Best cities for a public health director

The best cities for public health directors are Nashville, TN, Minneapolis, MN, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for public health directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for public health directors in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a public health director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for public health directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for public health directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a public health director. While the absolute best city for public health directors is Nashville, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for public health directors in 2024.

If you're looking for a public health director job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for public health directors in 2025

1. Nashville, TN

Total public health director jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$96,435
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$140,000
Location quotient:	1.81

2. Minneapolis, MN

Total public health director jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$100,076
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$150,000
Location quotient:	3.79

3. Detroit, MI

Total public health director jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$89,609
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$57,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$139,000
Location quotient:	6.75

4. Greensboro, NC

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$99,166
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$147,000
Location quotient:	0.00

5. Winston-Salem, NC

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$98,657
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$146,000
Location quotient:	0.00

6. Boston, MA

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$121,742
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$77,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$190,000
Location quotient:	0.00

7. Saint Paul, MN

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$100,227
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$150,000
Location quotient:	0.00

8. Durham, NC

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$100,047
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$148,000
Location quotient:	0.00

9. Raleigh, NC

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$100,013
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$67,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$148,000
Location quotient:	0.00

10. Memphis, TN

Total public health director jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$93,684
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$64,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$135,000
Location quotient:	0.00

Best cities for public health directors

Nashville, TN
Minneapolis, MN
Detroit, MI
Greensboro, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Boston, MA
Saint Paul, MN
Durham, NC
Raleigh, NC
Memphis, TN

(1 public health director jobs)
(3 public health director jobs)
(3 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)
(0 public health director jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a public health director

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Nashville, TN	$96,435	$66,000	660,388	1
2	Minneapolis, MN	$100,076	$66,000	413,651	3
3	Detroit, MI	$89,609	$57,000	672,795	3
4	Greensboro, NC	$99,166	$66,000	287,027	-
5	Winston-Salem, NC	$98,657	$66,000	242,203	-
6	Boston, MA	$121,742	$77,000	673,184	-
7	Saint Paul, MN	$100,227	$66,000	302,398	-
8	Durham, NC	$100,047	$67,000	263,016	-
9	Raleigh, NC	$100,013	$67,000	458,880	-
10	Memphis, TN	$93,684	$64,000	652,717	-
11	Cleveland, OH	$89,074	$57,000	385,809	-
12	Toledo, OH	$87,159	$56,000	278,508	-
13	Atlanta, GA	$94,456	$65,000	472,522	7
14	Philadelphia, PA	$89,156	$58,000	1,567,872	-
15	Charlotte, NC	$96,430	$65,000	842,051	-
16	Houston, TX	$84,844	$59,000	2,303,482	1
17	Columbus, OH	$85,722	$56,000	860,090	-
18	Jersey City, NJ	$102,634	$66,000	264,152	-
19	San Antonio, TX	$84,585	$59,000	1,492,510	-
20	Newark, NJ	$102,603	$66,000	281,764	-
21	Pittsburgh, PA	$86,135	$56,000	303,625	-
22	Corpus Christi, TX	$84,564	$59,000	325,733	-
23	Chicago, IL	$98,210	$64,000	2,704,958	-
24	Laredo, TX	$84,244	$59,000	257,156	-
25	Anchorage, AK	$92,985	$66,000	298,192	-
26	Cincinnati, OH	$82,490	$54,000	298,800	-
27	Milwaukee, WI	$85,210	$55,000	595,047	-
28	Austin, TX	$84,604	$58,000	947,890	-
29	Lexington, KY	$83,029	$55,000	318,449	-
30	Louisville, KY	$81,540	$54,000	597,337	-
31	Madison, WI	$83,204	$54,000	252,551	-
32	Brookhaven, NY	$98,237	$63,000	486,040	-
33	El Paso, TX	$83,662	$58,000	683,080	-
34	Islip, NY	$97,962	$63,000	335,543	-
35	Oyster Bay, NY	$97,886	$63,000	293,214	-
36	Arlington, TX	$83,554	$58,000	392,772	-
37	Reno, NV	$83,367	$57,000	245,255	-
38	Hempstead, NY	$97,640	$63,000	759,757	-
39	Dallas, TX	$83,535	$58,000	1,317,929	-
40	Oklahoma City, OK	$80,749	$56,000	638,367	-
41	New York, NY	$97,499	$63,000	8,537,673	2
42	Fort Worth, TX	$83,523	$58,000	854,113	-
43	Irving, TX	$83,488	$58,000	238,289	-
44	Garland, TX	$83,468	$58,000	234,943	-
45	Plano, TX	$83,401	$58,000	286,057	-
46	Lubbock, TX	$83,156	$57,000	252,506	-
47	Portland, OR	$83,624	$58,000	639,863	5
48	Henderson, NV	$82,354	$57,000	292,969	-
49	Las Vegas, NV	$82,324	$57,000	632,912	-
50	Saint Louis, MO	$82,616	$56,000	311,404	-

Highest paying cities for public health directors

Rank	City	Avg. public health director salary
1	Boston, MA	$121,742
2	Columbia, SC	$100,783
3	Minneapolis, MN	$100,076
4	Winston-Salem, NC	$98,657
5	Detroit, MI	$89,609
6	Harrisburg, PA	$88,468
7	Frederick, MD	$88,003
8	Denver, CO	$87,923
9	Berkeley, CA	$87,730
10	Washington, DC	$85,772
11	Arlington, VA	$85,619
12	San Antonio, TX	$84,585
13	Portland, OR	$83,624
14	Indianapolis, IN	$75,257
15	Daytona Beach, FL	$73,632