Best cities for a contract project manager
The best cities for contract project managers are Philadelphia, PA, Milwaukee, WI, and Madison, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contract project managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contract project managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contract project manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contract project managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contract project managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contract project manager. While the absolute best city for contract project managers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contract project managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a contract project manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contract project managers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total contract project manager jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $87,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 5.59 2. Milwaukee, WI
Total contract project manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $88,875 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 4.57 3. Madison, WI
Total contract project manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $88,167 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 4.96 4. Portland, OR
Total contract project manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $97,357 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 4.41 5. Columbus, OH
Total contract project manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $82,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 3.37 6. Boston, MA
Total contract project manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $104,994 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 1.68 7. Detroit, MI
Total contract project manager jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $88,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 1.42 8. Seattle, WA
Total contract project manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $100,844 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 1.78 9. Chicago, IL
Total contract project manager jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $92,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 3.95 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total contract project manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $84,168 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 1.99
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Best cities for contract project managers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Madison, WI
- Portland, OR
- Columbus, OH
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL
- Pittsburgh, PA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a contract project manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,698 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 9 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $88,875 | $57,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $88,167 | $56,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $97,357 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $82,255 | $52,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $104,994 | $69,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $88,732 | $57,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $100,844 | $63,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $92,273 | $59,000 | 2,704,958 | 13 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,168 | $53,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $95,307 | $60,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $85,777 | $55,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $84,377 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $83,017 | $52,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $78,878 | $50,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $109,138 | $68,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,993 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $108,917 | $68,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $108,746 | $68,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $108,744 | $68,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $107,802 | $67,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $107,522 | $67,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $85,993 | $53,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,452 | $49,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $106,783 | $67,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $86,011 | $54,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 27 | Glendale, AZ | $86,003 | $54,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $104,621 | $65,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 29 | Brookhaven, NY | $97,798 | $64,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $99,985 | $62,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 31 | Islip, NY | $97,739 | $64,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $97,605 | $64,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Winston-Salem, NC | $77,234 | $47,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $97,579 | $64,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | New York, NY | $97,438 | $63,000 | 8,537,673 | 13 |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $83,357 | $52,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 37 | Mesa, AZ | $85,612 | $53,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $85,571 | $53,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 39 | Gilbert, AZ | $85,532 | $53,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $83,178 | $52,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,943 | $61,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 42 | Tucson, AZ | $84,397 | $52,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,166 | $51,000 | 413,651 | 8 |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $93,897 | $61,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $95,015 | $62,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $90,386 | $56,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Norfolk, VA | $90,207 | $56,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 48 | Anaheim, CA | $98,694 | $61,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $77,753 | $50,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 50 | Long Beach, CA | $98,763 | $62,000 | 470,130 | - |
Highest paying cities for contract project managers
| Rank | City | Avg. contract project manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $109,138 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $104,994 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $100,844 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $97,438 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $97,357 |
| 6 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $93,784 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $92,273 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $89,323 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $88,875 |
| 10 | Allentown, PA | $87,704 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,993 |
| 12 | Littleton, CO | $83,025 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $83,017 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $82,255 |
| 15 | Cary, NC | $78,322 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,166 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $76,092 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $73,735 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $72,854 |
| 20 | Tallahassee, FL | $64,908 |
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Updated January 8, 2025