Best cities for a lead associate
The best cities for lead associates are Jersey City, NJ, Boston, MA, and Washington, DC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for lead associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for lead associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a lead associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for lead associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for lead associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a lead associate. While the absolute best city for lead associates is Jersey City, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for lead associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a lead associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for lead associates in 2026
1. Jersey City, NJ
Total lead associate jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $109,811 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 4.07 2. Boston, MA
Total lead associate jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $113,785 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 1.56 3. Washington, DC
Total lead associate jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $109,137 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 2.32 4. Nashville, TN
Total lead associate jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $76,745 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 2.04 5. Chesapeake, VA
Total lead associate jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $93,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 1.67 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Total lead associate jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $75,580 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 2.51 7. New York, NY
Total lead associate jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $97,973 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 1.35 8. Cleveland, OH
Total lead associate jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $69,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 7.30 9. Buffalo, NY
Total lead associate jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $85,924 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 7.85 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total lead associate jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $87,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 1.01
Best cities for lead associates
- Jersey City, NJ
- Boston, MA
- Washington, DC
- Nashville, TN
- Chesapeake, VA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- New York, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Buffalo, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- (30 lead associate jobs)
- (25 lead associate jobs)
- (30 lead associate jobs)
- (12 lead associate jobs)
- (1 lead associate jobs)
- (17 lead associate jobs)
- (99 lead associate jobs)
- (26 lead associate jobs)
- (18 lead associate jobs)
- (11 lead associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a lead associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,811 | $62,000 | 264,152 | 30 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $113,785 | $67,000 | 673,184 | 25 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $109,137 | $59,000 | 681,170 | 30 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $76,745 | $37,000 | 660,388 | 12 |
| 5 | Chesapeake, VA | $93,648 | $52,000 | 237,940 | 1 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,580 | $37,000 | 303,625 | 17 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $97,973 | $56,000 | 8,537,673 | 99 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $69,494 | $33,000 | 385,809 | 26 |
| 9 | Buffalo, NY | $85,924 | $43,000 | 256,902 | 18 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,572 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 11 | Lexington, KY | $63,159 | $30,000 | 318,449 | 6 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $73,491 | $35,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $67,800 | $35,000 | 472,522 | 42 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $94,780 | $51,000 | 614,664 | 7 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $74,460 | $39,000 | 842,051 | 12 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $60,923 | $27,000 | 446,970 | 11 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $67,099 | $33,000 | 947,890 | 18 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $59,966 | $28,000 | 298,800 | 6 |
| 19 | Plano, TX | $60,294 | $28,000 | 286,057 | 11 |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $109,610 | $62,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $80,530 | $43,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $99,329 | $57,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | Milwaukee, WI | $58,948 | $25,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 24 | Islip, NY | $99,036 | $57,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 25 | Oyster Bay, NY | $98,591 | $56,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $98,472 | $56,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 27 | Chicago, IL | $57,969 | $25,000 | 2,704,958 | 34 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $63,562 | $30,000 | 860,090 | 9 |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $69,073 | $41,000 | 277,173 | 5 |
| 30 | Virginia Beach, VA | $94,525 | $53,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 31 | Norfolk, VA | $93,936 | $52,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $58,033 | $27,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 33 | Durham, NC | $79,804 | $42,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 34 | Winston-Salem, NC | $75,855 | $39,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 35 | Jacksonville, FL | $66,033 | $37,000 | 880,619 | 6 |
| 36 | Santa Ana, CA | $57,407 | $26,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 37 | New Orleans, LA | $76,096 | $39,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 38 | Dallas, TX | $60,826 | $28,000 | 1,317,929 | 12 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $77,162 | $40,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 40 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,915 | $31,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $73,892 | $39,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Houston, TX | $70,268 | $35,000 | 2,303,482 | 8 |
| 43 | Laredo, TX | $73,078 | $39,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $71,735 | $32,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | San Francisco, CA | $59,127 | $25,000 | 870,887 | 26 |
| 46 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,591 | $22,000 | 638,367 | 6 |
| 47 | Tampa, FL | $69,186 | $41,000 | 377,165 | 4 |
| 48 | Sacramento, CA | $57,744 | $25,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $68,976 | $35,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 50 | Toledo, OH | $63,846 | $29,000 | 278,508 | - |
Highest paying cities for lead associates
| Rank | City | Avg. lead associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $113,785 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,811 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $109,137 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $100,655 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $97,973 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $94,421 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,572 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $80,530 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $70,268 |
| 10 | West Palm Beach, FL | $69,675 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $69,494 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,915 |
| 13 | Johns Creek, GA | $67,900 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $60,923 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,231 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $59,127 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $57,969 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,391 |
| 19 | Aurora, CO | $49,297 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,866 |
Search for lead associate jobs
Updated January 8, 2025