Best cities for a store associate
The best cities for store associates are Fort Wayne, IN, Hempstead, NY, and Omaha, NE, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for store associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for store associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a store associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for store associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for store associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a store associate. While the absolute best city for store associates is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for store associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a store associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for store associates in 2025
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Store associate jobs in Fort WayneTotal store associate jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $29,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 0.72 2. Hempstead, NY
Store associate jobs in HempsteadTotal store associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $34,472 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.93 3. Omaha, NE
Store associate jobs in OmahaTotal store associate jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $29,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 0.45 4. Wichita, KS
Store associate jobs in WichitaTotal store associate jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $27,271 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.73 5. Milwaukee, WI
Store associate jobs in MilwaukeeTotal store associate jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $28,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.46 6. Toledo, OH
Store associate jobs in ToledoTotal store associate jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $28,766 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.38 7. Mesa, AZ
Store associate jobs in MesaTotal store associate jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $29,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 0.56 8. Memphis, TN
Store associate jobs in MemphisTotal store associate jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $26,212 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Location quotient: 0.54 9. Cleveland, OH
Store associate jobs in ClevelandTotal store associate jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $29,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 0.34 10. Glendale, AZ
Store associate jobs in GlendaleTotal store associate jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $29,190 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 0.45
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Best cities for store associates
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Hempstead, NY
- Omaha, NE
- Wichita, KS
- Milwaukee, WI
- Toledo, OH
- Mesa, AZ
- Memphis, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Glendale, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a store associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,080 | $23,000 | 264,488 | 27 |
| 2 | Hempstead, NY | $34,472 | $29,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $29,350 | $23,000 | 446,970 | 62 |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $27,271 | $21,000 | 389,902 | 40 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $28,769 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 58 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $28,766 | $23,000 | 278,508 | 11 |
| 7 | Mesa, AZ | $29,111 | $23,000 | 484,587 | 17 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $26,212 | $20,000 | 652,717 | 69 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $29,111 | $24,000 | 385,809 | 35 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $29,190 | $23,000 | 245,895 | 8 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $28,754 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 41 |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $34,606 | $29,000 | 256,902 | 26 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,064 | $26,000 | 413,651 | 86 |
| 14 | Laredo, TX | $26,818 | $21,000 | 257,156 | 6 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $27,997 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 80 |
| 16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $26,713 | $21,000 | 242,203 | 16 |
| 17 | Gilbert, AZ | $29,124 | $23,000 | 237,133 | 6 |
| 18 | Madison, WI | $28,550 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 36 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $29,119 | $23,000 | 280,364 | 17 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $27,910 | $22,000 | 481,420 | 68 |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,807 | $20,000 | 638,367 | 70 |
| 22 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,080 | $26,000 | 302,398 | 30 |
| 23 | Portland, OR | $31,621 | $25,000 | 639,863 | 55 |
| 24 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,222 | $22,000 | 855,164 | 67 |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $26,317 | $20,000 | 292,969 | 12 |
| 26 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,235 | $24,000 | 465,101 | 75 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,773 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 75 |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $27,269 | $22,000 | 298,800 | 35 |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $32,288 | $25,000 | 376,380 | 17 |
| 30 | Aurora, CO | $30,294 | $24,000 | 361,710 | 36 |
| 31 | Hialeah, FL | $27,192 | $21,000 | 236,387 | 5 |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $26,076 | $20,000 | 252,506 | 11 |
| 33 | Tulsa, OK | $25,893 | $20,000 | 403,090 | 23 |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,074 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 42 |
| 35 | Reno, NV | $26,815 | $21,000 | 245,255 | 16 |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $26,362 | $20,000 | 632,912 | 60 |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $26,900 | $21,000 | 458,880 | 42 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $30,813 | $25,000 | 2,704,958 | 107 |
| 39 | Chula Vista, CA | $31,815 | $25,000 | 267,172 | 8 |
| 40 | Tucson, AZ | $29,072 | $23,000 | 530,706 | 17 |
| 41 | Fresno, CA | $32,338 | $25,000 | 522,053 | 16 |
| 42 | Lexington, KY | $26,287 | $21,000 | 318,449 | 9 |
| 43 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,169 | $23,000 | 1,615,017 | 75 |
| 44 | Greensboro, NC | $26,780 | $21,000 | 287,027 | 12 |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $26,222 | $21,000 | 597,337 | 23 |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $26,866 | $21,000 | 237,940 | 21 |
| 47 | Anaheim, CA | $32,013 | $25,000 | 351,043 | 13 |
| 48 | Arlington, TX | $25,878 | $20,000 | 392,772 | 15 |
| 49 | Chandler, AZ | $29,142 | $23,000 | 247,477 | 10 |
| 50 | Charlotte, NC | $26,425 | $21,000 | 842,051 | 88 |
Highest paying cities for store associates
| Rank | City | Avg. store associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $34,461 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $34,319 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $33,660 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $33,204 |
| 5 | Richmond, CA | $32,569 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,064 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $31,621 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $30,813 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $30,301 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $29,596 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $29,350 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,169 |
| 13 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,080 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,773 |
| 15 | Grand Rapids, MI | $28,540 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $28,121 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $27,997 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $27,793 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $27,195 |
| 20 | Greenville, NC | $27,103 |











