Best cities for a project associate
The best cities for project associates are Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Pittsburgh, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project associate. While the absolute best city for project associates is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a project associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project associates in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total project associate jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $73,977 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 18.61 2. Sacramento, CA
Total project associate jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,690 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 2.84 3. Pittsburgh, PA
Total project associate jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $65,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 1.96 4. Cleveland, OH
Total project associate jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $56,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.93 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total project associate jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $67,385 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 1.23 6. San Francisco, CA
Total project associate jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $74,123 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 1.33 7. Arlington, TX
Total project associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $54,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 6.18 8. Nashville, TN
Total project associate jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $50,471 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 3.39 9. Cincinnati, OH
Total project associate jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $51,635 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 2.06 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total project associate jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $56,737 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 1.43
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Best cities for project associates
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cleveland, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Arlington, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Cincinnati, OH
- Phoenix, AZ
- (12 project associate jobs)
- (4 project associate jobs)
- (4 project associate jobs)
- (1 project associate jobs)
- (4 project associate jobs)
- (9 project associate jobs)
- (2 project associate jobs)
- (6 project associate jobs)
- (3 project associate jobs)
- (6 project associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $73,977 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 12 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $73,690 | $47,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,529 | $43,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $56,138 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,385 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $74,123 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 7 | Arlington, TX | $54,225 | $35,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $50,471 | $34,000 | 660,388 | 6 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,635 | $34,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $56,737 | $37,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 11 | Lexington, KY | $58,868 | $39,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 12 | Louisville, KY | $58,495 | $39,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 13 | Reno, NV | $60,294 | $39,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | $54,736 | $37,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 15 | New York, NY | $62,210 | $41,000 | 8,537,673 | 136 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $73,633 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $53,291 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 8 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $73,429 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $73,349 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $51,995 | $33,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $53,464 | $35,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $54,058 | $38,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $53,776 | $34,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,162 | $36,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $56,749 | $37,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 26 | El Paso, TX | $55,933 | $36,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 27 | Fort Worth, TX | $54,289 | $35,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $56,739 | $37,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,797 | $38,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $55,692 | $36,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $70,939 | $45,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 32 | Newark, NJ | $61,006 | $40,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 33 | Portland, OR | $60,186 | $42,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $56,567 | $37,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,401 | $34,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $56,538 | $37,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 37 | Las Vegas, NV | $55,095 | $36,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $56,522 | $37,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $55,031 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $61,014 | $40,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $55,663 | $37,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $54,724 | $36,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Memphis, TN | $50,549 | $34,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $63,626 | $43,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $54,128 | $35,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 46 | Irving, TX | $54,163 | $35,000 | 238,289 | 1 |
| 47 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,239 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 48 | Raleigh, NC | $51,943 | $33,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $67,162 | $44,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $54,051 | $35,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for project associates
| Rank | City | Avg. project associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $74,154 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,385 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,210 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $61,014 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $59,073 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $56,737 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $55,968 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $54,128 |
| 9 | Newton, MA | $53,659 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $53,559 |
| 11 | Reston, VA | $53,550 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,635 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,401 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $51,082 |
| 15 | New Haven, CT | $50,345 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $50,330 |
| 17 | Portage, MI | $46,145 |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $45,726 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,478 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $42,570 |











