Best cities for an executive

The best cities for executives are Lincoln, NE, Boston, MA, and Hempstead, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for executives vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for executives in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as an executive or considering a move, this list of the best cities for executives to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for executives. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an executive. While the absolute best city for executives is Lincoln, NE, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for executives in 2024.

If you're looking for an executive job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for executives in 2026

1. Lincoln, NE

Total executive jobs:	12
Average annual salary:	$114,392
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$195,000
Location quotient:	3.34

Executive jobs in Lincoln

2. Boston, MA

Total executive jobs:	39
Average annual salary:	$139,888
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$88,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$220,000
Location quotient:	1.67

Executive jobs in Boston

3. Hempstead, NY

Total executive jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$131,533
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$211,000
Location quotient:	18.43

Executive jobs in Hempstead

4. New York, NY

Total executive jobs:	42
Average annual salary:	$131,260
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$210,000
Location quotient:	2.79

Executive jobs in New York

5. Cleveland, OH

Total executive jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$112,347
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$68,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$185,000
Location quotient:	1.54

Executive jobs in Cleveland

6. Columbus, OH

Total executive jobs:	22
Average annual salary:	$107,370
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$63,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$180,000
Location quotient:	1.51

Executive jobs in Columbus

7. Scottsdale, AZ

Total executive jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$107,179
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$61,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$187,000
Location quotient:	2.35

Executive jobs in Scottsdale

8. Henderson, NV

Total executive jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$120,573
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$207,000
Location quotient:	1.10

Executive jobs in Henderson

9. Phoenix, AZ

Total executive jobs:	34
Average annual salary:	$107,210
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$61,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$187,000
Location quotient:	1.67

Executive jobs in Phoenix

10. Houston, TX

Total executive jobs:	56
Average annual salary:	$101,593
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$182,000
Location quotient:	1.53

Executive jobs in Houston

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Best cities for executives

Lincoln, NE
Boston, MA
Hempstead, NY
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Columbus, OH
Scottsdale, AZ
Henderson, NV
Phoenix, AZ
Houston, TX

Detailed list of the best cities for an executive

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Lincoln, NE	$114,392	$67,000	280,364	12
2	Boston, MA	$139,888	$88,000	673,184	39
3	Hempstead, NY	$131,533	$81,000	759,757	2
4	New York, NY	$131,260	$81,000	8,537,673	42
5	Cleveland, OH	$112,347	$68,000	385,809	8
6	Columbus, OH	$107,370	$63,000	860,090	22
7	Scottsdale, AZ	$107,179	$61,000	246,645	8
8	Henderson, NV	$120,573	$70,000	292,969	1
9	Phoenix, AZ	$107,210	$61,000	1,615,017	34
10	Houston, TX	$101,593	$56,000	2,303,482	56
11	Seattle, WA	$138,609	$84,000	704,352	21
12	Buffalo, NY	$130,077	$80,000	256,902	5
13	Las Vegas, NV	$120,996	$70,000	632,912	5
14	Albuquerque, NM	$105,842	$60,000	559,277	6
15	Sacramento, CA	$123,363	$72,000	495,234	18
16	Irving, TX	$100,638	$56,000	238,289	21
17	Madison, WI	$108,740	$65,000	252,551	7
18	Pittsburgh, PA	$121,400	$73,000	303,625	5
19	Philadelphia, PA	$126,178	$77,000	1,567,872	7
20	Corpus Christi, TX	$101,158	$56,000	325,733	1
21	Washington, DC	$130,047	$78,000	681,170	35
22	Austin, TX	$101,967	$56,000	947,890	25
23	Oakland, CA	$123,058	$72,000	420,005	7
24	San Antonio, TX	$102,002	$56,000	1,492,510	9
25	Raleigh, NC	$99,887	$57,000	458,880	12
26	Chandler, AZ	$107,054	$61,000	247,477	3
27	Detroit, MI	$119,532	$72,000	672,795	1
28	Reno, NV	$127,704	$75,000	245,255	-
29	Omaha, NE	$115,429	$67,000	446,970	2
30	New Orleans, LA	$98,698	$54,000	391,495	6
31	Atlanta, GA	$101,873	$56,000	472,522	39
32	North Las Vegas, NV	$120,947	$70,000	238,702	-
33	Indianapolis, IN	$94,656	$55,000	855,164	23
34	Winston-Salem, NC	$98,358	$56,000	242,203	2
35	Toledo, OH	$110,318	$66,000	278,508	-
36	Tucson, AZ	$106,707	$60,000	530,706	3
37	Milwaukee, WI	$110,023	$66,000	595,047	2
38	Saint Paul, MN	$93,905	$57,000	302,398	19
39	Dallas, TX	$100,640	$56,000	1,317,929	16
40	Virginia Beach, VA	$128,142	$75,000	452,602	-
41	San Francisco, CA	$123,174	$72,000	870,887	42
42	Norfolk, VA	$127,890	$75,000	245,115	-
43	Chicago, IL	$98,593	$58,000	2,704,958	69
44	Jersey City, NJ	$130,787	$81,000	264,152	-
45	Newark, NJ	$130,722	$81,000	281,764	-
46	Brookhaven, NY	$132,591	$82,000	486,040	-
47	Chesapeake, VA	$127,399	$75,000	237,940	-
48	Arlington, TX	$100,763	$56,000	392,772	1
49	El Paso, TX	$102,979	$58,000	683,080	1
50	Islip, NY	$132,099	$82,000	335,543	-

Highest paying cities for executives

Rank	City	Avg. executive salary
1	Providence, RI	$153,126
2	Hartford, CT	$139,893
3	Boston, MA	$139,888
4	Seattle, WA	$138,609
5	Albany, NY	$135,461
6	Springfield, VA	$131,562
7	Washington, DC	$130,047
8	Carson City, NV	$127,393
9	Philadelphia, PA	$126,178
10	Davis, CA	$123,461
11	Lansing, MI	$118,498
12	Annapolis, MD	$115,765
13	Dover, DE	$114,796
14	Cleveland, OH	$112,347
15	Madison, WI	$108,740
16	Phoenix, AZ	$107,210
17	San Antonio, TX	$102,002
18	Atlanta, GA	$101,873
19	Des Moines, IA	$100,255
20	Baton Rouge, LA	$98,956