Best cities for a creative director
The best cities for creative directors are San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for creative directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for creative directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a creative director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for creative directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for creative directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a creative director. While the absolute best city for creative directors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for creative directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a creative director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for creative directors in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Creative director jobs in San FranciscoTotal creative director jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $184,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $317,000 Location quotient: 12.91 2. Los Angeles, CA
Creative director jobs in Los AngelesTotal creative director jobs: 166 Average annual salary: $180,078 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $309,000 Location quotient: 14.45 3. New York, NY
Creative director jobs in New YorkTotal creative director jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $151,007 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 17.96 4. Irvine, CA
Creative director jobs in IrvineTotal creative director jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $178,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $307,000 Location quotient: 2.73 5. Long Beach, CA
Creative director jobs in Long BeachTotal creative director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $179,178 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 2.44 6. Oakland, CA
Total creative director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $184,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $317,000 Location quotient: 1.56 7. Las Vegas, NV
Creative director jobs in Las VegasTotal creative director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $127,456 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 3.49 8. Seattle, WA
Creative director jobs in SeattleTotal creative director jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $151,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $261,000 Location quotient: 2.47 9. San Diego, CA
Creative director jobs in San DiegoTotal creative director jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $172,917 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $298,000 Location quotient: 2.21 10. San Jose, CA
Creative director jobs in San JoseTotal creative director jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $184,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $316,000 Location quotient: 0.95
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Best cities for creative directors
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Irvine, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle, WA
- San Diego, CA
- San Jose, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a creative director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $184,947 | $107,000 | 870,887 | 173 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $180,078 | $104,000 | 3,976,322 | 166 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $151,007 | $89,000 | 8,537,673 | 20 |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | $178,266 | $103,000 | 266,122 | 10 |
| 5 | Long Beach, CA | $179,178 | $104,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $184,632 | $107,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $127,456 | $73,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $151,616 | $87,000 | 704,352 | 28 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $172,917 | $100,000 | 1,406,630 | 18 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $184,641 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 9 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $178,610 | $103,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $127,849 | $75,000 | 2,704,958 | 57 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $123,240 | $70,000 | 639,863 | 14 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $116,376 | $68,000 | 672,795 | 6 |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | $145,547 | $86,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $122,919 | $70,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 17 | Fremont, CA | $184,537 | $107,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $182,697 | $106,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $182,048 | $105,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $181,004 | $104,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $181,490 | $105,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 22 | Anaheim, CA | $178,922 | $103,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $178,324 | $103,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Durham, NC | $122,883 | $70,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $106,272 | $60,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 26 | Atlanta, GA | $116,256 | $66,000 | 472,522 | 24 |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $103,336 | $58,000 | 1,317,929 | 25 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $116,037 | $68,000 | 673,184 | 24 |
| 29 | Charlotte, NC | $119,205 | $68,000 | 842,051 | 9 |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $101,519 | $58,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $151,809 | $89,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Chula Vista, CA | $171,728 | $99,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $151,615 | $89,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Oyster Bay, NY | $151,363 | $89,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $149,593 | $88,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | Hempstead, NY | $151,275 | $89,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 37 | Austin, TX | $105,950 | $60,000 | 947,890 | 16 |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN | $114,737 | $70,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $127,285 | $73,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $127,239 | $72,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $126,266 | $72,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $97,269 | $55,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 43 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,169 | $65,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 44 | Nashville, TN | $89,085 | $51,000 | 660,388 | 8 |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $144,014 | $84,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 46 | Jersey City, NJ | $135,733 | $80,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $121,735 | $69,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $121,151 | $69,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 49 | Madison, WI | $91,282 | $54,000 | 252,551 | 6 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $98,503 | $57,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for creative directors
| Rank | City | Avg. creative director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park, CA | $184,999 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $151,616 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $151,007 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $138,984 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $127,849 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $127,456 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $123,240 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $122,919 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $116,376 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $116,256 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $116,037 |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $115,027 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $114,737 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $110,169 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $105,950 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $103,776 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $101,519 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $99,758 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $97,221 |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | $96,752 |
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Updated January 8, 2025