Best cities for a functional lead
The best cities for functional leads are Albuquerque, NM, Columbus, OH, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for functional leads vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for functional leads in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a functional lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for functional leads to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for functional leads. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a functional lead. While the absolute best city for functional leads is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for functional leads in 2024.
If you're looking for a functional lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for functional leads in 2025
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total functional lead jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $130,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 6.22 2. Columbus, OH
Total functional lead jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $104,278 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 4.97 3. Cleveland, OH
Total functional lead jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $105,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 3.49 4. Portland, OR
Total functional lead jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $125,626 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 3.25 5. Oakland, CA
Total functional lead jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $141,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 2.90 6. Cincinnati, OH
Total functional lead jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $103,020 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 3.20 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total functional lead jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $113,181 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 2.64 8. Sacramento, CA
Total functional lead jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $139,479 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 2.66 9. Santa Ana, CA
Total functional lead jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $135,142 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 2.77 10. Atlanta, GA
Total functional lead jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $103,711 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 3.98
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Best cities for functional leads
- Albuquerque, NM
- Columbus, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Portland, OR
- Oakland, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- (12 functional lead jobs)
- (32 functional lead jobs)
- (8 functional lead jobs)
- (16 functional lead jobs)
- (4 functional lead jobs)
- (10 functional lead jobs)
- (9 functional lead jobs)
- (8 functional lead jobs)
- (2 functional lead jobs)
- (53 functional lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a functional lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $130,533 | $93,000 | 559,277 | 12 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $104,278 | $76,000 | 860,090 | 32 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $105,420 | $77,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $125,626 | $90,000 | 639,863 | 16 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $141,463 | $101,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $103,020 | $76,000 | 298,800 | 10 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $113,181 | $80,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $139,479 | $99,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 9 | Santa Ana, CA | $135,142 | $96,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $103,711 | $76,000 | 472,522 | 53 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $97,182 | $72,000 | 595,047 | 24 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $141,649 | $101,000 | 870,887 | 21 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $95,242 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 23 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $136,223 | $97,000 | 3,976,322 | 29 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $96,701 | $70,000 | 638,367 | 12 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,194 | $75,000 | 1,567,872 | 23 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,577 | $77,000 | 1,615,017 | 24 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $107,894 | $78,000 | 947,890 | 19 |
| 19 | Gilbert, AZ | $107,836 | $77,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 20 | Norfolk, VA | $108,361 | $79,000 | 245,115 | 9 |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $141,639 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | 9 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $113,779 | $80,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $108,030 | $78,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,822 | $76,000 | 413,651 | 20 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $140,107 | $100,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $141,498 | $101,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | Boston, MA | $114,471 | $85,000 | 673,184 | 33 |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $107,651 | $78,000 | 1,317,929 | 15 |
| 29 | Houston, TX | $107,298 | $78,000 | 2,303,482 | 31 |
| 30 | New Orleans, LA | $96,032 | $70,000 | 391,495 | 7 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $100,840 | $76,000 | 302,398 | 9 |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $113,020 | $80,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $107,497 | $78,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | $96,414 | $71,000 | 842,051 | 29 |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | $91,475 | $67,000 | 855,164 | 35 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $112,932 | $80,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $140,296 | $100,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $104,654 | $77,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,008 | $73,000 | 303,625 | 11 |
| 40 | Bakersfield, CA | $138,752 | $99,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $132,062 | $94,000 | 1,406,630 | 16 |
| 42 | Irving, TX | $107,710 | $78,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $134,910 | $96,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 44 | El Paso, TX | $112,343 | $81,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $107,903 | $78,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $104,462 | $77,000 | 2,704,958 | 35 |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $97,902 | $72,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
| 48 | Long Beach, CA | $135,538 | $96,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $110,128 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Anaheim, CA | $135,359 | $96,000 | 351,043 | - |
Highest paying cities for functional leads
| Rank | City | Avg. functional lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $141,734 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $125,626 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $114,471 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $108,577 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $108,396 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $108,030 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $105,563 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $105,420 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $104,462 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $104,337 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $103,711 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $103,284 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,194 |
| 14 | Hartford, CT | $101,536 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,822 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $100,392 |
| 17 | Des Moines, IA | $99,816 |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | $98,797 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $97,902 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $97,182 |











