Best cities for an external relations director
The best cities for external relations directors are Norfolk, VA, Reno, NV, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for external relations directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for external relations directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an external relations director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for external relations directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for external relations directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an external relations director. While the absolute best city for external relations directors is Norfolk, VA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for external relations directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an external relations director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for external relations directors in 2025
1. Norfolk, VA
Total external relations director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $146,414 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 17.55 2. Reno, NV
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $157,077 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $258,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,505 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. North Las Vegas, NV
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,498 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Henderson, NV
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $150,981 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Albuquerque, NM
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,178 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Atlanta, GA
Total external relations director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $138,275 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 1.38 8. Wichita, KS
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $135,471 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Detroit, MI
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $140,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Lubbock, TX
Total external relations director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,415 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Choose from 10+ customizable external relations director resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use external relations director resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your external relations director resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for external relations directors
- Norfolk, VA
- Reno, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Atlanta, GA
- Wichita, KS
- Detroit, MI
- Lubbock, TX
- (2 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (2 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
- (0 external relations director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an external relations director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk, VA | $146,414 | $88,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $157,077 | $95,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $151,505 | $92,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $151,498 | $92,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $150,981 | $91,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $151,178 | $91,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $138,275 | $81,000 | 472,522 | 2 |
| 8 | Wichita, KS | $135,471 | $80,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $140,285 | $83,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 10 | Lubbock, TX | $137,415 | $82,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $134,485 | $79,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $134,624 | $80,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 13 | Plano, TX | $134,441 | $79,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $134,437 | $79,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 15 | Garland, TX | $134,325 | $79,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $134,315 | $79,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $120,187 | $71,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 18 | Chesapeake, VA | $146,465 | $88,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 19 | Virginia Beach, VA | $146,440 | $88,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $134,429 | $81,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | $127,809 | $75,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 22 | Jersey City, NJ | $145,857 | $88,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $141,457 | $85,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 24 | Newark, NJ | $145,779 | $88,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $129,684 | $76,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $116,658 | $69,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 27 | Houston, TX | $127,971 | $75,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 28 | New Orleans, LA | $120,291 | $70,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $117,498 | $69,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $114,142 | $67,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $120,905 | $70,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $116,789 | $69,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 33 | Fort Wayne, IN | $119,998 | $71,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 34 | Laredo, TX | $119,920 | $70,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $116,294 | $69,000 | 263,016 | 1 |
| 36 | San Francisco, CA | $147,049 | $90,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 37 | Sacramento, CA | $147,310 | $90,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 38 | Oakland, CA | $146,964 | $90,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $116,299 | $69,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 40 | Stockton, CA | $146,812 | $89,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 41 | Fremont, CA | $146,596 | $89,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $114,640 | $68,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $127,477 | $76,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 44 | Greensboro, NC | $115,772 | $69,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 45 | San Jose, CA | $146,252 | $89,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 46 | Lexington, KY | $111,982 | $66,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $124,730 | $74,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 48 | Riverside, CA | $138,159 | $84,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 49 | Fresno, CA | $144,683 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 50 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,745 | $70,000 | 880,619 | - |
Highest paying cities for external relations directors
| Rank | City | Avg. external relations director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davis, CA | $147,394 |
| 2 | Norfolk, VA | $146,414 |
| 3 | Hoboken, NJ | $145,866 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $141,457 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $138,275 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $134,315 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $133,504 |
| 8 | Hillsboro, OR | $127,788 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $124,730 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $122,971 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,745 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $120,187 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $115,204 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $112,377 |
| 15 | Elizabethtown, KY | $111,222 |
| 16 | Ogden, UT | $106,011 |
| 17 | Athens, OH | $105,886 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $105,791 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $104,714 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $101,672 |











