Best cities for a professional development director
The best cities for professional development directors are Madison, WI, Boston, MA, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for professional development directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for professional development directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a professional development director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for professional development directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for professional development directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a professional development director. While the absolute best city for professional development directors is Madison, WI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for professional development directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a professional development director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for professional development directors in 2025
1. Madison, WI
Total professional development director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $128,589 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $285,000 Location quotient: 8.98 2. Boston, MA
Total professional development director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $139,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $302,000 Location quotient: 4.56 3. Milwaukee, WI
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,962 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $287,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Chicago, IL
Total professional development director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $128,663 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $289,000 Location quotient: 2.47 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,083 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $297,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Newark, NJ
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,041 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $297,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Portland, OR
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $134,990 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Jose, CA
Total professional development director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $143,778 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $284,000 Location quotient: 4.61 9. Cleveland, OH
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. San Francisco, CA
Total professional development director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $144,469 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $284,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for professional development directors
- Madison, WI
- Boston, MA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Chicago, IL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Portland, OR
- San Jose, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- San Francisco, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a professional development director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | $128,589 | $57,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $139,769 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $129,962 | $58,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $128,663 | $57,000 | 2,704,958 | 3 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $138,083 | $64,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $138,041 | $64,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $134,990 | $71,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $143,778 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $111,606 | $50,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $144,469 | $73,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 11 | Brookhaven, NY | $135,752 | $63,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | $110,683 | $50,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $109,443 | $47,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 14 | Oakland, CA | $144,311 | $73,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $144,002 | $72,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $143,942 | $73,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Islip, NY | $135,324 | $62,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $143,704 | $72,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Oyster Bay, NY | $135,255 | $62,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $108,024 | $47,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $134,584 | $62,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 22 | Hempstead, NY | $134,797 | $62,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 23 | Buffalo, NY | $134,059 | $62,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $132,666 | $64,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $114,355 | $64,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH | $104,850 | $45,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $124,084 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 28 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,170 | $47,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $141,551 | $70,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $107,485 | $49,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 31 | Greensboro, NC | $109,195 | $46,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $108,980 | $46,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $137,537 | $67,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $108,924 | $46,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 35 | Charlotte, NC | $105,536 | $45,000 | 842,051 | 2 |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | $102,642 | $45,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 37 | Long Beach, CA | $131,540 | $63,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $131,423 | $63,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $131,144 | $63,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 40 | Albuquerque, NM | $105,722 | $48,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $131,059 | $63,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $106,438 | $54,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $130,727 | $63,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $97,174 | $41,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Pittsburgh, PA | $101,755 | $46,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $96,535 | $41,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 47 | Indianapolis, IN | $99,274 | $43,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $126,853 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $122,452 | $55,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $126,090 | $60,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for professional development directors
| Rank | City | Avg. professional development director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $144,469 |
| 2 | Attleboro, MA | $139,944 |
| 3 | Ridgefield, CT | $139,374 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $134,990 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $134,584 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $128,663 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $123,804 |
| 8 | Columbia, MD | $121,959 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $119,192 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $114,355 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $112,813 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $109,443 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $108,405 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $108,024 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $107,485 |
| 16 | Bentonville, AR | $107,189 |
| 17 | Billings, MT | $104,351 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,170 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $93,011 |
| 20 | Brentwood, TN | $92,845 |
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Updated January 8, 2025