Best cities for a business owner
The best cities for business owners are Philadelphia, PA, Milwaukee, WI, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for business owners vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for business owners in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a business owner or considering a move, this list of the best cities for business owners to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for business owners. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a business owner. While the absolute best city for business owners is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for business owners in 2024.
If you're looking for a business owner job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for business owners in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Business owner jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal business owner jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $93,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 1.61 2. Milwaukee, WI
Business owner jobs in MilwaukeeTotal business owner jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $91,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 3.95 3. Seattle, WA
Business owner jobs in SeattleTotal business owner jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $121,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.92 4. Newark, NJ
Business owner jobs in NewarkTotal business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,006 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Jersey City, NJ
Business owner jobs in Jersey CityTotal business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $110,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Francisco, CA
Business owner jobs in San FranciscoTotal business owner jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $118,219 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 0.52 7. Fremont, CA
Business owner jobs in FremontTotal business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oakland, CA
Business owner jobs in OaklandTotal business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,822 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Jose, CA
Business owner jobs in San JoseTotal business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,965 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Brookhaven, NY
Total business owner jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,678 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for business owners
- Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Seattle, WA
- Newark, NJ
- Jersey City, NJ
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Brookhaven, NY
Detailed list of the best cities for a business owner
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,032 | $59,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $91,664 | $59,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $121,623 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $111,006 | $71,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,992 | $71,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $118,219 | $73,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $117,282 | $72,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $117,822 | $73,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $116,965 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 10 | Brookhaven, NY | $109,678 | $71,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 11 | Aurora, CO | $97,750 | $61,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 12 | Oyster Bay, NY | $109,579 | $71,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 13 | New York, NY | $109,314 | $70,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 14 | Islip, NY | $109,494 | $70,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $115,979 | $72,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $94,776 | $59,000 | 465,101 | 15 |
| 17 | Hempstead, NY | $109,313 | $70,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 18 | Madison, WI | $90,813 | $59,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $115,546 | $72,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 20 | Buffalo, NY | $108,401 | $70,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 21 | Denver, CO | $98,067 | $62,000 | 693,060 | 5 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,104 | $55,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $89,249 | $56,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $84,647 | $53,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $112,614 | $68,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Toledo, OH | $82,436 | $52,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 27 | Boston, MA | $86,893 | $57,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $82,909 | $53,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $80,665 | $49,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,558 | $64,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $93,373 | $61,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,055 | $60,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 33 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,044 | $60,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 34 | North Las Vegas, NV | $80,188 | $48,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,229 | $43,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $82,982 | $53,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | $79,772 | $48,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $99,164 | $58,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | $97,243 | $57,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 40 | Anaheim, CA | $96,879 | $57,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $74,487 | $45,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 42 | Chesapeake, VA | $80,643 | $47,000 | 237,940 | 6 |
| 43 | Washington, DC | $100,852 | $62,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 44 | Santa Ana, CA | $96,278 | $56,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | $96,036 | $56,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 46 | Irvine, CA | $95,685 | $56,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $75,343 | $43,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,681 | $46,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $88,402 | $55,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 50 | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,012 | $43,000 | 246,645 | - |
Highest paying cities for business owners
| Rank | City | Avg. business owner salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $121,623 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $118,219 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $109,314 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $98,067 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $97,010 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $93,945 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,032 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $91,664 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $88,402 |
| 10 | Framingham, MA | $87,006 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $83,705 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $82,982 |
| 13 | Kalamazoo, MI | $79,963 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,229 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $74,487 |
| 16 | Cheyenne, WY | $70,794 |
| 17 | Columbia, MO | $61,331 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $59,711 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $58,322 |
| 20 | Evansville, IN | $58,230 |
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Updated January 8, 2025