Best cities for a planning director
The best cities for planning directors are New York, NY, Las Vegas, NV, and Newark, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for planning directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for planning directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a planning director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for planning directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for planning directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a planning director. While the absolute best city for planning directors is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for planning directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a planning director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for planning directors in 2026
1. New York, NY
Total planning director jobs: 249 Average annual salary: $145,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 9.05 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total planning director jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $140,552 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 5.05 3. Newark, NJ
Total planning director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $138,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 11.24 4. Sacramento, CA
Total planning director jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $150,957 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 7.42 5. Arlington, TX
Total planning director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $118,644 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 9.91 6. Portland, OR
Total planning director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $138,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 3.84 7. Columbus, OH
Total planning director jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $122,487 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 3.20 8. Oakland, CA
Total planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $151,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 3.73 9. Mesa, AZ
Total planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $121,294 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 7.57 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total planning director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $131,917 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.78
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Best cities for planning directors
- New York, NY
- Las Vegas, NV
- Newark, NJ
- Sacramento, CA
- Arlington, TX
- Portland, OR
- Columbus, OH
- Oakland, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Albuquerque, NM
- (249 planning director jobs)
- (10 planning director jobs)
- (11 planning director jobs)
- (13 planning director jobs)
- (4 planning director jobs)
- (11 planning director jobs)
- (12 planning director jobs)
- (3 planning director jobs)
- (3 planning director jobs)
- (2 planning director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a planning director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $145,569 | $98,000 | 8,537,673 | 249 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $140,552 | $94,000 | 632,912 | 10 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $138,746 | $93,000 | 281,764 | 11 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $150,957 | $102,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 5 | Arlington, TX | $118,644 | $78,000 | 392,772 | 4 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $138,386 | $93,000 | 639,863 | 11 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $122,487 | $82,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $151,373 | $102,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 9 | Mesa, AZ | $121,294 | $80,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $131,917 | $87,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $117,659 | $76,000 | 1,492,510 | 21 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $151,568 | $102,000 | 870,887 | 25 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $124,029 | $83,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $148,540 | $100,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 15 | North Las Vegas, NV | $140,404 | $94,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $139,978 | $93,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $147,301 | $99,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $122,416 | $82,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $115,156 | $78,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $122,006 | $81,000 | 1,615,017 | 19 |
| 21 | Brookhaven, NY | $146,207 | $98,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $119,424 | $81,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 23 | Islip, NY | $146,075 | $98,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 24 | Oyster Bay, NY | $145,825 | $98,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 25 | Fort Worth, TX | $118,721 | $78,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $145,803 | $98,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $116,119 | $77,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $110,309 | $74,000 | 855,164 | 17 |
| 29 | San Jose, CA | $150,784 | $101,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $142,223 | $95,000 | 3,976,322 | 48 |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $151,008 | $102,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $140,795 | $94,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $118,320 | $78,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 34 | El Paso, TX | $121,649 | $80,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 35 | Saint Louis, MO | $113,429 | $77,000 | 311,404 | 20 |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $114,997 | $77,000 | 458,880 | 8 |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $150,633 | $101,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $138,824 | $93,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 39 | Dallas, TX | $118,504 | $78,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 40 | Milwaukee, WI | $116,939 | $79,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $121,584 | $82,000 | 452,602 | 5 |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $113,251 | $76,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | $140,278 | $93,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 44 | Chesapeake, VA | $121,291 | $82,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $121,388 | $82,000 | 2,704,958 | 35 |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $120,446 | $79,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $118,537 | $78,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 48 | New Orleans, LA | $118,039 | $76,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 49 | Glendale, AZ | $122,026 | $81,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 50 | Austin, TX | $118,250 | $77,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
Highest paying cities for planning directors
| Rank | City | Avg. planning director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $151,568 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $145,569 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $140,552 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $138,746 |
| 5 | Beaverton, OR | $138,682 |
| 6 | Newark, DE | $133,713 |
| 7 | South Portland, ME | $130,165 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $123,977 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $123,044 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $122,487 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $122,357 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $122,006 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $121,388 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $118,644 |
| 15 | Baton Rouge, LA | $118,502 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $116,974 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $116,119 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $115,840 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $114,997 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $114,081 |
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Updated January 8, 2025