Best cities for a merchant
The best cities for merchants are San Francisco, CA, Toledo, OH, and Anaheim, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for merchants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for merchants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a merchant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for merchants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for merchants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a merchant. While the absolute best city for merchants is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for merchants in 2024.
If you're looking for a merchant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for merchants in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total merchant jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $121,942 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 2.15 2. Toledo, OH
Total merchant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $81,344 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 2.42 3. Anaheim, CA
Total merchant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $107,863 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 2.13 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total merchant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $86,261 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 1.37 5. Miami, FL
Total merchant jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $87,825 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 2.21 6. Sacramento, CA
Total merchant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $121,096 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 0.52 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total merchant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $108,679 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.01 8. Cleveland, OH
Total merchant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $83,476 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.68 9. Columbus, OH
Total merchant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $80,416 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 0.73 10. San Jose, CA
Total merchant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $120,633 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.30
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Best cities for merchants
- San Francisco, CA
- Toledo, OH
- Anaheim, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Miami, FL
- Sacramento, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- San Jose, CA
- (20 merchant jobs)
- (1 merchant jobs)
- (1 merchant jobs)
- (3 merchant jobs)
- (7 merchant jobs)
- (1 merchant jobs)
- (8 merchant jobs)
- (1 merchant jobs)
- (3 merchant jobs)
- (2 merchant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a merchant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $121,942 | $72,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $81,344 | $45,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $107,863 | $65,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,261 | $51,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $87,825 | $51,000 | 453,579 | 7 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $121,096 | $71,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,679 | $66,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $83,476 | $47,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $80,416 | $45,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $120,633 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $121,649 | $72,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $101,701 | $56,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $121,049 | $72,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $120,525 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $94,360 | $55,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $116,485 | $69,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $80,520 | $48,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $111,979 | $67,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $86,515 | $50,000 | 880,619 | 3 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,190 | $44,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 21 | Scottsdale, AZ | $80,552 | $48,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,450 | $44,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $108,033 | $66,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $107,673 | $65,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | North Las Vegas, NV | $86,141 | $51,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $107,500 | $65,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | Orlando, FL | $87,577 | $51,000 | 277,173 | 1 |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $107,470 | $65,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 29 | Henderson, NV | $85,826 | $51,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 30 | Tampa, FL | $88,396 | $51,000 | 377,165 | 1 |
| 31 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,879 | $47,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $92,626 | $54,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 33 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $88,541 | $51,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 34 | Hialeah, FL | $87,877 | $51,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $105,655 | $64,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $105,433 | $64,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,596 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 38 | Austin, TX | $77,494 | $46,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 39 | Washington, DC | $106,448 | $61,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 40 | Memphis, TN | $69,947 | $41,000 | 652,717 | 4 |
| 41 | Seattle, WA | $91,277 | $53,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | $78,229 | $44,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 43 | Nashville, TN | $71,338 | $41,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 44 | Greensboro, NC | $78,662 | $45,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $78,135 | $45,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Raleigh, NC | $79,696 | $46,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $80,614 | $49,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Durham, NC | $79,614 | $46,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 49 | New York, NY | $85,422 | $49,000 | 8,537,673 | 72 |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $78,782 | $47,000 | 559,277 | - |
Highest paying cities for merchants
| Rank | City | Avg. merchant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $121,942 |
| 2 | Northampton, MA | $102,463 |
| 3 | Miami, FL | $87,825 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $86,138 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $85,422 |
| 6 | Teaneck, NJ | $85,410 |
| 7 | Reynoldsburg, OH | $80,674 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $79,696 |
| 9 | Norfolk, VA | $77,972 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $77,494 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $76,318 |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | $76,083 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,255 |
| 14 | Knoxville, TN | $73,143 |
| 15 | Bentonville, AR | $72,964 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $72,256 |
| 17 | Overland Park, KS | $70,995 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $68,243 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $64,895 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $63,697 |
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Updated January 8, 2025