Best cities for a quality associate
The best cities for quality associates are Durham, NC, Indianapolis, IN, and Oklahoma City, OK, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for quality associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for quality associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a quality associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for quality associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for quality associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a quality associate. While the absolute best city for quality associates is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for quality associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a quality associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for quality associates in 2025
1. Durham, NC
Total quality associate jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $63,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 1.16 2. Indianapolis, IN
Total quality associate jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $61,918 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 1.60 3. Oklahoma City, OK
Total quality associate jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $50,758 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 2.16 4. San Francisco, CA
Total quality associate jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $66,279 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 0.44 5. Raleigh, NC
Total quality associate jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $63,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 0.24 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total quality associate jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $64,482 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 1.10 7. Atlanta, GA
Total quality associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $56,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 0.34 8. Anaheim, CA
Total quality associate jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $64,230 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 1.25 9. Irvine, CA
Total quality associate jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $64,127 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 1.62 10. Albuquerque, NM
Total quality associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $51,506 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 2.36
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Best cities for quality associates
- Durham, NC
- Indianapolis, IN
- Oklahoma City, OK
- San Francisco, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Los Angeles, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Anaheim, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- (3 quality associate jobs)
- (10 quality associate jobs)
- (7 quality associate jobs)
- (7 quality associate jobs)
- (1 quality associate jobs)
- (15 quality associate jobs)
- (5 quality associate jobs)
- (1 quality associate jobs)
- (7 quality associate jobs)
- (5 quality associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a quality associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $63,065 | $38,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $61,918 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,758 | $30,000 | 638,367 | 7 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $66,279 | $37,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $63,138 | $38,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,482 | $38,000 | 3,976,322 | 15 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $56,340 | $34,000 | 472,522 | 5 |
| 8 | Anaheim, CA | $64,230 | $38,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $64,127 | $38,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $51,506 | $30,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 11 | Greensboro, NC | $62,583 | $37,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 12 | Winston-Salem, NC | $62,404 | $37,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $62,075 | $37,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $65,422 | $36,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $62,934 | $34,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $65,894 | $37,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $49,864 | $28,000 | 446,970 | 6 |
| 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | $62,751 | $35,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $47,077 | $28,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $70,244 | $40,000 | 681,170 | 3 |
| 21 | New York, NY | $62,024 | $34,000 | 8,537,673 | 18 |
| 22 | Oakland, CA | $66,162 | $37,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 23 | San Jose, CA | $66,102 | $37,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 24 | Fremont, CA | $66,091 | $37,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 25 | Brookhaven, NY | $62,355 | $34,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 26 | Lexington, KY | $51,196 | $30,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | $51,012 | $30,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $63,834 | $38,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $62,259 | $34,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $47,826 | $26,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 31 | Oyster Bay, NY | $62,171 | $34,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 32 | Hempstead, NY | $62,120 | $34,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $65,170 | $37,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $64,934 | $37,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 35 | Lincoln, NE | $49,768 | $28,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 36 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,686 | $29,000 | 1,615,017 | 24 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $51,724 | $29,000 | 2,704,958 | 10 |
| 38 | Stockton, CA | $65,571 | $36,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | $64,336 | $38,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 40 | Arlington, TX | $43,133 | $26,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,381 | $27,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 42 | Santa Ana, CA | $64,190 | $38,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 43 | Riverside, CA | $63,989 | $37,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 44 | New Orleans, LA | $51,765 | $32,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $45,205 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $44,380 | $27,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | $50,359 | $30,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 48 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $50,195 | $33,000 | 260,999 | 1 |
| 49 | Orlando, FL | $50,059 | $32,000 | 277,173 | 4 |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $63,826 | $38,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for quality associates
| Rank | City | Avg. quality associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $66,279 |
| 2 | Greenville, NC | $64,027 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $62,887 |
| 4 | Nashua, NH | $62,550 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $62,024 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $61,918 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $56,742 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $56,340 |
| 9 | Bellevue, WA | $54,230 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $51,724 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $51,506 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,758 |
| 13 | Bellevue, NE | $49,909 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,686 |
| 15 | Edison, NJ | $47,539 |
| 16 | La Vergne, TN | $47,092 |
| 17 | Marion, OH | $45,456 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $44,405 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,055 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $43,172 |
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Updated January 8, 2025