Best cities for a contractor/consultant
The best cities for contractor/consultants are Winston-Salem, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contractor/consultants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contractor/consultants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contractor/consultant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contractor/consultants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contractor/consultants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contractor/consultant. While the absolute best city for contractor/consultants is Winston-Salem, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contractor/consultants in 2024.
If you're looking for a contractor/consultant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contractor/consultants in 2026
1. Winston-Salem, NC
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $83,526 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 17.28 2. Raleigh, NC
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $85,105 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 3.87 3. Columbus, OH
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $84,144 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 3.02 4. Norfolk, VA
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $91,849 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 9.29 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $90,782 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 0.69 6. Boston, MA
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $96,169 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 1.88 7. Scottsdale, AZ
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $83,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 3.23 8. Cleveland, OH
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,217 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Louisville, KY
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $76,433 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 4.77 10. Detroit, MI
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $89,117 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for contractor/consultants
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Norfolk, VA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Cleveland, OH
- Louisville, KY
- Detroit, MI
- (5 contractor/consultant jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a contractor/consultant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,526 | $56,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 2 | Raleigh, NC | $85,105 | $57,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $84,144 | $58,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $91,849 | $64,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,782 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $96,169 | $69,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,571 | $56,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $87,217 | $60,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 9 | Louisville, KY | $76,433 | $52,000 | 597,337 | 5 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $89,117 | $61,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,370 | $61,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | $85,567 | $59,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,629 | $55,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $76,895 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $85,121 | $58,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,691 | $56,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $78,229 | $53,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 18 | Jersey City, NJ | $96,497 | $68,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 19 | Fort Wayne, IN | $79,976 | $55,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $96,468 | $68,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 21 | Greensboro, NC | $84,083 | $57,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $81,418 | $54,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $83,559 | $55,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $95,954 | $68,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Reno, NV | $81,979 | $56,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $72,929 | $49,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 27 | Arlington, TX | $78,603 | $51,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 28 | Islip, NY | $95,847 | $68,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $95,592 | $68,000 | 8,537,673 | 11 |
| 30 | Oyster Bay, NY | $95,790 | $68,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $90,468 | $77,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 32 | Lexington, KY | $77,722 | $53,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 33 | Hempstead, NY | $95,688 | $68,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,533 | $53,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $78,805 | $49,000 | 2,303,482 | 16 |
| 36 | Virginia Beach, VA | $92,011 | $64,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $83,743 | $56,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $83,467 | $56,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 39 | Mesa, AZ | $83,416 | $56,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 40 | Gilbert, AZ | $83,409 | $56,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 41 | Lubbock, TX | $80,754 | $53,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 42 | Chesapeake, VA | $91,596 | $63,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 43 | Memphis, TN | $70,683 | $47,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $82,425 | $55,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 45 | Austin, TX | $80,036 | $51,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 46 | Milwaukee, WI | $77,307 | $53,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $76,954 | $53,000 | 311,404 | 6 |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $94,005 | $66,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $80,029 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $78,429 | $53,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for contractor/consultants
| Rank | City | Avg. contractor/consultant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $96,169 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $96,016 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $95,592 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $93,140 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $91,180 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,370 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $85,105 |
| 8 | Salem, OR | $84,362 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $84,144 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,691 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $82,528 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $80,036 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,095 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,533 |
| 15 | Olympia, WA | $77,602 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $76,895 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $75,939 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $75,418 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $75,314 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $71,092 |
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Updated January 8, 2025