cleveland, OH	$85,071	$42,000	385,809	1
7	Pittsburgh, PA	$85,011	$42,000	303,625	2
8	Seattle, WA	$105,946	$56,000	704,352	5
9	Newark, NJ	$91,486	$48,000	281,764	3
10	Buffalo, NY	$113,627	$59,000	256,902	-
11	Brookhaven, NY	$113,723	$60,000	486,040	-
12	Oyster Bay, NY	$113,247	$59,000	293,214	-
13	Hempstead, NY	$112,817	$59,000	759,757	-
14	Jersey City, NJ	$91,506	$48,000	264,152	4
15	Islip, NY	$113,275	$60,000	335,543	-
16	Detroit, MI	$66,238	$33,000	672,795	6
17	Denver, CO	$97,997	$49,000	693,060	4
18	Baltimore, MD	$92,818	$46,000	614,664	3
19	Anchorage, AK	$95,461	$53,000	298,192	-
20	Sacramento, CA	$106,709	$54,000	495,234	1
21	Madison, WI	$87,751	$45,000	252,551	-
22	Aurora, CO	$97,791	$49,000	361,710	-
23	Toledo, OH	$81,981	$41,000	278,508	-
24	San Antonio, TX	$67,493	$33,000	1,492,510	4
25	San Francisco, CA	$107,211	$54,000	870,887	1
26	Chula Vista, CA	$82,728	$41,000	267,172	1
27	Oakland, CA	$106,726	$54,000	420,005	-
28	Fremont, CA	$105,570	$53,000	233,136	-
29	Los Angeles, CA	$87,816	$43,000	3,976,322	6
30	Washington, DC	$87,289	$43,000	681,170	9
31	Stockton, CA	$105,241	$53,000	307,072	-
32	Portland, OR	$79,004	$41,000	639,863	2
33	San Jose, CA	$104,793	$53,000	1,025,350	-
34	Fresno, CA	$99,676	$49,000	522,053	-
35	Columbus, OH	$77,472	$38,000	860,090	-
36	Cincinnati, OH	$71,753	$35,000	298,800	-
37	Bakersfield, CA	$93,825	$46,000	376,380	-
38	Reno, NV	$76,014	$38,000	245,255	-
39	El Paso, TX	$73,261	$35,000	683,080	-
40	Durham, NC	$71,234	$35,000	263,016	-
41	Raleigh, NC	$70,981	$35,000	458,880	-
42	Long Beach, CA	$86,698	$42,000	470,130	-
43	Charlotte, NC	$65,792	$32,000	842,051	5
44	Anaheim, CA	$86,455	$42,000	351,043	-
45	Greensboro, NC	$69,986	$34,000	287,027	-
46	Santa Ana, CA	$86,141	$42,000	334,217	-
47	Winston-Salem, NC	$69,245	$34,000	242,203	-
48	Riverside, CA	$85,925	$42,000	324,722	-
49	Fort Wayne, IN	$61,331	$30,000	264,488	2
50	Irvine, CA	$85,828	$42,000	266,122	-

Highest paying cities for business executives

Rank	City	Avg. business executive salary
1	Albany, NY	$116,806
2	Boston, MA	$106,318
3	Seattle, WA	$105,946
4	Newark, CA	$105,785
5	Denver, CO	$97,997
6	Jersey City, NJ	$91,506
7	Newark, DE	$87,696
8	Washington, DC	$87,289
9	Richmond, VA	$75,656
10	North Chicago, IL	$73,813
11	San Antonio, TX	$67,493
12	Royal Oak, MI	$66,472
13	Charlotte, NC	$65,792
14	Las Vegas, NV	$65,124
15	South Jordan, UT	$60,829
16	Indianapolis, IN	$57,232
17	Urban Honolulu, HI	$57,145
18	Roswell, GA	$54,797
19	Chattanooga, TN	$51,138
20	Little Rock, AR	$46,427