Best cities for a marketing and research director
The best cities for marketing and research directors are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for marketing and research directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for marketing and research directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a marketing and research director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for marketing and research directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for marketing and research directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a marketing and research director. While the absolute best city for marketing and research directors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for marketing and research directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a marketing and research director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for marketing and research directors in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $130,694 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location quotient: 17.13 2. Sacramento, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $129,387 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 27.38 3. Seattle, WA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $103,153 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,153 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Oakland, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Stockton, CA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,500 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Boston, MA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $115,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 23.94 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total marketing and research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for marketing and research directors
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Boston, MA
- Pittsburgh, PA
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- (1 marketing and research director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a marketing and research director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,694 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $129,387 | $76,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $117,258 | $68,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,153 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $130,153 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $130,473 | $77,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $129,980 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | Stockton, CA | $129,500 | $76,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $115,431 | $72,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,425 | $61,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $101,640 | $62,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $101,516 | $62,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $91,853 | $55,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $127,704 | $75,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $94,659 | $55,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $100,543 | $61,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Fort Wayne, IN | $97,257 | $58,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $92,331 | $55,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 19 | Winston-Salem, NC | $99,787 | $61,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $97,549 | $59,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 21 | Fort Worth, TX | $97,719 | $55,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,046 | $73,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $100,856 | $58,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | Lubbock, TX | $99,533 | $56,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 25 | Arlington, TX | $97,647 | $55,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $94,101 | $57,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $97,423 | $55,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 28 | Irving, TX | $97,415 | $55,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 29 | Chicago, IL | $103,951 | $61,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $120,592 | $70,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $97,127 | $55,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | Brookhaven, NY | $113,493 | $71,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $96,994 | $55,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 34 | Islip, NY | $113,366 | $71,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 35 | Oyster Bay, NY | $113,233 | $71,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | $95,732 | $58,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $113,139 | $70,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | New York, NY | $112,979 | $70,000 | 8,537,673 | 12 |
| 39 | Austin, TX | $96,962 | $56,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $105,370 | $62,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $96,342 | $56,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Long Beach, CA | $119,225 | $69,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 43 | Anaheim, CA | $119,032 | $69,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 44 | San Antonio, TX | $96,344 | $56,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 45 | Houston, TX | $96,171 | $56,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $118,573 | $69,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $118,553 | $69,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Laredo, TX | $94,860 | $55,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 49 | Irvine, CA | $118,098 | $69,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $94,771 | $55,000 | 325,733 | - |
Highest paying cities for marketing and research directors
| Rank | City | Avg. marketing and research director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,694 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $115,431 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $112,979 |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | $112,093 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $101,516 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $96,962 |
| 7 | Conroe, TX | $96,633 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $95,827 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $92,980 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $91,853 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,973 |
| 12 | Doral, FL | $80,287 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $80,208 |
| 14 | Oxford, MS | $79,197 |
| 15 | Centennial, CO | $72,003 |











