Best cities for a project manager/design manager
The best cities for project manager/design managers are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project manager/design managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project manager/design managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project manager/design manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project manager/design managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project manager/design managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project manager/design manager. While the absolute best city for project manager/design managers is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project manager/design managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a project manager/design manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project manager/design managers in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $114,949 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 2.19 2. Sacramento, CA
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $113,328 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 2.25 3. Reno, NV
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $84,972 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 3.12 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $103,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 2.37 5. Milwaukee, WI
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $82,351 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 2.38 6. Indianapolis, IN
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $82,979 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 1.99 7. San Diego, CA
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $98,758 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 2.58 8. San Jose, CA
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $113,953 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 0.66 9. Cincinnati, OH
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $76,986 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.45 10. Detroit, MI
Total project manager/design manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $83,601 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.11
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Best cities for project manager/design managers
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Reno, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Diego, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Detroit, MI
- (28 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (6 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (3 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (26 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (6 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (10 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (20 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (6 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (4 project manager/design manager jobs)
- (3 project manager/design manager jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project manager/design manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $114,949 | $69,000 | 870,887 | 28 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $113,328 | $68,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $84,972 | $51,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,701 | $63,000 | 3,976,322 | 26 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,351 | $55,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,979 | $56,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $98,758 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | 20 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $113,953 | $69,000 | 1,025,350 | 6 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $76,986 | $52,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $83,601 | $56,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $94,488 | $57,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $114,628 | $69,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $89,415 | $57,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $114,187 | $69,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $99,049 | $60,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $84,929 | $57,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $113,177 | $68,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,135 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $110,052 | $66,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | New York, NY | $91,787 | $61,000 | 8,537,673 | 84 |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $81,686 | $55,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $73,982 | $51,000 | 458,880 | 15 |
| 23 | Tucson, AZ | $81,362 | $52,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $80,006 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,505 | $65,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 26 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,672 | $52,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 27 | Columbus, OH | $79,025 | $54,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,960 | $54,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 29 | Lexington, KY | $67,146 | $46,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $102,736 | $63,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 31 | Madison, WI | $81,262 | $54,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 32 | Anaheim, CA | $102,384 | $63,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 33 | Irvine, CA | $101,772 | $63,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 34 | Santa Ana, CA | $102,100 | $63,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 35 | Glendale, AZ | $82,752 | $52,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,507 | $48,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $72,920 | $50,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 38 | Oklahoma City, OK | $69,844 | $46,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $101,627 | $62,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $82,501 | $52,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $82,264 | $52,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $82,198 | $52,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | Gilbert, AZ | $82,179 | $52,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 44 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $107,668 | $75,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 45 | Boston, MA | $89,138 | $60,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 46 | Norfolk, VA | $89,461 | $61,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $70,872 | $48,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 48 | Lubbock, TX | $70,302 | $45,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $77,495 | $53,000 | 472,522 | 16 |
| 50 | Chesapeake, VA | $89,203 | $61,000 | 237,940 | - |
Highest paying cities for project manager/design managers
| Rank | City | Avg. project manager/design manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $114,949 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $94,488 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $91,787 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $89,648 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $89,138 |
| 6 | Laurel, MD | $86,399 |
| 7 | Idaho Falls, ID | $85,616 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $83,475 |
| 9 | Carmel, IN | $83,092 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,672 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,351 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $79,025 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $77,495 |
| 14 | Overland Park, KS | $77,466 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,956 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $73,982 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $71,510 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $70,887 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,585 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $69,844 |
Project manager/design manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025