Best cities for a category manager
The best cities for category managers are Reno, NV, Seattle, WA, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for category managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for category managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a category manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for category managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for category managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a category manager. While the absolute best city for category managers is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for category managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a category manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for category managers in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Total category manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $126,666 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.35 2. Seattle, WA
Total category manager jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $114,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 1.27 3. Milwaukee, WI
Total category manager jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $92,348 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 1.55 4. San Francisco, CA
Total category manager jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $128,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 1.04 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total category manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $118,173 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.87 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total category manager jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $93,925 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 1.11 7. Plano, TX
Total category manager jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $92,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 1.32 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total category manager jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $91,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.18 9. Cincinnati, OH
Total category manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $91,176 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.94 10. Sacramento, CA
Total category manager jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $127,192 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.86
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Best cities for category managers
- Reno, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Milwaukee, WI
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- Plano, TX
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sacramento, CA
- (4 category manager jobs)
- (42 category manager jobs)
- (12 category manager jobs)
- (41 category manager jobs)
- (8 category manager jobs)
- (21 category manager jobs)
- (17 category manager jobs)
- (14 category manager jobs)
- (8 category manager jobs)
- (7 category manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a category manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $126,666 | $88,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $114,522 | $82,000 | 704,352 | 42 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $92,348 | $66,000 | 595,047 | 12 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $128,152 | $89,000 | 870,887 | 41 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $118,173 | $81,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,925 | $68,000 | 1,567,872 | 21 |
| 7 | Plano, TX | $92,267 | $65,000 | 286,057 | 17 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,659 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 14 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $91,176 | $66,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $127,192 | $88,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $95,246 | $69,000 | 638,367 | 7 |
| 12 | Irving, TX | $92,525 | $65,000 | 238,289 | 14 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $93,460 | $67,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,287 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 27 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $91,633 | $66,000 | 855,164 | 11 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $127,544 | $89,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $106,971 | $76,000 | 639,863 | 7 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $91,312 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
| 19 | Lexington, KY | $87,151 | $63,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $127,214 | $88,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $107,185 | $77,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 22 | Dallas, TX | $92,529 | $65,000 | 1,317,929 | 16 |
| 23 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,990 | $81,000 | 264,152 | 8 |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $118,099 | $81,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $109,468 | $76,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 26 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,099 | $65,000 | 302,398 | 13 |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $89,173 | $64,000 | 842,051 | 34 |
| 28 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,015 | $65,000 | 413,651 | 26 |
| 29 | Henderson, NV | $116,727 | $80,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $91,371 | $66,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,905 | $60,000 | 325,733 | 3 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $95,029 | $68,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 33 | Oakland, CA | $127,950 | $89,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 34 | New Orleans, LA | $104,818 | $72,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $104,884 | $76,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 36 | Madison, WI | $91,120 | $65,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 37 | Houston, TX | $90,921 | $63,000 | 2,303,482 | 50 |
| 38 | Winston-Salem, NC | $90,609 | $65,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $127,107 | $88,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $92,709 | $65,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 41 | Tulsa, OK | $93,936 | $68,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 42 | Chicago, IL | $91,367 | $65,000 | 2,704,958 | 47 |
| 43 | Toledo, OH | $93,995 | $67,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $94,305 | $67,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | Fresno, CA | $124,282 | $86,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 46 | Newark, NJ | $110,957 | $80,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $92,664 | $65,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 48 | Lincoln, NE | $80,589 | $59,000 | 280,364 | 8 |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $75,144 | $54,000 | 652,717 | 25 |
| 50 | Bakersfield, CA | $118,013 | $81,000 | 376,380 | - |
Highest paying cities for category managers
| Rank | City | Avg. category manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,152 |
| 2 | Woonsocket, RI | $118,613 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $114,522 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $106,971 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $105,797 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $104,884 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $100,407 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,925 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $93,635 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $93,460 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $93,308 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,287 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $92,709 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $92,348 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $91,633 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $91,367 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $91,312 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $89,099 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $88,997 |
| 20 | Richmond, KY | $86,980 |
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Updated January 8, 2025