Best cities for a project leader
The best cities for project leaders are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project leaders vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project leaders in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project leader or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project leaders to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project leaders. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project leader. While the absolute best city for project leaders is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project leaders in 2024.
If you're looking for a project leader job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project leaders in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Project leader jobs in OaklandTotal project leader jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $126,021 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 4.72 2. San Francisco, CA
Project leader jobs in San FranciscoTotal project leader jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $126,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 4.59 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Project leader jobs in ScottsdaleTotal project leader jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $92,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 8.08 4. New York, NY
Project leader jobs in New YorkTotal project leader jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $108,284 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 5.74 5. Jersey City, NJ
Project leader jobs in Jersey CityTotal project leader jobs: 106 Average annual salary: $103,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 6.61 6. Philadelphia, PA
Project leader jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal project leader jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $92,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 3.86 7. Houston, TX
Project leader jobs in HoustonTotal project leader jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $88,315 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 6.01 8. San Jose, CA
Project leader jobs in San JoseTotal project leader jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $125,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 3.53 9. Newark, NJ
Project leader jobs in NewarkTotal project leader jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $103,323 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 5.11 10. Phoenix, AZ
Project leader jobs in PhoenixTotal project leader jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $92,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 4.50
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Best cities for project leaders
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- New York, NY
- Jersey City, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Houston, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Phoenix, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a project leader
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $126,021 | $87,000 | 420,005 | 22 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $126,263 | $87,000 | 870,887 | 224 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $92,503 | $65,000 | 246,645 | 41 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $108,284 | $78,000 | 8,537,673 | 149 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $103,363 | $74,000 | 264,152 | 106 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,606 | $67,000 | 1,567,872 | 91 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $88,315 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 73 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $125,546 | $87,000 | 1,025,350 | 122 |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $103,323 | $74,000 | 281,764 | 29 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $92,577 | $66,000 | 1,615,017 | 137 |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $125,713 | $87,000 | 233,136 | 27 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $85,448 | $62,000 | 287,027 | 30 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $98,482 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 181 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,276 | $65,000 | 303,625 | 46 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $85,017 | $62,000 | 242,203 | 18 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $124,402 | $86,000 | 495,234 | 25 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $100,152 | $72,000 | 559,277 | 16 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $88,980 | $65,000 | 672,795 | 28 |
| 19 | Long Beach, CA | $108,932 | $76,000 | 470,130 | 13 |
| 20 | Santa Ana, CA | $108,464 | $76,000 | 334,217 | 11 |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $85,880 | $62,000 | 392,772 | 16 |
| 22 | North Las Vegas, NV | $103,426 | $72,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $100,277 | $70,000 | 704,352 | 105 |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $85,410 | $61,000 | 1,317,929 | 139 |
| 25 | Irving, TX | $85,348 | $61,000 | 238,289 | 93 |
| 26 | Irvine, CA | $108,147 | $76,000 | 266,122 | 51 |
| 27 | Austin, TX | $88,939 | $62,000 | 947,890 | 87 |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $110,230 | $77,000 | 3,976,322 | 128 |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $103,604 | $72,000 | 632,912 | 11 |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $92,338 | $65,000 | 484,587 | 5 |
| 31 | Louisville, KY | $76,983 | $57,000 | 597,337 | 64 |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $84,307 | $61,000 | 385,809 | 12 |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $83,709 | $61,000 | 842,051 | 113 |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,067 | $59,000 | 298,800 | 46 |
| 35 | Reno, NV | $107,660 | $74,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 36 | Buffalo, NY | $105,156 | $76,000 | 256,902 | 9 |
| 37 | Durham, NC | $86,333 | $63,000 | 263,016 | 28 |
| 38 | Fort Worth, TX | $85,991 | $62,000 | 854,113 | 29 |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $85,640 | $63,000 | 2,704,958 | 41 |
| 40 | Fort Wayne, IN | $82,286 | $60,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $82,726 | $61,000 | 252,551 | 32 |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $102,583 | $71,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Plano, TX | $84,481 | $61,000 | 286,057 | 60 |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $92,613 | $66,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $124,855 | $86,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 46 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $77,834 | $52,000 | 260,999 | 22 |
| 47 | Milwaukee, WI | $83,318 | $62,000 | 595,047 | 30 |
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | $78,761 | $58,000 | 472,522 | 11 |
| 49 | Nashville, TN | $76,960 | $57,000 | 660,388 | 49 |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $75,445 | $56,000 | 652,717 | 43 |
Highest paying cities for project leaders
| Rank | City | Avg. project leader salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,263 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $108,284 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $104,823 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $103,363 |
| 5 | Bethesda, MD | $100,804 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $100,277 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $99,755 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $98,482 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $96,392 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,606 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $92,577 |
| 12 | Troy, MI | $88,983 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $88,939 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $86,333 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $85,640 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,308 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $82,181 |
| 18 | Columbus, IN | $80,287 |
| 19 | Duluth, GA | $79,083 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $78,695 |
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Updated January 8, 2025