Best cities for a compensation director
The best cities for compensation directors are Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for compensation directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for compensation directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a compensation director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for compensation directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for compensation directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a compensation director. While the absolute best city for compensation directors is Detroit, MI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for compensation directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a compensation director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for compensation directors in 2025
1. Detroit, MI
Total compensation director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $119,413 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 4.08 2. Cleveland, OH
Total compensation director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $109,805 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 5.43 3. Portland, OR
Total compensation director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $135,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 3.16 4. Lincoln, NE
Total compensation director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $116,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 3.91 5. Chandler, AZ
Total compensation director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $109,587 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 8.68 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total compensation director jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $110,842 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 3.56 7. Nashville, TN
Total compensation director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $124,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 1.64 8. Columbus, OH
Total compensation director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $108,377 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 1.45 9. Omaha, NE
Total compensation director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $117,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 2.02 10. Seattle, WA
Total compensation director jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $131,382 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 2.04
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Best cities for compensation directors
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland, OH
- Portland, OR
- Lincoln, NE
- Chandler, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Nashville, TN
- Columbus, OH
- Omaha, NE
- Seattle, WA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a compensation director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $119,413 | $84,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $109,805 | $77,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $135,941 | $96,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 4 | Lincoln, NE | $116,993 | $82,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $109,587 | $76,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,842 | $78,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $124,699 | $86,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $108,377 | $76,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $117,462 | $83,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $131,382 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $121,872 | $84,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $134,055 | $93,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $123,540 | $88,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $124,824 | $87,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $115,727 | $81,000 | 2,704,958 | 17 |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $108,812 | $76,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $124,777 | $87,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $124,510 | $87,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 19 | Scottsdale, AZ | $109,685 | $76,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $108,646 | $76,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 21 | Milwaukee, WI | $106,256 | $74,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $131,843 | $100,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 23 | Wichita, KS | $115,092 | $80,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $108,562 | $76,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 25 | Lexington, KY | $113,315 | $79,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | $112,034 | $78,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 27 | Durham, NC | $108,517 | $76,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $104,372 | $71,000 | 1,317,929 | 14 |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $126,371 | $89,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 30 | Greensboro, NC | $107,808 | $76,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 31 | Albuquerque, NM | $111,918 | $77,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 32 | Cincinnati, OH | $106,400 | $74,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,720 | $76,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $109,739 | $76,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 35 | Mesa, AZ | $109,579 | $76,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $126,422 | $89,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $109,565 | $76,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Denver, CO | $108,767 | $76,000 | 693,060 | 28 |
| 39 | Irving, TX | $104,346 | $71,000 | 238,289 | 4 |
| 40 | Charlotte, NC | $105,902 | $74,000 | 842,051 | 2 |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $105,269 | $71,000 | 947,890 | 5 |
| 42 | Madison, WI | $104,801 | $73,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 43 | Winston-Salem, NC | $107,367 | $75,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 44 | Orlando, FL | $106,432 | $70,000 | 277,173 | 4 |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $104,482 | $71,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $106,113 | $73,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $118,605 | $84,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $109,225 | $75,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $104,770 | $71,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 50 | Norfolk, VA | $118,510 | $84,000 | 245,115 | - |
Highest paying cities for compensation directors
| Rank | City | Avg. compensation director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaverton, OR | $136,095 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $131,992 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $131,382 |
| 4 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $126,284 |
| 5 | Lebanon, TN | $125,246 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $123,540 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $119,413 |
| 8 | Ashburn, VA | $118,770 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $117,462 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $115,727 |
| 11 | Greenwich, CT | $113,741 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $113,297 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $111,946 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,842 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $109,805 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $109,587 |
| 17 | Highlands Ranch, CO | $108,897 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $106,863 |
| 19 | Orlando, FL | $106,432 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $105,269 |
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Updated January 8, 2025