Best cities for a finance director
The best cities for finance directors are Detroit, MI, San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for finance directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for finance directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a finance director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for finance directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for finance directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a finance director. While the absolute best city for finance directors is Detroit, MI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for finance directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a finance director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for finance directors in 2026
1. Detroit, MI
Finance director jobs in DetroitTotal finance director jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $114,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.42 2. San Francisco, CA
Finance director jobs in San FranciscoTotal finance director jobs: 185 Average annual salary: $143,562 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 2.43 3. Oakland, CA
Finance director jobs in OaklandTotal finance director jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $143,275 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 2.74 4. New York, NY
Finance director jobs in New YorkTotal finance director jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $131,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 3.13 5. Boston, MA
Finance director jobs in BostonTotal finance director jobs: 123 Average annual salary: $126,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 2.25 6. Long Beach, CA
Finance director jobs in Long BeachTotal finance director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $136,140 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 2.36 7. Fresno, CA
Finance director jobs in FresnoTotal finance director jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $142,404 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 1.87 8. Los Angeles, CA
Finance director jobs in Los AngelesTotal finance director jobs: 141 Average annual salary: $137,286 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 2.16 9. Philadelphia, PA
Finance director jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal finance director jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $118,567 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 1.38 10. Irvine, CA
Finance director jobs in IrvineTotal finance director jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $135,161 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 2.06
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Best cities for finance directors
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Long Beach, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Irvine, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a finance director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $114,628 | $73,000 | 672,795 | 39 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $143,562 | $93,000 | 870,887 | 185 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $143,275 | $93,000 | 420,005 | 20 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $131,112 | $83,000 | 8,537,673 | 14 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $126,352 | $80,000 | 673,184 | 123 |
| 6 | Long Beach, CA | $136,140 | $88,000 | 470,130 | 11 |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $142,404 | $92,000 | 522,053 | 8 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $137,286 | $89,000 | 3,976,322 | 141 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $118,567 | $75,000 | 1,567,872 | 51 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $135,161 | $88,000 | 266,122 | 43 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $123,992 | $78,000 | 281,764 | 30 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $139,233 | $90,000 | 495,234 | 28 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,708 | $70,000 | 632,912 | 34 |
| 14 | Laredo, TX | $108,298 | $68,000 | 257,156 | 2 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $135,288 | $88,000 | 324,722 | 7 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $107,727 | $69,000 | 245,255 | 10 |
| 17 | Bakersfield, CA | $141,379 | $91,000 | 376,380 | 4 |
| 18 | Anaheim, CA | $135,878 | $88,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $107,392 | $70,000 | 252,506 | 4 |
| 20 | Arlington, TX | $104,862 | $68,000 | 392,772 | 6 |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $143,632 | $93,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $144,164 | $93,000 | 1,025,350 | 38 |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $99,585 | $63,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $108,794 | $70,000 | 639,863 | 55 |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $109,163 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 52 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $114,675 | $72,000 | 303,625 | 13 |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | $109,661 | $69,000 | 1,492,510 | 18 |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $131,314 | $85,000 | 1,406,630 | 60 |
| 29 | Baltimore, MD | $109,842 | $69,000 | 614,664 | 74 |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $107,810 | $68,000 | 2,303,482 | 87 |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $103,846 | $65,000 | 458,880 | 25 |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $135,525 | $88,000 | 334,217 | 3 |
| 33 | Virginia Beach, VA | $110,155 | $69,000 | 452,602 | 9 |
| 34 | New Orleans, LA | $90,189 | $57,000 | 391,495 | 25 |
| 35 | Lincoln, NE | $95,200 | $64,000 | 280,364 | 16 |
| 36 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,144 | $65,000 | 855,164 | 29 |
| 37 | Denver, CO | $97,604 | $65,000 | 693,060 | 144 |
| 38 | Saint Paul, MN | $100,404 | $67,000 | 302,398 | 27 |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $124,042 | $78,000 | 264,152 | 21 |
| 40 | Washington, DC | $112,965 | $71,000 | 681,170 | 147 |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $113,006 | $73,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 42 | Cleveland, OH | $101,358 | $64,000 | 385,809 | 9 |
| 43 | Stockton, CA | $141,186 | $91,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 44 | Islip, NY | $131,420 | $83,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $127,385 | $80,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 46 | Winston-Salem, NC | $102,308 | $65,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 47 | Hialeah, FL | $82,595 | $51,000 | 236,387 | 4 |
| 48 | Miami, FL | $82,542 | $51,000 | 453,579 | 136 |
| 49 | Brookhaven, NY | $131,404 | $83,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $107,842 | $68,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for finance directors
| Rank | City | Avg. finance director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $144,203 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $131,112 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $126,352 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $124,042 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $118,875 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $118,567 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $114,628 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $112,965 |
| 9 | Reston, VA | $111,422 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $109,842 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $109,661 |
| 12 | Beaverton, OR | $108,939 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $108,708 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $106,813 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,622 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $103,846 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $103,246 |
| 18 | Portland, ME | $102,930 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,144 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,307 |
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Updated January 8, 2025