Best cities for a project executive
The best cities for project executives are Cleveland, OH, Corpus Christi, TX, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project executives vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project executives in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project executive or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project executives to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project executives. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project executive. While the absolute best city for project executives is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project executives in 2024.
If you're looking for a project executive job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project executives in 2025
1. Cleveland, OH
Total project executive jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $140,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location quotient: 1.92 2. Corpus Christi, TX
Total project executive jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $134,483 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 3.33 3. Milwaukee, WI
Total project executive jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,259 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location quotient: 1.16 4. Columbus, OH
Total project executive jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $135,105 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 1.20 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Total project executive jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $125,062 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 1.26 6. Boston, MA
Total project executive jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $141,376 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 1.60 7. Phoenix, AZ
Total project executive jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $126,137 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 1.46 8. Seattle, WA
Total project executive jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $155,163 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $257,000 Location quotient: 0.90 9. Austin, TX
Total project executive jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $129,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location quotient: 1.25 10. San Antonio, TX
Total project executive jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $131,433 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 0.78
Best cities for project executives
- Cleveland, OH
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Milwaukee, WI
- Columbus, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Boston, MA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- (4 project executive jobs)
- (1 project executive jobs)
- (3 project executive jobs)
- (7 project executive jobs)
- (5 project executive jobs)
- (15 project executive jobs)
- (12 project executive jobs)
- (10 project executive jobs)
- (11 project executive jobs)
- (3 project executive jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project executive
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $140,606 | $89,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 2 | Corpus Christi, TX | $134,483 | $82,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $138,259 | $87,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $135,105 | $85,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $125,062 | $79,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $141,376 | $90,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $126,137 | $76,000 | 1,615,017 | 12 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $155,163 | $93,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $129,364 | $78,000 | 947,890 | 11 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $131,433 | $79,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $139,535 | $88,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $131,762 | $82,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 13 | Anchorage, AK | $181,899 | $108,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $142,189 | $90,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $136,134 | $87,000 | 413,651 | 2 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $123,259 | $74,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $136,376 | $86,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 18 | Reno, NV | $122,939 | $73,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $136,249 | $87,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 20 | Laredo, TX | $135,803 | $83,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $129,818 | $79,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 22 | Saint Louis, MO | $125,565 | $77,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $126,174 | $81,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $114,816 | $72,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $117,671 | $71,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $123,593 | $74,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $128,977 | $77,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Arlington, TX | $123,529 | $74,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 29 | San Francisco, CA | $147,085 | $89,000 | 870,887 | 15 |
| 30 | Glendale, AZ | $126,260 | $76,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 31 | Fort Worth, TX | $123,515 | $74,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $142,901 | $91,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Newark, NJ | $142,883 | $91,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 34 | Chandler, AZ | $126,060 | $76,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 35 | Memphis, TN | $106,528 | $65,000 | 652,717 | 4 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $138,536 | $84,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $125,963 | $76,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Irving, TX | $123,128 | $74,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $112,541 | $70,000 | 842,051 | 12 |
| 40 | Mesa, AZ | $125,875 | $76,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 41 | San Jose, CA | $146,231 | $88,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $125,816 | $76,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ | $125,807 | $76,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 44 | Garland, TX | $122,798 | $74,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 45 | Wichita, KS | $119,191 | $72,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 46 | Plano, TX | $122,484 | $74,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $108,578 | $67,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | $121,503 | $75,000 | 472,522 | 8 |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $120,948 | $74,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $139,408 | $84,000 | 3,976,322 | 14 |
Highest paying cities for project executives
| Rank | City | Avg. project executive salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $155,163 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $147,085 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $141,541 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids, MI | $141,345 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $140,606 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $138,259 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $136,299 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $136,134 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $131,433 |
| 10 | Albany, NY | $129,846 |
| 11 | Bristol, PA | $126,702 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $126,137 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $125,565 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $122,939 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $121,503 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $121,119 |
| 17 | Arlington, VA | $119,009 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $114,816 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $110,900 |
| 20 | Fort Myers, FL | $107,103 |
Project executive best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for project executive jobs
Updated January 8, 2025