Best cities for a development director
The best cities for development directors are Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for development directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for development directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a development director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for development directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for development directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a development director. While the absolute best city for development directors is Cincinnati, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for development directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a development director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for development directors in 2026
1. Cincinnati, OH
Total development director jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $105,719 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.56 2. Columbus, OH
Total development director jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $107,156 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 2.00 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total development director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $109,657 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 3.89 4. Cleveland, OH
Total development director jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $107,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.87 5. Albuquerque, NM
Total development director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $113,936 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.75 6. Corpus Christi, TX
Total development director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $109,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 2.79 7. Boston, MA
Total development director jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $124,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 1.96 8. Glendale, AZ
Total development director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $114,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 1.54 9. Detroit, MI
Total development director jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $112,251 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 1.41 10. Durham, NC
Total development director jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $102,501 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 2.48
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Best cities for development directors
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Cleveland, OH
- Albuquerque, NM
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Boston, MA
- Glendale, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- Durham, NC
- (26 development director jobs)
- (42 development director jobs)
- (2 development director jobs)
- (14 development director jobs)
- (11 development director jobs)
- (3 development director jobs)
- (66 development director jobs)
- (2 development director jobs)
- (14 development director jobs)
- (19 development director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a development director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $105,719 | $62,000 | 298,800 | 26 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $107,156 | $63,000 | 860,090 | 42 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,657 | $61,000 | 238,702 | 2 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $107,733 | $64,000 | 385,809 | 14 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $113,936 | $65,000 | 559,277 | 11 |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | $109,239 | $62,000 | 325,733 | 3 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $124,859 | $75,000 | 673,184 | 66 |
| 8 | Glendale, AZ | $114,664 | $65,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $112,251 | $66,000 | 672,795 | 14 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $102,501 | $60,000 | 263,016 | 19 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,007 | $62,000 | 632,912 | 18 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $122,945 | $69,000 | 420,005 | 25 |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $114,160 | $64,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,368 | $62,000 | 1,567,872 | 44 |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $122,341 | $68,000 | 522,053 | 12 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $118,803 | $71,000 | 8,537,673 | 190 |
| 17 | Anaheim, CA | $121,562 | $68,000 | 351,043 | 12 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,367 | $69,000 | 3,976,322 | 156 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $102,480 | $60,000 | 458,880 | 24 |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $121,227 | $68,000 | 324,722 | 12 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,620 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 34 |
| 22 | San Francisco, CA | $123,149 | $69,000 | 870,887 | 117 |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $107,654 | $60,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 24 | Bakersfield, CA | $123,871 | $69,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $111,499 | $63,000 | 947,890 | 37 |
| 26 | Jersey City, NJ | $128,710 | $77,000 | 264,152 | 16 |
| 27 | Stockton, CA | $121,590 | $68,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 28 | Tucson, AZ | $113,217 | $64,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $128,654 | $77,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $114,548 | $65,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 31 | New Orleans, LA | $95,177 | $54,000 | 391,495 | 15 |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $99,512 | $58,000 | 252,551 | 13 |
| 33 | Irvine, CA | $121,063 | $68,000 | 266,122 | 27 |
| 34 | Toledo, OH | $106,884 | $63,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $118,229 | $66,000 | 1,406,630 | 76 |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $114,774 | $65,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $101,589 | $60,000 | 242,203 | 3 |
| 38 | Washington, DC | $112,422 | $67,000 | 681,170 | 108 |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | $100,848 | $59,000 | 595,047 | 13 |
| 40 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $92,271 | $53,000 | 260,999 | 8 |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $111,401 | $63,000 | 1,492,510 | 11 |
| 42 | Houston, TX | $110,075 | $63,000 | 2,303,482 | 47 |
| 43 | Fort Worth, TX | $107,903 | $62,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 44 | Pittsburgh, PA | $101,706 | $60,000 | 303,625 | 14 |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $107,225 | $61,000 | 1,317,929 | 26 |
| 46 | Lexington, KY | $98,883 | $58,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 47 | Louisville, KY | $97,405 | $57,000 | 597,337 | 10 |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $109,652 | $65,000 | 452,602 | 5 |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,433 | $53,000 | 302,398 | 21 |
| 50 | Mesa, AZ | $114,149 | $64,000 | 484,587 | - |
Highest paying cities for development directors
| Rank | City | Avg. development director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $128,710 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $124,859 |
| 3 | Redwood City, CA | $123,512 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $118,803 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,620 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $112,422 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $112,086 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $111,499 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $109,902 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $107,156 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $103,408 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $103,401 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,368 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $102,501 |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $99,512 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $96,571 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $94,349 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $92,176 |
| 19 | Portland, ME | $91,728 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,433 |
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Updated January 8, 2025