Best cities for a creative lead
The best cities for creative leads are Raleigh, NC, Durham, NC, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for creative leads vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for creative leads in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a creative lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for creative leads to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for creative leads. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a creative lead. While the absolute best city for creative leads is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for creative leads in 2024.
If you're looking for a creative lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for creative leads in 2025
1. Raleigh, NC
Total creative lead jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $105,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 1.44 2. Durham, NC
Total creative lead jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $106,154 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 1.15 3. San Francisco, CA
Total creative lead jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $130,139 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 2.25 4. Greensboro, NC
Total creative lead jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $104,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 1.23 5. Boston, MA
Total creative lead jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $118,709 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 0.78 6. Seattle, WA
Total creative lead jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $122,063 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location quotient: 0.55 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total creative lead jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $100,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 0.79 8. Los Angeles, CA
Total creative lead jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $123,175 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location quotient: 1.64 9. Sacramento, CA
Total creative lead jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $127,985 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 0.90 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total creative lead jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $101,003 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 0.60
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Best cities for creative leads
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Greensboro, NC
- Boston, MA
- Seattle, WA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- (4 creative lead jobs)
- (2 creative lead jobs)
- (24 creative lead jobs)
- (1 creative lead jobs)
- (6 creative lead jobs)
- (5 creative lead jobs)
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- (4 creative lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a creative lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $105,998 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 2 | Durham, NC | $106,154 | $52,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,139 | $69,000 | 870,887 | 24 |
| 4 | Greensboro, NC | $104,384 | $51,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $118,709 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $122,063 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $100,662 | $52,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $123,175 | $65,000 | 3,976,322 | 15 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $127,985 | $68,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,003 | $52,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $129,865 | $69,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $115,224 | $62,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $129,615 | $69,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $100,381 | $52,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $129,545 | $69,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $103,336 | $51,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $100,353 | $52,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $80,496 | $40,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $128,486 | $68,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 20 | New York, NY | $107,357 | $57,000 | 8,537,673 | 46 |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $103,571 | $54,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 22 | Glendale, AZ | $101,127 | $52,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $97,435 | $50,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $126,836 | $67,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,623 | $66,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $100,763 | $52,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $99,716 | $52,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $122,218 | $64,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Chandler, AZ | $99,704 | $52,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $99,508 | $52,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $98,585 | $48,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 32 | Anaheim, CA | $121,999 | $64,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $121,690 | $64,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $121,367 | $63,000 | 266,122 | 1 |
| 35 | Chicago, IL | $89,382 | $46,000 | 2,704,958 | 11 |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $121,477 | $63,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | $117,146 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | 3 |
| 38 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,717 | $45,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 39 | Islip, NY | $107,552 | $57,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,849 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $107,516 | $57,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $116,237 | $61,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $107,473 | $57,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Oyster Bay, NY | $107,404 | $57,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 45 | Baltimore, MD | $101,117 | $52,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 46 | Fort Wayne, IN | $79,250 | $40,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 47 | Austin, TX | $80,330 | $41,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $78,436 | $40,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $102,361 | $52,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $85,144 | $43,000 | 385,809 | - |
Highest paying cities for creative leads
| Rank | City | Avg. creative lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,139 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $122,064 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $118,709 |
| 4 | Beaverton, OR | $115,207 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $107,357 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $106,154 |
| 7 | Carson City, NV | $104,376 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $101,117 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,003 |
| 10 | Warren, MI | $97,694 |
| 11 | Bismarck, ND | $97,447 |
| 12 | Charleston, WV | $91,528 |
| 13 | Concord, NH | $90,421 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $90,037 |
| 15 | Dover, DE | $89,604 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $89,382 |
| 17 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $82,209 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $80,496 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $80,330 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $77,040 |
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Updated January 8, 2025