Best cities for a strategic planning director
The best cities for strategic planning directors are Portland, OR, Pittsburgh, PA, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for strategic planning directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for strategic planning directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a strategic planning director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for strategic planning directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for strategic planning directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a strategic planning director. While the absolute best city for strategic planning directors is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for strategic planning directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a strategic planning director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for strategic planning directors in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Total strategic planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $156,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 1.65 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Total strategic planning director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $139,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 1.24 3. Detroit, MI
Total strategic planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $127,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location quotient: 2.66 4. Phoenix, AZ
Total strategic planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,622 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.90 5. Columbus, OH
Total strategic planning director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $131,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 0.42 6. Anaheim, CA
Total strategic planning director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $148,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location quotient: 11.08 7. Colorado Springs, CO
Total strategic planning director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $134,165 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 1.73 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total strategic planning director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $144,092 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Glendale, AZ
Total strategic planning director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Total strategic planning director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $138,549 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for strategic planning directors
- Portland, OR
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Phoenix, AZ
- Columbus, OH
- Anaheim, CA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- Glendale, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- (3 strategic planning director jobs)
- (2 strategic planning director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a strategic planning director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $156,800 | $100,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $139,568 | $90,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $127,647 | $83,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $138,622 | $84,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $131,627 | $84,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 6 | Anaheim, CA | $148,843 | $91,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $134,165 | $84,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $144,092 | $94,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $138,659 | $84,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $138,549 | $84,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $158,770 | $100,000 | 870,887 | 7 |
| 12 | Chandler, AZ | $138,304 | $84,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $138,294 | $84,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $133,761 | $87,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $133,383 | $84,000 | 693,060 | 11 |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $132,097 | $85,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | Gilbert, AZ | $138,252 | $84,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $129,132 | $82,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $136,751 | $91,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $135,182 | $85,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $139,407 | $92,000 | 8,537,673 | 73 |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $149,723 | $92,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 23 | Jersey City, NJ | $154,548 | $102,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 24 | Newark, NJ | $154,477 | $102,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $157,828 | $100,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 26 | Tucson, AZ | $136,909 | $82,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $147,297 | $94,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $130,219 | $81,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | Irvine, CA | $148,397 | $91,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $130,059 | $81,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Oakland, CA | $158,546 | $100,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 32 | Fremont, CA | $158,202 | $100,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $129,731 | $80,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Saint Louis, MO | $119,739 | $76,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 35 | San Jose, CA | $158,019 | $99,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $157,613 | $99,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Anchorage, AK | $137,475 | $86,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $124,928 | $76,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 39 | Atlanta, GA | $119,052 | $74,000 | 472,522 | 9 |
| 40 | Durham, NC | $114,432 | $73,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 41 | Fresno, CA | $155,772 | $97,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 42 | Long Beach, CA | $148,940 | $91,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $153,442 | $95,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 44 | Austin, TX | $116,974 | $70,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 45 | Santa Ana, CA | $148,612 | $91,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $148,604 | $91,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Chicago, IL | $124,853 | $81,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 48 | Aurora, CO | $133,358 | $84,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 49 | Islip, NY | $140,013 | $92,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 50 | Fort Worth, TX | $117,187 | $71,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for strategic planning directors
| Rank | City | Avg. strategic planning director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $158,770 |
| 2 | Beaverton, OR | $157,203 |
| 3 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $154,366 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $143,499 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $139,568 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $139,407 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $138,622 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $136,751 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $133,383 |
| 10 | Gaithersburg, MD | $132,118 |
| 11 | Dublin, OH | $131,559 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $127,647 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $124,853 |
| 14 | Tallahassee, FL | $123,113 |
| 15 | Roy, UT | $120,021 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $119,739 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $119,052 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $117,636 |
| 19 | Southlake, TX | $116,998 |
| 20 | Arlington, VA | $116,049 |
Strategic planning director best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025