Best cities for a mentor
The best cities for mentors are Pittsburgh, PA, Indianapolis, IN, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mentors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mentors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mentor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mentors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mentors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mentor. While the absolute best city for mentors is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mentors in 2024.
If you're looking for a mentor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mentors in 2026
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total mentor jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $40,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 1.57 2. Indianapolis, IN
Mentor jobs in IndianapolisTotal mentor jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $38,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 4.27 3. New York, NY
Mentor jobs in New YorkTotal mentor jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $52,658 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 1.24 4. Boston, MA
Mentor jobs in BostonTotal mentor jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $48,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.25 5. Cleveland, OH
Mentor jobs in ClevelandTotal mentor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $46,058 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.66 6. Buffalo, NY
Total mentor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $48,495 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 2.06 7. Detroit, MI
Mentor jobs in DetroitTotal mentor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $39,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 0.75 8. Washington, DC
Mentor jobs in WashingtonTotal mentor jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $50,938 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 1.73 9. Milwaukee, WI
Mentor jobs in MilwaukeeTotal mentor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $40,244 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 1.07 10. Columbus, OH
Mentor jobs in ColumbusTotal mentor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $45,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.24
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Best cities for mentors
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Indianapolis, IN
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Cleveland, OH
- Buffalo, NY
- Detroit, MI
- Washington, DC
- Milwaukee, WI
- Columbus, OH
Detailed list of the best cities for a mentor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,266 | $21,000 | 303,625 | 9 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,646 | $21,000 | 855,164 | 32 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $52,658 | $28,000 | 8,537,673 | 77 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $48,440 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $46,058 | $25,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $48,495 | $27,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $39,571 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $50,938 | $26,000 | 681,170 | 19 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $40,244 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $45,734 | $24,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $48,198 | $26,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | $54,409 | $27,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $43,833 | $22,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $43,690 | $21,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 15 | Norfolk, VA | $54,310 | $27,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $43,052 | $21,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,908 | $22,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 18 | Chesapeake, VA | $54,058 | $27,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 19 | Toledo, OH | $45,001 | $24,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $43,379 | $23,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 21 | Memphis, TN | $34,070 | $19,000 | 652,717 | 4 |
| 22 | Winston-Salem, NC | $42,581 | $21,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 23 | Hempstead, NY | $52,680 | $29,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $33,250 | $22,000 | 639,863 | 50 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $31,043 | $16,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 26 | Fort Wayne, IN | $40,494 | $22,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 27 | Lexington, KY | $40,194 | $21,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | $38,125 | $22,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $52,430 | $29,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Jersey City, NJ | $48,234 | $26,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 31 | Sacramento, CA | $37,614 | $21,000 | 495,234 | 12 |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $52,296 | $28,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $52,054 | $29,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Chicago, IL | $42,867 | $24,000 | 2,704,958 | 12 |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $40,358 | $20,000 | 842,051 | 5 |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $38,195 | $22,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $37,096 | $20,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 38 | El Paso, TX | $31,573 | $17,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 39 | Louisville, KY | $38,818 | $21,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO | $37,911 | $22,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $39,303 | $22,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,978 | $19,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 43 | Baltimore, MD | $50,044 | $26,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 44 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,838 | $21,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,569 | $23,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $34,184 | $18,000 | 472,522 | 5 |
| 47 | San Antonio, TX | $31,010 | $16,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 48 | San Jose, CA | $39,177 | $22,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 49 | Saint Louis, MO | $40,726 | $23,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 50 | San Francisco, CA | $39,172 | $22,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for mentors
| Rank | City | Avg. mentor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reston, VA | $55,154 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $52,658 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $50,938 |
| 4 | Bridgeton, NJ | $50,095 |
| 5 | Brockton, MA | $49,071 |
| 6 | Mentor, OH | $45,974 |
| 7 | Danbury, CT | $43,506 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $42,867 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $40,358 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,266 |
| 11 | Livonia, MI | $39,503 |
| 12 | Hayward, CA | $39,009 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,646 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $34,070 |
| 15 | Salem, OR | $33,619 |
| 16 | Portland, ME | $33,349 |
| 17 | Tacoma, WA | $31,653 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $31,010 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $29,305 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $29,031 |
Mentor best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025