Best cities for a department lead
The best cities for department leads are Columbus, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for department leads vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for department leads in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a department lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for department leads to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for department leads. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a department lead. While the absolute best city for department leads is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for department leads in 2024.
If you're looking for a department lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for department leads in 2025
1. Columbus, OH
Total department lead jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $55,067 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 0.22 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,618 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Cleveland, OH
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $56,506 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Baltimore, MD
Total department lead jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $64,207 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.32 5. Toledo, OH
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,162 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Saint Louis, MO
Total department lead jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $52,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 1.24 7. Jersey City, NJ
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Islip, NY
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $76,275 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Newark, NJ
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,082 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Hempstead, NY
Total department lead jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $76,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for department leads
- Columbus, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cleveland, OH
- Baltimore, MD
- Toledo, OH
- Saint Louis, MO
- Jersey City, NJ
- Islip, NY
- Newark, NJ
- Hempstead, NY
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- (0 department lead jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a department lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $55,067 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,618 | $27,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $56,506 | $27,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $64,207 | $29,000 | 614,664 | 3 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $54,162 | $26,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 6 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,569 | $28,000 | 311,404 | 12 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,274 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 8 | Islip, NY | $76,275 | $35,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $78,082 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 10 | Hempstead, NY | $76,138 | $35,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 11 | Brookhaven, NY | $76,005 | $35,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 12 | New York, NY | $75,721 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 1 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,510 | $30,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 14 | Oyster Bay, NY | $75,696 | $35,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $54,057 | $27,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $57,291 | $28,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $52,768 | $27,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | $47,611 | $23,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $51,539 | $26,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $72,479 | $33,000 | 681,170 | 1 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $65,213 | $32,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $55,669 | $28,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 23 | Memphis, TN | $45,817 | $24,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $53,362 | $27,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,227 | $27,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 26 | Virginia Beach, VA | $59,067 | $27,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,662 | $24,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 28 | Norfolk, VA | $58,674 | $26,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $51,509 | $26,000 | 2,303,482 | 3 |
| 30 | Austin, TX | $50,811 | $26,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 31 | Fort Worth, TX | $48,326 | $25,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 32 | Lexington, KY | $46,828 | $23,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 33 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,079 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $51,713 | $24,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,894 | $32,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 36 | Reno, NV | $54,018 | $28,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 37 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,096 | $27,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 38 | Buffalo, NY | $63,947 | $31,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 39 | Chesapeake, VA | $58,429 | $26,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $50,715 | $27,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $51,492 | $24,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 42 | Tucson, AZ | $47,171 | $25,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 43 | Henderson, NV | $51,919 | $27,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 44 | North Las Vegas, NV | $51,919 | $27,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 45 | Scottsdale, AZ | $48,059 | $25,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 46 | Plano, TX | $48,000 | $25,000 | 286,057 | 1 |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $47,101 | $24,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $49,530 | $26,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 49 | Arlington, TX | $48,375 | $25,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | $43,784 | $22,000 | 855,164 | 15 |
Highest paying cities for department leads
| Rank | City | Avg. department lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | $81,890 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $75,721 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $72,479 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,213 |
| 5 | Coon Rapids, MN | $56,809 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $55,067 |
| 7 | Brownsville, TX | $55,004 |
| 8 | Saint Charles, IL | $54,617 |
| 9 | Sparks, NV | $53,942 |
| 10 | Rohnert Park, CA | $53,539 |
| 11 | Mount Pleasant, WI | $52,698 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,569 |
| 13 | Portland, ME | $50,650 |
| 14 | Mount Pleasant, SC | $50,466 |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | $48,340 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $47,135 |
| 17 | Brentwood, TN | $47,090 |
| 18 | Vancouver, WA | $44,180 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $43,784 |
| 20 | Asheville, NC | $43,150 |
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Updated January 8, 2025