Best cities for a principal consultant
The best cities for principal consultants are Cincinnati, OH, Nashville, TN, and Houston, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal consultants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal consultants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal consultant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal consultants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal consultants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal consultant. While the absolute best city for principal consultants is Cincinnati, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal consultants in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal consultant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal consultants in 2026
1. Cincinnati, OH
Total principal consultant jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $106,526 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 9.94 2. Nashville, TN
Total principal consultant jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $108,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 3.47 3. Houston, TX
Total principal consultant jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $112,729 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 8.79 4. Milwaukee, WI
Total principal consultant jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $108,196 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 8.17 5. Greensboro, NC
Total principal consultant jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $109,345 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 8.54 6. Durham, NC
Total principal consultant jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $109,849 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 6.70 7. Fremont, CA
Total principal consultant jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $142,977 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 4.53 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total principal consultant jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $110,276 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 8.36 9. Raleigh, NC
Total principal consultant jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $109,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 5.37 10. San Jose, CA
Total principal consultant jobs: 201 Average annual salary: $142,657 Lowest 10 percent warn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 4.61
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Best cities for principal consultants
- Cincinnati, OH
- Nashville, TN
- Houston, TX
- Milwaukee, WI
- Greensboro, NC
- Durham, NC
- Fremont, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Raleigh, NC
- San Jose, CA
- (132 principal consultant jobs)
- (56 principal consultant jobs)
- (95 principal consultant jobs)
- (99 principal consultant jobs)
- (40 principal consultant jobs)
- (67 principal consultant jobs)
- (56 principal consultant jobs)
- (85 principal consultant jobs)
- (86 principal consultant jobs)
- (201 principal consultant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a principal consultant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $106,526 | $82,000 | 298,800 | 132 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $108,641 | $83,000 | 660,388 | 56 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $112,729 | $86,000 | 2,303,482 | 95 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $108,196 | $83,000 | 595,047 | 99 |
| 5 | Greensboro, NC | $109,345 | $84,000 | 287,027 | 40 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $109,849 | $84,000 | 263,016 | 67 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $142,977 | $108,000 | 233,136 | 56 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $110,276 | $84,000 | 854,113 | 85 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $109,883 | $84,000 | 458,880 | 86 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $142,657 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | 201 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $115,474 | $88,000 | 303,625 | 57 |
| 12 | Plano, TX | $109,548 | $84,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $108,409 | $83,000 | 842,051 | 229 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $143,636 | $108,000 | 870,887 | 215 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $134,307 | $102,000 | 639,863 | 49 |
| 16 | Irving, TX | $109,976 | $84,000 | 238,289 | 189 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $112,778 | $86,000 | 947,890 | 171 |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $134,443 | $112,000 | 298,192 | 7 |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $143,414 | $108,000 | 420,005 | 17 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $133,637 | $102,000 | 704,352 | 118 |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $129,818 | $98,000 | 245,255 | 8 |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $122,340 | $92,000 | 632,912 | 22 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $108,196 | $83,000 | 860,090 | 47 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $109,917 | $84,000 | 385,809 | 14 |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $109,235 | $83,000 | 246,645 | 28 |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $142,756 | $107,000 | 495,234 | 28 |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $109,098 | $84,000 | 242,203 | 8 |
| 28 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,607 | $90,000 | 1,567,872 | 41 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $104,553 | $80,000 | 855,164 | 99 |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $107,447 | $83,000 | 652,717 | 15 |
| 31 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,377 | $83,000 | 1,615,017 | 127 |
| 32 | Atlanta, GA | $104,809 | $81,000 | 472,522 | 186 |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $110,050 | $84,000 | 1,317,929 | 93 |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $112,070 | $86,000 | 672,795 | 14 |
| 35 | Irvine, CA | $129,303 | $98,000 | 266,122 | 125 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $122,125 | $92,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | $108,838 | $83,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 38 | Long Beach, CA | $129,972 | $98,000 | 470,130 | 19 |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $121,481 | $92,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | Chandler, AZ | $109,210 | $83,000 | 247,477 | 17 |
| 41 | San Antonio, TX | $113,154 | $86,000 | 1,492,510 | 28 |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $105,099 | $81,000 | 638,367 | 32 |
| 43 | Albuquerque, NM | $116,355 | $89,000 | 559,277 | 7 |
| 44 | Saint Louis, MO | $108,423 | $83,000 | 311,404 | 46 |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $107,532 | $83,000 | 252,551 | 17 |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN | $110,852 | $86,000 | 413,651 | 68 |
| 47 | Boston, MA | $114,924 | $89,000 | 673,184 | 230 |
| 48 | Chicago, IL | $111,185 | $85,000 | 2,704,958 | 33 |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $110,895 | $86,000 | 302,398 | 29 |
| 50 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,789 | $90,000 | 264,152 | 174 |
Highest paying cities for principal consultants
| Rank | City | Avg. principal consultant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $143,636 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $133,637 |
| 3 | Nashua, NH | $120,041 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $119,352 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $119,002 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $118,405 |
| 7 | Reston, VA | $117,176 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,789 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $114,924 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $112,778 |
| 11 | Northbrook, IL | $111,457 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $110,852 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $109,883 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,377 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $108,196 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $108,196 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $107,203 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $106,228 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $105,344 |
| 20 | Alpharetta, GA | $104,890 |
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Updated January 8, 2025