Best cities for a program manager

The best cities for program managers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for program managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for program managers in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a program manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for program managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for program managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a program manager. While the absolute best city for program managers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for program managers in 2024.

If you're looking for a program manager job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for program managers in 2025

1. Oakland, CA

Total program manager jobs:	110
Average annual salary:	$109,674
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$179,000
Location quotient:	2.59

Program manager jobs in Oakland

2. San Francisco, CA

Total program manager jobs:	96
Average annual salary:	$110,079
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$179,000
Location quotient:	1.95

Program manager jobs in San Francisco

3. Fremont, CA

Total program manager jobs:	183
Average annual salary:	$109,352
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$178,000
Location quotient:	2.05

Program manager jobs in Fremont

4. San Jose, CA

Total program manager jobs:	15
Average annual salary:	$109,195
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$178,000
Location quotient:	1.68

Program manager jobs in San Jose

5. Seattle, WA

Total program manager jobs:	220
Average annual salary:	$94,596
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$151,000
Location quotient:	6.73

Program manager jobs in Seattle

6. Raleigh, NC

Total program manager jobs:	185
Average annual salary:	$86,565
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$55,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$134,000
Location quotient:	1.60

Program manager jobs in Raleigh

7. Stockton, CA

Total program manager jobs:	26
Average annual salary:	$107,561
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$176,000
Location quotient:	1.65

Program manager jobs in Stockton

8. Nashville, TN

Total program manager jobs:	45
Average annual salary:	$76,611
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$47,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$122,000
Location quotient:	2.59

Program manager jobs in Nashville

9. Detroit, MI

Total program manager jobs:	97
Average annual salary:	$87,279
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$57,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$132,000
Location quotient:	1.03

Program manager jobs in Detroit

10. Sacramento, CA

Total program manager jobs:	140
Average annual salary:	$106,117
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$64,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$173,000
Location quotient:	1.51

Program manager jobs in Sacramento

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Best cities for program managers

Oakland, CA
San Francisco, CA
Fremont, CA
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA
Raleigh, NC
Stockton, CA
Nashville, TN
Detroit, MI
Sacramento, CA

Detailed list of the best cities for a program manager

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Oakland, CA	$109,674	$67,000	420,005	110
2	San Francisco, CA	$110,079	$67,000	870,887	96
3	Fremont, CA	$109,352	$66,000	233,136	183
4	San Jose, CA	$109,195	$66,000	1,025,350	15
5	Seattle, WA	$94,596	$59,000	704,352	220
6	Raleigh, NC	$86,565	$55,000	458,880	185
7	Stockton, CA	$107,561	$65,000	307,072	26
8	Nashville, TN	$76,611	$47,000	660,388	45
9	Detroit, MI	$87,279	$57,000	672,795	97
10	Sacramento, CA	$106,117	$64,000	495,234	140
11	Los Angeles, CA	$101,098	$61,000	3,976,322	113
12	Islip, NY	$92,177	$61,000	335,543	3
13	Columbus, OH	$80,448	$52,000	860,090	233
14	Bakersfield, CA	$102,521	$62,000	376,380	32
15	Indianapolis, IN	$79,830	$51,000	855,164	191
16	Philadelphia, PA	$85,011	$56,000	1,567,872	199
17	Phoenix, AZ	$84,474	$51,000	1,615,017	53
18	Irvine, CA	$100,479	$61,000	266,122	153
19	San Diego, CA	$99,919	$61,000	1,406,630	88
20	Durham, NC	$86,674	$55,000	263,016	61
21	Austin, TX	$79,299	$47,000	947,890	221
22	Fresno, CA	$105,332	$64,000	522,053	24
23	Boston, MA	$88,637	$59,000	673,184	243
24	Scottsdale, AZ	$84,278	$51,000	246,645	47
25	Gilbert, AZ	$84,316	$51,000	237,133	10
26	Riverside, CA	$100,186	$61,000	324,722	26
27	Tucson, AZ	$83,770	$50,000	530,706	51
28	Pittsburgh, PA	$83,514	$55,000	303,625	95
29	Long Beach, CA	$100,855	$61,000	470,130	25
30	Newark, NJ	$95,506	$63,000	281,764	47
31	Cleveland, OH	$81,445	$53,000	385,809	47
32	Chula Vista, CA	$99,856	$61,000	267,172	6
33	New York, NY	$91,874	$61,000	8,537,673	61
34	Cincinnati, OH	$79,157	$51,000	298,800	68
35	Madison, WI	$76,472	$49,000	252,551	101
36	Saint Paul, MN	$76,154	$49,000	302,398	147
37	Lincoln, NE	$68,592	$43,000	280,364	107
38	Anaheim, CA	$100,636	$61,000	351,043	17
39	Laredo, TX	$79,925	$47,000	257,156	6
40	Atlanta, GA	$78,644	$48,000	472,522	34
41	Chandler, AZ	$84,378	$51,000	247,477	31
42	Urban Honolulu, HI	$89,522	$69,000	351,792	157
43	Glendale, AZ	$84,548	$51,000	245,895	8
44	Charlotte, NC	$83,965	$53,000	842,051	164
45	Chicago, IL	$83,783	$54,000	2,704,958	194
46	Santa Ana, CA	$100,580	$61,000	334,217	15
47	Greensboro, NC	$86,235	$55,000	287,027	13
48	Norfolk, VA	$86,925	$56,000	245,115	35
49	Lexington, KY	$81,676	$52,000	318,449	15
50	Washington, DC	$86,608	$57,000	681,170	101

Highest paying cities for program managers

Rank	City	Avg. program manager salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$110,079
2	Seattle, WA	$94,596
3	New York, NY	$91,874
4	Urban Honolulu, HI	$89,522
5	Boston, MA	$88,637
6	Hartford, CT	$88,193
7	Arlington, VA	$87,985
8	Washington, MI	$87,023
9	Washington, DC	$86,608
10	Raleigh, NC	$86,565
11	Philadelphia, PA	$85,011
12	Phoenix, AZ	$84,474
13	Chicago, IL	$83,783
14	Baltimore, MD	$80,717
15	Richmond, IN	$80,579
16	Columbus, OH	$80,448
17	Austin, TX	$79,299
18	Portland, OR	$78,702
19	Atlanta, GA	$78,644
20	Madison, WI	$76,472