Best cities for a director
The best cities for directors are Oyster Bay, NY, New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a director. While the absolute best city for directors is Oyster Bay, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for directors in 2026
1. Oyster Bay, NY
Director jobs in Oyster BayTotal director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $139,278 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location quotient: 65.19 2. New York, NY
Director jobs in New YorkTotal director jobs: 150 Average annual salary: $139,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location quotient: 6.66 3. Los Angeles, CA
Director jobs in Los AngelesTotal director jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $136,707 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 2.75 4. Irvine, CA
Director jobs in IrvineTotal director jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $136,329 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 2.10 5. San Francisco, CA
Director jobs in San FranciscoTotal director jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $134,050 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location quotient: 3.32 6. Oakland, CA
Director jobs in OaklandTotal director jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $133,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location quotient: 3.05 7. Newark, NJ
Director jobs in NewarkTotal director jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $109,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 7.83 8. Bakersfield, CA
Director jobs in BakersfieldTotal director jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $135,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location quotient: 1.55 9. Austin, TX
Director jobs in AustinTotal director jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $103,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 2.22 10. Atlanta, GA
Director jobs in AtlantaTotal director jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $109,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 1.80
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Best cities for directors
- Oyster Bay, NY
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Irvine, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Bakersfield, CA
- Austin, TX
- Atlanta, GA
Detailed list of the best cities for a director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oyster Bay, NY | $139,278 | $81,000 | 293,214 | 4 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $139,575 | $81,000 | 8,537,673 | 150 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $136,707 | $77,000 | 3,976,322 | 147 |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | $136,329 | $77,000 | 266,122 | 98 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $134,050 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 56 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $133,871 | $75,000 | 420,005 | 50 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $109,569 | $64,000 | 281,764 | 156 |
| 8 | Bakersfield, CA | $135,688 | $77,000 | 376,380 | 12 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $103,431 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 254 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $109,715 | $64,000 | 472,522 | 28 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $136,141 | $77,000 | 1,406,630 | 144 |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $136,662 | $77,000 | 470,130 | 13 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $104,894 | $60,000 | 673,184 | 123 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $131,331 | $74,000 | 495,234 | 60 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $96,504 | $55,000 | 1,317,929 | 196 |
| 16 | Lubbock, TX | $98,665 | $55,000 | 252,506 | 9 |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $135,837 | $77,000 | 324,722 | 13 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $93,950 | $54,000 | 453,579 | 181 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $96,407 | $55,000 | 2,704,958 | 246 |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $134,467 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | 157 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $103,702 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 32 |
| 22 | Washington, DC | $114,648 | $67,000 | 681,170 | 117 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $92,870 | $52,000 | 632,912 | 76 |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $136,396 | $77,000 | 334,217 | 9 |
| 25 | Arlington, TX | $97,095 | $55,000 | 392,772 | 12 |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $92,325 | $54,000 | 458,880 | 72 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,165 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 182 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $91,344 | $52,000 | 672,795 | 52 |
| 29 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,651 | $64,000 | 264,152 | 78 |
| 30 | Laredo, TX | $105,200 | $59,000 | 257,156 | 3 |
| 31 | Virginia Beach, VA | $98,116 | $57,000 | 452,602 | 21 |
| 32 | Chula Vista, CA | $136,123 | $77,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 33 | Buffalo, NY | $130,827 | $75,000 | 256,902 | 14 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $89,955 | $51,000 | 245,255 | 19 |
| 35 | Fort Worth, TX | $97,149 | $55,000 | 854,113 | 31 |
| 36 | San Antonio, TX | $104,178 | $58,000 | 1,492,510 | 51 |
| 37 | Minneapolis, MN | $85,580 | $49,000 | 413,651 | 109 |
| 38 | Cleveland, OH | $76,556 | $44,000 | 385,809 | 52 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $75,287 | $43,000 | 278,508 | 18 |
| 40 | Stockton, CA | $132,572 | $75,000 | 307,072 | 5 |
| 41 | Baltimore, MD | $96,191 | $56,000 | 614,664 | 130 |
| 42 | Charlotte, NC | $89,526 | $52,000 | 842,051 | 125 |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $139,775 | $81,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $85,697 | $49,000 | 302,398 | 52 |
| 45 | Islip, NY | $139,607 | $81,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 46 | Anaheim, CA | $136,396 | $77,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $102,997 | $58,000 | 683,080 | 9 |
| 48 | Scottsdale, AZ | $86,953 | $49,000 | 246,645 | 25 |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $96,326 | $54,000 | 238,289 | 65 |
| 50 | Brookhaven, NY | $139,025 | $81,000 | 486,040 | - |
Highest paying cities for directors
| Rank | City | Avg. director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $139,575 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $136,707 |
| 3 | Stamford, CT | $125,420 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $114,648 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $109,715 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,651 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $104,894 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $104,178 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $98,165 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $96,902 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $96,407 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $96,191 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $93,950 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $92,870 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $92,325 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $91,344 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,128 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $85,949 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $85,580 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $85,514 |
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Updated January 8, 2025