Best cities for a program/project manager
The best cities for program/project managers are Philadelphia, PA, Charlotte, NC, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for program/project managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for program/project managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a program/project manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for program/project managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for program/project managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a program/project manager. While the absolute best city for program/project managers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for program/project managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a program/project manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for program/project managers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total program/project manager jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $108,482 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 2.31 2. Charlotte, NC
Total program/project manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $102,492 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 2.33 3. Oakland, CA
Total program/project manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $127,826 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 2.78 4. Pittsburgh, PA
Total program/project manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $107,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 1.76 5. Fremont, CA
Total program/project manager jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $127,578 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.90 6. Detroit, MI
Total program/project manager jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $99,720 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 2.01 7. Albuquerque, NM
Total program/project manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $115,856 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 1.59 8. Columbus, OH
Total program/project manager jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $100,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 1.31 9. Austin, TX
Total program/project manager jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $103,708 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 1.51 10. Cleveland, OH
Total program/project manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $100,345 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 1.34
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Best cities for program/project managers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Charlotte, NC
- Oakland, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Fremont, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Columbus, OH
- Austin, TX
- Cleveland, OH
- (21 program/project manager jobs)
- (26 program/project manager jobs)
- (5 program/project manager jobs)
- (10 program/project manager jobs)
- (11 program/project manager jobs)
- (8 program/project manager jobs)
- (4 program/project manager jobs)
- (11 program/project manager jobs)
- (19 program/project manager jobs)
- (4 program/project manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a program/project manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $108,482 | $76,000 | 1,567,872 | 21 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $102,492 | $73,000 | 842,051 | 26 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $127,826 | $90,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $107,044 | $75,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $127,578 | $90,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $99,720 | $71,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $115,856 | $83,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $100,662 | $71,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $103,708 | $74,000 | 947,890 | 19 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $100,345 | $71,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $103,721 | $74,000 | 472,522 | 32 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $103,173 | $73,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $103,732 | $74,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $97,924 | $70,000 | 311,404 | 16 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $102,851 | $74,000 | 1,317,929 | 15 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $112,822 | $81,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $103,469 | $74,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $127,460 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 16 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,884 | $78,000 | 264,152 | 11 |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $103,187 | $73,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 21 | Plano, TX | $102,656 | $74,000 | 286,057 | 7 |
| 22 | Seattle, WA | $101,334 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 58 |
| 23 | Madison, WI | $112,764 | $81,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 24 | Cincinnati, OH | $100,510 | $71,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $118,698 | $85,000 | 3,976,322 | 25 |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $102,835 | $74,000 | 238,289 | 7 |
| 27 | Toledo, OH | $100,042 | $71,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 28 | Sacramento, CA | $126,992 | $90,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 29 | Greensboro, NC | $103,009 | $73,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 30 | Saint Paul, MN | $96,074 | $69,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | $128,021 | $90,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $102,917 | $73,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Irvine, CA | $117,828 | $84,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 34 | San Diego, CA | $116,696 | $84,000 | 1,406,630 | 16 |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $103,313 | $74,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Scottsdale, AZ | $94,424 | $68,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 37 | Laredo, TX | $103,025 | $74,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 38 | El Paso, TX | $104,348 | $75,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 39 | Corpus Christi, TX | $103,011 | $74,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $102,959 | $74,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 41 | Boston, MA | $101,402 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 42 | Arlington, TX | $102,940 | $74,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 43 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $93,305 | $66,000 | 260,999 | 3 |
| 44 | Tampa, FL | $93,351 | $66,000 | 377,165 | 15 |
| 45 | Garland, TX | $102,725 | $74,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 46 | Jacksonville, FL | $92,959 | $67,000 | 880,619 | 11 |
| 47 | Stockton, CA | $126,968 | $90,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $97,928 | $70,000 | 639,863 | 10 |
| 49 | Virginia Beach, VA | $95,403 | $68,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 50 | Chesapeake, VA | $95,272 | $67,000 | 237,940 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for program/project managers
| Rank | City | Avg. program/project manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,021 |
| 2 | Brookfield, WI | $112,816 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,884 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $108,482 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $105,422 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $103,732 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $103,721 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $102,537 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $102,492 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $101,402 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $101,334 |
| 12 | Wilmington, DE | $101,129 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $100,662 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $99,720 |
| 15 | Hillsboro, OR | $98,118 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $97,924 |
| 17 | Overland Park, KS | $97,710 |
| 18 | Eden Prairie, MN | $96,108 |
| 19 | Reston, VA | $95,632 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $94,860 |
Program/project manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025