Best cities for a development manager
The best cities for development managers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for development managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for development managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a development manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for development managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for development managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a development manager. While the absolute best city for development managers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for development managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a development manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for development managers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Development manager jobs in OaklandTotal development manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $145,447 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 5.16 2. San Francisco, CA
Development manager jobs in San FranciscoTotal development manager jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $145,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 3.28 3. Los Angeles, CA
Development manager jobs in Los AngelesTotal development manager jobs: 166 Average annual salary: $131,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 3.67 4. Cleveland, OH
Development manager jobs in ClevelandTotal development manager jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $101,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 2.27 5. Santa Ana, CA
Development manager jobs in Santa AnaTotal development manager jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $130,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 4.18 6. Seattle, WA
Development manager jobs in SeattleTotal development manager jobs: 144 Average annual salary: $120,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 3.23 7. Las Vegas, NV
Development manager jobs in Las VegasTotal development manager jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $108,476 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 2.42 8. Sacramento, CA
Development manager jobs in SacramentoTotal development manager jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $144,978 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 2.09 9. Milwaukee, WI
Development manager jobs in MilwaukeeTotal development manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $105,114 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 2.50 10. Raleigh, NC
Development manager jobs in RaleighTotal development manager jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $101,900 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 3.42
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Best cities for development managers
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Santa Ana, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Raleigh, NC
Detailed list of the best cities for a development manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $145,447 | $96,000 | 420,005 | 26 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $145,772 | $97,000 | 870,887 | 173 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $131,883 | $88,000 | 3,976,322 | 166 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $101,546 | $69,000 | 385,809 | 19 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $130,775 | $88,000 | 334,217 | 11 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $120,004 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 144 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,476 | $72,000 | 632,912 | 30 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $144,978 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 23 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $105,114 | $72,000 | 595,047 | 26 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $101,900 | $70,000 | 458,880 | 47 |
| 11 | Anaheim, CA | $131,027 | $88,000 | 351,043 | 8 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $105,445 | $71,000 | 683,080 | 10 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $108,992 | $74,000 | 672,795 | 25 |
| 14 | Chula Vista, CA | $127,685 | $86,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 15 | Irvine, CA | $130,552 | $88,000 | 266,122 | 37 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $104,376 | $72,000 | 252,551 | 21 |
| 17 | Newark, NJ | $122,277 | $83,000 | 281,764 | 14 |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $103,983 | $70,000 | 237,133 | 7 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $128,068 | $86,000 | 1,406,630 | 91 |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $101,940 | $70,000 | 263,016 | 18 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $99,168 | $68,000 | 860,090 | 48 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,674 | $73,000 | 1,567,872 | 40 |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $113,929 | $78,000 | 673,184 | 101 |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $103,298 | $69,000 | 2,303,482 | 113 |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $107,907 | $72,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 26 | San Antonio, TX | $103,444 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 28 |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $144,738 | $96,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $131,071 | $88,000 | 470,130 | 5 |
| 29 | San Jose, CA | $144,256 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 40 |
| 30 | Jersey City, NJ | $122,331 | $83,000 | 264,152 | 26 |
| 31 | Irving, TX | $102,582 | $69,000 | 238,289 | 40 |
| 32 | Austin, TX | $103,846 | $70,000 | 947,890 | 51 |
| 33 | Nashville, TN | $95,281 | $65,000 | 660,388 | 27 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $113,113 | $75,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $103,775 | $71,000 | 303,625 | 18 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $103,537 | $71,000 | 2,704,958 | 139 |
| 37 | Cincinnati, OH | $97,196 | $67,000 | 298,800 | 17 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $144,356 | $96,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Fresno, CA | $140,691 | $93,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $102,589 | $69,000 | 1,317,929 | 51 |
| 41 | New York, NY | $113,268 | $77,000 | 8,537,673 | 232 |
| 42 | Bakersfield, CA | $136,508 | $91,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 43 | Norfolk, VA | $110,434 | $76,000 | 245,115 | 9 |
| 44 | Plano, TX | $102,065 | $69,000 | 286,057 | 28 |
| 45 | Lincoln, NE | $85,816 | $58,000 | 280,364 | 25 |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $108,857 | $72,000 | 639,863 | 38 |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $99,483 | $68,000 | 472,522 | 115 |
| 48 | Toledo, OH | $100,515 | $69,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $108,395 | $72,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,389 | $70,000 | 1,615,017 | 48 |
Highest paying cities for development managers
| Rank | City | Avg. development manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $145,852 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $120,004 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $115,839 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $113,929 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $113,268 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $112,314 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $108,992 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $108,857 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,476 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,674 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $105,114 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,389 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $103,846 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $103,630 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $103,537 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $102,390 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $101,900 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,589 |
| 19 | Alpharetta, GA | $99,549 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $99,168 |
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Updated January 8, 2025