Best cities for a compensation manager
The best cities for compensation managers are North Las Vegas, NV, Detroit, MI, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for compensation managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for compensation managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a compensation manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for compensation managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for compensation managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a compensation manager. While the absolute best city for compensation managers is North Las Vegas, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for compensation managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a compensation manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for compensation managers in 2025
1. North Las Vegas, NV
Total compensation manager jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $108,907 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 6.61 2. Detroit, MI
Total compensation manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $105,221 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 3.42 3. Boston, MA
Total compensation manager jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $119,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 3.03 4. Sacramento, CA
Total compensation manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $129,284 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 3.47 5. Memphis, TN
Total compensation manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $99,269 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 2.92 6. Cleveland, OH
Total compensation manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $97,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 2.73 7. Jersey City, NJ
Total compensation manager jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $115,592 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 4.18 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total compensation manager jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $109,122 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 2.09 9. Lincoln, NE
Total compensation manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $95,121 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 3.94 10. Columbus, OH
Total compensation manager jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $93,976 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.43
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Best cities for compensation managers
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Detroit, MI
- Boston, MA
- Sacramento, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Jersey City, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Lincoln, NE
- Columbus, OH
- (1 compensation manager jobs)
- (10 compensation manager jobs)
- (30 compensation manager jobs)
- (10 compensation manager jobs)
- (8 compensation manager jobs)
- (6 compensation manager jobs)
- (19 compensation manager jobs)
- (14 compensation manager jobs)
- (6 compensation manager jobs)
- (15 compensation manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a compensation manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Las Vegas, NV | $108,907 | $75,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $105,221 | $72,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $119,843 | $83,000 | 673,184 | 30 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $129,284 | $89,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | $99,269 | $69,000 | 652,717 | 8 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $97,266 | $67,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $115,592 | $81,000 | 264,152 | 19 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,122 | $76,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 9 | Lincoln, NE | $95,121 | $67,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $93,976 | $65,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,001 | $76,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 12 | Louisville, KY | $92,630 | $65,000 | 597,337 | 6 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $127,870 | $88,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $124,036 | $86,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $115,701 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 21 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $110,736 | $77,000 | 639,863 | 11 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $120,698 | $83,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $106,343 | $74,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $101,983 | $71,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 20 | San Francisco, CA | $128,815 | $89,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $115,548 | $81,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $118,267 | $83,000 | 8,537,673 | 77 |
| 23 | Kansas City, MO | $95,781 | $68,000 | 481,420 | 9 |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $108,356 | $75,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $96,344 | $67,000 | 413,651 | 19 |
| 26 | Omaha, NE | $95,418 | $67,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $95,297 | $66,000 | 1,317,929 | 18 |
| 28 | Anchorage, AK | $115,270 | $86,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 29 | Virginia Beach, VA | $103,165 | $72,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 30 | Chesapeake, VA | $102,888 | $72,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $95,565 | $66,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 32 | Oakland, CA | $128,587 | $89,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $118,922 | $83,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Long Beach, CA | $115,759 | $81,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 35 | Stockton, CA | $128,053 | $88,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $118,711 | $83,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | San Jose, CA | $127,319 | $88,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 38 | Oyster Bay, NY | $118,588 | $83,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $118,429 | $83,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | Saint Louis, MO | $98,369 | $69,000 | 311,404 | 7 |
| 41 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,245 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 24 |
| 42 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,198 | $81,000 | 3,976,322 | 24 |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $92,941 | $65,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $96,503 | $67,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 45 | Lexington, KY | $94,240 | $66,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 46 | Austin, TX | $94,783 | $65,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $95,476 | $66,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $116,448 | $80,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $84,559 | $57,000 | 391,495 | 5 |
| 50 | Wichita, KS | $93,684 | $66,000 | 389,902 | - |
Highest paying cities for compensation managers
| Rank | City | Avg. compensation manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $129,284 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $120,128 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $119,843 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $118,267 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $116,739 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $115,701 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $115,592 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $112,698 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $112,136 |
| 10 | Salem, OR | $111,805 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,122 |
| 12 | Hartford, CT | $106,485 |
| 13 | Jackson, MS | $104,212 |
| 14 | Lansing, MI | $104,021 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $102,862 |
| 16 | Bismarck, ND | $102,819 |
| 17 | Columbia, MD | $102,052 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $97,266 |
| 19 | Jefferson City, MO | $96,741 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $96,504 |
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Updated January 8, 2025