Best cities for a principal associate
The best cities for principal associates are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Chula Vista, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal associate. While the absolute best city for principal associates is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal associates in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $163,250 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location quotient: 1.78 2. Oakland, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $163,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location quotient: 1.39 3. Chula Vista, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $138,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 6.17 4. San Jose, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $162,292 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 0.31 5. Portland, OR
Total principal associate jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $140,161 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.39 6. Boston, MA
Total principal associate jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $121,712 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.86 7. Sacramento, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $162,931 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total principal associate jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $107,141 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 1.47 9. Fremont, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $162,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total principal associate jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $148,929 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location quotient: 0.41
Best cities for principal associates
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Portland, OR
- Boston, MA
- Sacramento, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fremont, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- (40 principal associate jobs)
- (3 principal associate jobs)
- (2 principal associate jobs)
- (5 principal associate jobs)
- (3 principal associate jobs)
- (30 principal associate jobs)
- (0 principal associate jobs)
- (16 principal associate jobs)
- (0 principal associate jobs)
- (8 principal associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $163,250 | $103,000 | 870,887 | 40 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $163,033 | $103,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 3 | Chula Vista, CA | $138,992 | $89,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $162,292 | $103,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $140,161 | $88,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $121,712 | $81,000 | 673,184 | 30 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $162,931 | $103,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,141 | $72,000 | 1,567,872 | 16 |
| 9 | Fremont, CA | $162,589 | $103,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $148,929 | $94,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $123,614 | $83,000 | 281,764 | 14 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $105,269 | $70,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $162,328 | $103,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $139,394 | $89,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $140,080 | $89,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $111,728 | $75,000 | 2,704,958 | 43 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $119,665 | $75,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $109,361 | $75,000 | 472,522 | 31 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $159,460 | $101,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $107,934 | $72,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $155,250 | $98,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $145,928 | $92,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $104,022 | $70,000 | 303,625 | 9 |
| 24 | Long Beach, CA | $147,233 | $93,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 25 | Durham, NC | $94,994 | $65,000 | 263,016 | 8 |
| 26 | Anaheim, CA | $147,018 | $93,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 27 | Riverside, CA | $146,519 | $93,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $120,554 | $81,000 | 614,664 | 13 |
| 29 | Santa Ana, CA | $146,460 | $93,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 30 | New Orleans, LA | $107,251 | $72,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 31 | Jersey City, NJ | $123,690 | $83,000 | 264,152 | 4 |
| 32 | Las Vegas, NV | $113,216 | $71,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 33 | New York, NY | $111,822 | $75,000 | 8,537,673 | 173 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $100,622 | $67,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $124,206 | $85,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $113,131 | $71,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | $112,382 | $71,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 38 | Scottsdale, AZ | $102,517 | $66,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $104,121 | $69,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $102,949 | $69,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 41 | Albuquerque, NM | $108,520 | $70,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 42 | Fort Wayne, IN | $103,234 | $69,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 43 | Nashville, TN | $100,357 | $68,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 44 | Fort Worth, TX | $91,128 | $60,000 | 854,113 | 10 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $119,617 | $81,000 | 681,170 | 29 |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $99,910 | $68,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $90,391 | $60,000 | 286,057 | 57 |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $101,580 | $65,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 49 | Denver, CO | $115,171 | $74,000 | 693,060 | 4 |
| 50 | Chandler, AZ | $101,484 | $65,000 | 247,477 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal associates
| Rank | City | Avg. principal associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $163,250 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $140,161 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $123,690 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $121,754 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $121,712 |
| 6 | Rockville, MD | $119,783 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $119,617 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $115,171 |
| 9 | North Chicago, IL | $112,152 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $111,822 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $109,361 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,141 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $105,269 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,497 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $100,622 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $97,147 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $96,370 |
| 18 | Saint Cloud, MN | $95,592 |
| 19 | Irving, TX | $90,802 |
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Updated January 8, 2025