Best cities for a child development specialist
The best cities for child development specialists are Philadelphia, PA, Jersey City, NJ, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for child development specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for child development specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a child development specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for child development specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for child development specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a child development specialist. While the absolute best city for child development specialists is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for child development specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a child development specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for child development specialists in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total child development specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $45,855 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 0.58 2. Jersey City, NJ
Total child development specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $67,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.85 3. Detroit, MI
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,006 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Wichita, KS
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $50,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Total child development specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $43,516 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.92 6. Lincoln, NE
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Lexington, KY
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $43,713 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oklahoma City, OK
Total child development specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $43,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 9.53 9. Cleveland, OH
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $42,924 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Newark, NJ
Total child development specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,751 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for child development specialists
- Philadelphia, PA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Detroit, MI
- Wichita, KS
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Lincoln, NE
- Lexington, KY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Cleveland, OH
- Newark, NJ
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- (1 child development specialist jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a child development specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,855 | $29,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $67,775 | $43,000 | 264,152 | 1 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $49,006 | $31,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $50,350 | $33,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,516 | $27,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | $49,859 | $33,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 7 | Lexington, KY | $43,713 | $29,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $43,211 | $28,000 | 638,367 | 7 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $42,924 | $27,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $67,751 | $43,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $49,831 | $33,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $55,360 | $36,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $59,238 | $38,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $44,885 | $29,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $44,878 | $29,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $42,081 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | Louisville, KY | $43,469 | $28,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 18 | Greensboro, NC | $44,446 | $29,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $48,863 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,829 | $32,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,230 | $29,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 22 | Saint Louis, MO | $44,257 | $29,000 | 311,404 | 4 |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $41,273 | $27,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 24 | New York, NY | $52,277 | $33,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $41,649 | $27,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $52,277 | $33,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $57,646 | $36,000 | 681,170 | 7 |
| 28 | Islip, NY | $52,097 | $33,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 29 | Anchorage, AK | $48,509 | $36,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $40,854 | $27,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 31 | Tulsa, OK | $43,128 | $28,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $52,031 | $33,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $51,812 | $33,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Buffalo, NY | $49,208 | $31,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 35 | Kansas City, MO | $44,087 | $29,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | $43,331 | $28,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 37 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,850 | $28,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 38 | New Orleans, LA | $42,423 | $27,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | $40,413 | $26,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $42,797 | $27,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Boston, MA | $48,355 | $32,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | $48,117 | $30,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,506 | $31,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,780 | $27,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 45 | Baltimore, MD | $50,039 | $31,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 46 | Norfolk, VA | $47,979 | $30,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 47 | Scottsdale, AZ | $42,751 | $27,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 48 | Sacramento, CA | $50,151 | $31,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 49 | Fort Wayne, IN | $40,363 | $26,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 50 | Chesapeake, VA | $47,785 | $30,000 | 237,940 | - |
Highest paying cities for child development specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. child development specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manalapan, NJ | $68,292 |
| 2 | Fairfield, CT | $58,012 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $57,646 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $55,360 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $52,277 |
| 6 | Campbell, CA | $50,861 |
| 7 | Randolph, MA | $48,973 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $48,081 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,855 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $44,257 |
| 11 | Yukon, OK | $43,231 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $39,748 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $39,365 |
| 14 | Charleston, SC | $34,434 |











