Best cities for a city manager
The best cities for city managers are Reno, NV, Stockton, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for city managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for city managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a city manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for city managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for city managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a city manager. While the absolute best city for city managers is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for city managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a city manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for city managers in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Total city manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $100,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 6.32 2. Stockton, CA
Total city manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $112,417 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 33.48 3. Fresno, CA
Total city manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $110,676 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 8.50 4. San Francisco, CA
Total city manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $113,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 1.19 5. Seattle, WA
Total city manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $109,178 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.85 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total city manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $108,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.11 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total city manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,988 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Henderson, NV
Total city manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,866 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Total city manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,782 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oakland, CA
Total city manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,518 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for city managers
- Reno, NV
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Oakland, CA
- (2 city manager jobs)
- (5 city manager jobs)
- (2 city manager jobs)
- (5 city manager jobs)
- (3 city manager jobs)
- (4 city manager jobs)
- (0 city manager jobs)
- (0 city manager jobs)
- (0 city manager jobs)
- (0 city manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a city manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $100,628 | $56,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $112,417 | $63,000 | 307,072 | 5 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $110,676 | $61,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $113,772 | $64,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $109,178 | $67,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,699 | $59,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $97,988 | $53,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 8 | Henderson, NV | $97,866 | $53,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $97,782 | $53,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $113,518 | $64,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $113,200 | $64,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $78,157 | $41,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $113,049 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $108,542 | $59,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $112,415 | $63,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $108,377 | $59,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 17 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,347 | $59,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 18 | Irvine, CA | $108,281 | $59,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $108,028 | $59,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $109,428 | $60,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $107,909 | $59,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 22 | Chula Vista, CA | $107,868 | $59,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 23 | Brookhaven, NY | $94,650 | $52,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 24 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,830 | $46,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $73,927 | $41,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 26 | Islip, NY | $94,597 | $52,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $94,507 | $52,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 28 | Hempstead, NY | $94,477 | $52,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $94,378 | $52,000 | 8,537,673 | 2 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $82,399 | $44,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,337 | $41,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 32 | Buffalo, NY | $92,803 | $52,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $72,800 | $41,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Washington, DC | $96,841 | $52,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $77,238 | $41,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,044 | $50,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 37 | Newark, NJ | $91,012 | $50,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,512 | $41,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 39 | Laredo, TX | $79,337 | $42,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $79,124 | $42,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 41 | Glendale, AZ | $76,647 | $41,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 42 | Phoenix, AZ | $76,594 | $41,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 43 | Chandler, AZ | $76,519 | $41,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $76,472 | $41,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Scottsdale, AZ | $76,458 | $41,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 46 | Anchorage, AK | $83,763 | $58,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 47 | Mesa, AZ | $76,443 | $41,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 48 | Norfolk, VA | $86,539 | $46,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $76,412 | $41,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 50 | Columbus, OH | $70,401 | $39,000 | 860,090 | - |
Highest paying cities for city managers
| Rank | City | Avg. city manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hayward, CA | $113,360 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $109,178 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $96,841 |
| 4 | Long Beach, NY | $94,461 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,830 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $85,345 |
| 7 | Las Cruces, NM | $79,803 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $78,157 |
| 9 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,827 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $74,304 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $73,927 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $71,029 |
| 13 | Minnetonka, MN | $68,299 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $68,138 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $67,994 |
| 16 | Eastpointe, MI | $67,824 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,430 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $59,171 |
| 19 | Helena, MT | $58,480 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $56,241 |
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Updated January 8, 2025