Best cities for a senior creative director
The best cities for senior creative directors are Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior creative directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior creative directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior creative director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior creative directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior creative directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior creative director. While the absolute best city for senior creative directors is Chicago, IL, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior creative directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior creative director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior creative directors in 2026
1. Chicago, IL
Total senior creative director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $172,921 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $346,000 Location quotient: 3.85 2. San Francisco, CA
Total senior creative director jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $166,645 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $307,000 Location quotient: 49.48 3. San Jose, CA
Total senior creative director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $166,863 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $308,000 Location quotient: 8.06 4. Raleigh, NC
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $298,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Wichita, KS
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $307,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Durham, NC
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $141,716 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $297,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Greensboro, NC
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,626 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $293,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Charlotte, NC
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $135,425 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $287,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total senior creative director jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $164,661 Lowest 10 percent warn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $309,000 Location quotient: 35.51 10. Detroit, MI
Total senior creative director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $133,076 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $262,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for senior creative directors
- Chicago, IL
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Wichita, KS
- Durham, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Los Angeles, CA
- Detroit, MI
- (2 senior creative director jobs)
- (26 senior creative director jobs)
- (3 senior creative director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a senior creative director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $172,921 | $86,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $166,645 | $90,000 | 870,887 | 26 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $166,863 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $142,065 | $67,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | $155,499 | $78,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $141,716 | $67,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | $139,626 | $66,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $135,425 | $63,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $164,661 | $87,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $133,076 | $67,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | $138,429 | $65,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $166,617 | $90,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $166,456 | $90,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 14 | Bakersfield, CA | $165,692 | $88,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $165,373 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $163,945 | $86,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 17 | Anaheim, CA | $163,767 | $86,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $165,101 | $89,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $163,531 | $86,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $163,818 | $88,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Riverside, CA | $163,355 | $86,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $163,277 | $86,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 23 | New York, NY | $146,869 | $75,000 | 8,537,673 | 42 |
| 24 | San Diego, CA | $159,551 | $83,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 25 | New Orleans, LA | $129,408 | $60,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 26 | Chula Vista, CA | $158,778 | $83,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 27 | Islip, NY | $147,276 | $76,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 28 | Hempstead, NY | $147,191 | $75,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 29 | Brookhaven, NY | $147,046 | $76,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 30 | Oyster Bay, NY | $146,888 | $75,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $139,084 | $71,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $142,436 | $73,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Newark, NJ | $142,300 | $73,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | $119,771 | $63,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 35 | Atlanta, GA | $126,180 | $58,000 | 472,522 | 1 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $119,724 | $63,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $114,087 | $55,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $119,609 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Portland, OR | $133,078 | $72,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | $130,337 | $71,000 | 704,352 | 7 |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $113,612 | $57,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 42 | Nashville, TN | $110,386 | $52,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $111,750 | $53,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 44 | Toledo, OH | $111,858 | $56,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $139,005 | $71,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $123,212 | $66,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $129,387 | $63,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $122,951 | $66,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $129,160 | $63,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 50 | Miami, FL | $114,127 | $52,000 | 453,579 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for senior creative directors
| Rank | City | Avg. senior creative director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $172,921 |
| 2 | Redwood City, CA | $166,968 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $146,869 |
| 4 | Beaverton, OR | $133,207 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $130,337 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $125,237 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $124,823 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $120,978 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | $114,127 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $100,885 |
| 11 | Richardson, TX | $100,020 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $83,620 |
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Updated January 8, 2025