Best cities for a project manager & leader
The best cities for project managers & leader are Sacramento, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Chandler, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for project managers & leader vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for project managers & leader in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a project manager & leader or considering a move, this list of the best cities for project managers & leader to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for project managers & leader. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a project manager & leader. While the absolute best city for project managers & leader is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for project managers & leader in 2024.
If you're looking for a project manager & leader job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for project managers & leader in 2026
1. Sacramento, CA
Total project manager & leader jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $136,370 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 3.93 2. Phoenix, AZ
Total project manager & leader jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $104,925 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 3.40 3. Chandler, AZ
Total project manager & leader jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $104,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 3.88 4. Raleigh, NC
Total project manager & leader jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $103,467 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 2.22 5. Oakland, CA
Total project manager & leader jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 1.51 6. Long Beach, CA
Total project manager & leader jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $125,952 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 5.52 7. Charlotte, NC
Total project manager & leader jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $100,865 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 2.84 8. San Francisco, CA
Total project manager & leader jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $138,468 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location quotient: 1.11 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Total project manager & leader jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $104,835 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 1.39 10. Chula Vista, CA
Total project manager & leader jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $119,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 16.72
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Best cities for project managers & leader
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Raleigh, NC
- Oakland, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Chula Vista, CA
- (17 project manager & leader jobs)
- (44 project manager & leader jobs)
- (8 project manager & leader jobs)
- (12 project manager & leader jobs)
- (3 project manager & leader jobs)
- (7 project manager & leader jobs)
- (35 project manager & leader jobs)
- (23 project manager & leader jobs)
- (3 project manager & leader jobs)
- (5 project manager & leader jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a project manager & leader
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $136,370 | $94,000 | 495,234 | 17 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,925 | $74,000 | 1,615,017 | 44 |
| 3 | Chandler, AZ | $104,441 | $74,000 | 247,477 | 8 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $103,467 | $76,000 | 458,880 | 12 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $138,270 | $96,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 6 | Long Beach, CA | $125,952 | $88,000 | 470,130 | 7 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $100,865 | $74,000 | 842,051 | 35 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $138,468 | $96,000 | 870,887 | 23 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $104,835 | $74,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 10 | Chula Vista, CA | $119,901 | $84,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 11 | Riverside, CA | $125,461 | $88,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,931 | $72,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $138,264 | $96,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $124,893 | $87,000 | 266,122 | 11 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $138,362 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $137,074 | $95,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $136,281 | $94,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,214 | $85,000 | 264,152 | 5 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $106,657 | $73,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $133,555 | $93,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | North Las Vegas, NV | $104,771 | $72,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $127,518 | $89,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $104,977 | $74,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $103,818 | $76,000 | 2,704,958 | 25 |
| 25 | Durham, NC | $103,420 | $76,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 26 | New York, NY | $114,866 | $84,000 | 8,537,673 | 61 |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $104,367 | $72,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $94,565 | $69,000 | 947,890 | 18 |
| 29 | Buffalo, NY | $111,692 | $81,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 30 | Greensboro, NC | $102,655 | $75,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $88,867 | $65,000 | 855,164 | 17 |
| 32 | Winston-Salem, NC | $102,245 | $75,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $96,553 | $70,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $104,411 | $74,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $105,285 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 36 | Gilbert, AZ | $104,362 | $74,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 37 | Lincoln, NE | $86,988 | $64,000 | 280,364 | 12 |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $97,641 | $71,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 39 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $94,107 | $69,000 | 260,999 | 2 |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $94,261 | $69,000 | 2,303,482 | 21 |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $125,810 | $88,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Dallas, TX | $93,734 | $68,000 | 1,317,929 | 10 |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $120,517 | $85,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,153 | $66,000 | 302,398 | 12 |
| 45 | Santa Ana, CA | $125,325 | $88,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $113,718 | $83,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $93,734 | $68,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 48 | Norfolk, VA | $113,528 | $83,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 49 | Columbus, OH | $84,320 | $62,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,772 | $61,000 | 638,367 | 14 |
Highest paying cities for project managers & leader
| Rank | City | Avg. project manager & leader salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $138,468 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $116,214 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $114,866 |
| 4 | Sterling, VA | $113,958 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $105,285 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,931 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,925 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $103,818 |
| 9 | Annapolis, MD | $101,995 |
| 10 | Hartford, CT | $101,677 |
| 11 | Bismarck, ND | $101,493 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $100,865 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $100,589 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $94,565 |
| 15 | Redmond, WA | $94,245 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $94,003 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $90,116 |
| 18 | Jefferson City, MO | $89,586 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $88,867 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $88,299 |
Project manager & leader best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025