Best cities for a contracting officer
The best cities for contracting officers are Durham, NC, Chesapeake, VA, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contracting officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contracting officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contracting officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contracting officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contracting officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contracting officer. While the absolute best city for contracting officers is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contracting officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a contracting officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contracting officers in 2025
1. Durham, NC
Total contracting officer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,378 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 8.77 2. Chesapeake, VA
Total contracting officer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 53.50 3. Raleigh, NC
Total contracting officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $73,465 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 4.11 4. Orlando, FL
Total contracting officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $67,106 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 13.20 5. New Orleans, LA
Total contracting officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $68,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 7.79 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total contracting officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Columbus, OH
Total contracting officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $64,244 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 2.40 8. Miami, FL
Total contracting officer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $67,309 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 5.22 9. Pittsburgh, PA
Total contracting officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Tucson, AZ
Total contracting officer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $62,379 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 18.93
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Best cities for contracting officers
- Durham, NC
- Chesapeake, VA
- Raleigh, NC
- Orlando, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Columbus, OH
- Miami, FL
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Tucson, AZ
- (4 contracting officer jobs)
- (4 contracting officer jobs)
- (3 contracting officer jobs)
- (8 contracting officer jobs)
- (2 contracting officer jobs)
- (0 contracting officer jobs)
- (3 contracting officer jobs)
- (5 contracting officer jobs)
- (0 contracting officer jobs)
- (6 contracting officer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a contracting officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $73,378 | $42,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 2 | Chesapeake, VA | $73,843 | $42,000 | 237,940 | 4 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $73,465 | $43,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 4 | Orlando, FL | $67,106 | $40,000 | 277,173 | 8 |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | $68,441 | $41,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $72,733 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $64,244 | $37,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $67,309 | $40,000 | 453,579 | 5 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,759 | $41,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | $62,379 | $40,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 11 | Greensboro, NC | $72,542 | $42,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $74,655 | $48,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $72,053 | $42,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,614 | $43,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $70,513 | $42,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $69,840 | $41,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $79,904 | $45,000 | 681,170 | 21 |
| 18 | Lexington, KY | $61,792 | $37,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $72,776 | $44,000 | 472,522 | 1 |
| 20 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $67,396 | $40,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 21 | Louisville, KY | $60,977 | $37,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 22 | Virginia Beach, VA | $73,925 | $42,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 23 | Hialeah, FL | $67,347 | $40,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 24 | Cincinnati, OH | $63,327 | $38,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $74,448 | $48,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 26 | Norfolk, VA | $73,833 | $42,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 27 | Tampa, FL | $67,292 | $40,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $78,940 | $44,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 29 | Irvine, CA | $74,740 | $48,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 30 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,681 | $40,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $62,695 | $40,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $59,250 | $34,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | $62,664 | $40,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 34 | Toledo, OH | $58,817 | $34,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 35 | Gilbert, AZ | $62,656 | $40,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 36 | Mesa, AZ | $62,649 | $40,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $62,628 | $40,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,747 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 39 | Jacksonville, FL | $66,356 | $39,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 40 | Wichita, KS | $60,053 | $39,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $59,790 | $37,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $74,736 | $48,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 43 | San Francisco, CA | $74,627 | $48,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | $74,439 | $48,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 45 | Austin, TX | $59,635 | $37,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 46 | Fremont, CA | $74,369 | $48,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $74,772 | $49,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $74,287 | $48,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $74,281 | $48,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 50 | Santa Ana, CA | $74,745 | $49,000 | 334,217 | - |
Highest paying cities for contracting officers
| Rank | City | Avg. contracting officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $79,904 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,747 |
| 3 | Suffolk, VA | $73,733 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $73,378 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $72,776 |
| 6 | Miami Beach, FL | $67,314 |
| 7 | Lancaster, OH | $64,909 |
| 8 | Tucson, AZ | $62,379 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $61,776 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $59,544 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $56,765 |
| 12 | Richland, WA | $54,834 |
| 13 | Montgomery, AL | $52,907 |
| 14 | Eugene, OR | $52,810 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $51,375 |
| 16 | Lincoln, NE | $48,340 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $47,117 |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $46,085 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $45,148 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,892 |
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Updated January 8, 2025