Best cities for a program lead
The best cities for program leads are Greensboro, NC, Detroit, MI, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for program leads vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for program leads in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a program lead or considering a move, this list of the best cities for program leads to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for program leads. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a program lead. While the absolute best city for program leads is Greensboro, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for program leads in 2024.
If you're looking for a program lead job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for program leads in 2026
1. Greensboro, NC
Total program lead jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $99,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 6.95 2. Detroit, MI
Total program lead jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $100,342 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.57 3. Toledo, OH
Total program lead jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $82,000 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 3.47 4. Washington, DC
Total program lead jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $129,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 1.92 5. Raleigh, NC
Total program lead jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $101,654 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.53 6. Durham, NC
Total program lead jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $101,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 1.49 7. Lincoln, NE
Total program lead jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $96,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.60 8. Boston, MA
Total program lead jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $116,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.33 9. Cincinnati, OH
Total program lead jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $74,361 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 2.66 10. Charlotte, NC
Total program lead jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $92,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.49
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Best cities for program leads
- Greensboro, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Toledo, OH
- Washington, DC
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Lincoln, NE
- Boston, MA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Charlotte, NC
- (24 program lead jobs)
- (15 program lead jobs)
- (7 program lead jobs)
- (50 program lead jobs)
- (18 program lead jobs)
- (11 program lead jobs)
- (8 program lead jobs)
- (43 program lead jobs)
- (26 program lead jobs)
- (40 program lead jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a program lead
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | $99,670 | $50,000 | 287,027 | 24 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $100,342 | $56,000 | 672,795 | 15 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $82,000 | $45,000 | 278,508 | 7 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $129,841 | $74,000 | 681,170 | 50 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $101,654 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 18 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $101,960 | $52,000 | 263,016 | 11 |
| 7 | Lincoln, NE | $96,373 | $47,000 | 280,364 | 8 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $116,198 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 43 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $74,361 | $37,000 | 298,800 | 26 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $92,904 | $45,000 | 842,051 | 40 |
| 11 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,585 | $41,000 | 302,398 | 29 |
| 12 | Jersey City, NJ | $105,998 | $64,000 | 264,152 | 20 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $62,459 | $28,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $84,355 | $47,000 | 385,809 | 9 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $99,184 | $48,000 | 446,970 | 10 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $68,799 | $31,000 | 639,863 | 28 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $126,616 | $77,000 | 8,537,673 | 125 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,406 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 24 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $67,767 | $31,000 | 530,706 | 7 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $80,053 | $42,000 | 860,090 | 23 |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $91,260 | $47,000 | 2,704,958 | 48 |
| 22 | Norfolk, VA | $87,869 | $48,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,309 | $53,000 | 303,625 | 13 |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | $68,890 | $33,000 | 472,522 | 55 |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $66,058 | $31,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 26 | Denver, CO | $62,374 | $30,000 | 693,060 | 98 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,674 | $60,000 | 1,567,872 | 13 |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $62,426 | $28,000 | 376,380 | 8 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,121 | $37,000 | 855,164 | 21 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $74,398 | $35,000 | 704,352 | 49 |
| 31 | Aurora, CO | $62,315 | $30,000 | 361,710 | 14 |
| 32 | Sacramento, CA | $68,435 | $30,000 | 495,234 | 24 |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $128,231 | $78,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Baltimore, MD | $103,572 | $59,000 | 614,664 | 13 |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $80,220 | $43,000 | 595,047 | 9 |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $68,186 | $31,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 37 | Islip, NY | $127,758 | $78,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 38 | Oyster Bay, NY | $127,425 | $77,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $127,049 | $77,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | Oakland, CA | $68,658 | $30,000 | 420,005 | 9 |
| 41 | San Francisco, CA | $68,898 | $30,000 | 870,887 | 86 |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,645 | $27,000 | 638,367 | 17 |
| 43 | Virginia Beach, VA | $88,097 | $48,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $68,347 | $31,000 | 1,615,017 | 28 |
| 45 | Saint Louis, MO | $69,457 | $33,000 | 311,404 | 16 |
| 46 | Newark, NJ | $105,894 | $64,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $77,720 | $41,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 48 | Long Beach, CA | $59,621 | $27,000 | 470,130 | 21 |
| 49 | Reno, NV | $69,374 | $30,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 50 | Colorado Springs, CO | $60,771 | $29,000 | 465,101 | 21 |
Highest paying cities for program leads
| Rank | City | Avg. program lead salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $129,841 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $126,616 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $116,198 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $105,998 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $103,572 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $101,654 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $99,308 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $98,544 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $97,431 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $91,260 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $90,948 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $80,053 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,585 |
| 14 | Olympia, WA | $74,477 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,121 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $69,457 |
| 17 | Richmond, CA | $68,970 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $68,890 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $68,799 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $68,347 |











