Best cities for a program director
The best cities for program directors are Oakland, CA, Stockton, CA, and Bakersfield, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for program directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for program directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a program director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for program directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for program directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a program director. While the absolute best city for program directors is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for program directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a program director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for program directors in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Program director jobs in OaklandTotal program director jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $98,923 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 5.45 2. Stockton, CA
Program director jobs in StocktonTotal program director jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $98,121 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 4.80 3. Bakersfield, CA
Program director jobs in BakersfieldTotal program director jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $93,394 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 5.76 4. San Francisco, CA
Program director jobs in San FranciscoTotal program director jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $99,127 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 1.52 5. Laredo, TX
Program director jobs in LaredoTotal program director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $75,145 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 4.06 6. Los Angeles, CA
Program director jobs in Los AngelesTotal program director jobs: 181 Average annual salary: $93,017 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 2.12 7. New York, NY
Program director jobs in New YorkTotal program director jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $92,406 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 2.23 8. Chula Vista, CA
Program director jobs in Chula VistaTotal program director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $92,658 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 4.18 9. Santa Ana, CA
Program director jobs in Santa AnaTotal program director jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $92,853 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 2.01 10. Sacramento, CA
Program director jobs in SacramentoTotal program director jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $98,287 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 1.25
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Best cities for program directors
- Oakland, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Laredo, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Chula Vista, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Sacramento, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a program director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $98,923 | $56,000 | 420,005 | 52 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $98,121 | $56,000 | 307,072 | 17 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $93,394 | $54,000 | 376,380 | 26 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $99,127 | $56,000 | 870,887 | 152 |
| 5 | Laredo, TX | $75,145 | $44,000 | 257,156 | 6 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $93,017 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 181 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $92,406 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 217 |
| 8 | Chula Vista, CA | $92,658 | $54,000 | 267,172 | 6 |
| 9 | Santa Ana, CA | $92,853 | $54,000 | 334,217 | 10 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $98,287 | $56,000 | 495,234 | 26 |
| 11 | Arlington, TX | $74,270 | $43,000 | 392,772 | 11 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $80,301 | $46,000 | 632,912 | 29 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $92,680 | $54,000 | 324,722 | 10 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $91,512 | $55,000 | 681,170 | 242 |
| 15 | Anaheim, CA | $92,865 | $54,000 | 351,043 | 7 |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $92,952 | $54,000 | 470,130 | 8 |
| 17 | Irvine, CA | $92,821 | $54,000 | 266,122 | 36 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $85,878 | $51,000 | 614,664 | 73 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $97,407 | $57,000 | 472,522 | 83 |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $75,693 | $44,000 | 683,080 | 6 |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $98,264 | $56,000 | 1,025,350 | 58 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $83,942 | $47,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 23 | Aurora, CO | $74,146 | $44,000 | 361,710 | 29 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $66,862 | $39,000 | 660,388 | 40 |
| 25 | Lincoln, NE | $68,967 | $41,000 | 280,364 | 19 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $95,587 | $55,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 27 | Boston, MA | $74,709 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 144 |
| 28 | Buffalo, NY | $90,108 | $54,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 29 | Seattle, WA | $74,881 | $43,000 | 704,352 | 117 |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $92,666 | $54,000 | 1,406,630 | 53 |
| 31 | Winston-Salem, NC | $63,045 | $37,000 | 242,203 | 9 |
| 32 | Mesa, AZ | $64,527 | $37,000 | 484,587 | 11 |
| 33 | Austin, TX | $74,925 | $43,000 | 947,890 | 56 |
| 34 | Corpus Christi, TX | $74,866 | $44,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 35 | Denver, CO | $74,106 | $44,000 | 693,060 | 127 |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $63,207 | $37,000 | 458,880 | 43 |
| 37 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,998 | $37,000 | 1,567,872 | 78 |
| 38 | Fremont, CA | $98,550 | $56,000 | 233,136 | 8 |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $68,024 | $38,000 | 639,863 | 81 |
| 40 | Colorado Springs, CO | $74,810 | $45,000 | 465,101 | 31 |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $64,638 | $39,000 | 385,809 | 18 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $64,533 | $37,000 | 246,645 | 20 |
| 43 | Chicago, IL | $74,775 | $45,000 | 2,704,958 | 110 |
| 44 | Detroit, MI | $72,609 | $43,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 45 | Brookhaven, NY | $92,739 | $56,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,180 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 69 |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $74,778 | $43,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 48 | Islip, NY | $92,661 | $56,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $62,740 | $37,000 | 302,398 | 39 |
| 50 | North Las Vegas, NV | $80,254 | $46,000 | 238,702 | - |
Highest paying cities for program directors
| Rank | City | Avg. program director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,127 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $97,407 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $92,406 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $91,512 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $85,878 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $75,054 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $74,881 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $74,860 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $74,810 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $74,802 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $74,775 |
| 12 | Cheyenne, WY | $71,601 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $69,290 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $68,024 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $65,849 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,586 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $64,376 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $63,207 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $62,740 |
| 20 | Madison, AL | $62,295 |
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Updated January 8, 2025