Best cities for a strategic project manager
The best cities for strategic project managers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Atlanta, GA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for strategic project managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for strategic project managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a strategic project manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for strategic project managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for strategic project managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a strategic project manager. While the absolute best city for strategic project managers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for strategic project managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a strategic project manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for strategic project managers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total strategic project manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $136,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 5.83 2. San Francisco, CA
Total strategic project manager jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $136,517 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 3.62 3. Atlanta, GA
Total strategic project manager jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $112,840 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 2.11 4. Sacramento, CA
Total strategic project manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $136,366 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 2.67 5. Seattle, WA
Total strategic project manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $136,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 0.99 6. Reno, NV
Total strategic project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $122,013 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Kansas City, MO
Total strategic project manager jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $112,030 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 1.31 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total strategic project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,548 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Detroit, MI
Total strategic project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $120,216 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Saint Louis, MO
Total strategic project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for strategic project managers
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Sacramento, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Reno, NV
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Detroit, MI
- Saint Louis, MO
- (2 strategic project manager jobs)
- (13 strategic project manager jobs)
- (7 strategic project manager jobs)
- (2 strategic project manager jobs)
- (3 strategic project manager jobs)
- (0 strategic project manager jobs)
- (1 strategic project manager jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a strategic project manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $136,263 | $91,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $136,517 | $91,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $112,840 | $73,000 | 472,522 | 7 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $136,366 | $91,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $136,350 | $91,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $122,013 | $81,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $112,030 | $73,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $111,548 | $73,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $120,216 | $79,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $113,869 | $75,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $111,453 | $73,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Henderson, NV | $111,003 | $73,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $107,659 | $70,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $101,955 | $67,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $115,888 | $77,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 16 | Anchorage, AK | $120,653 | $88,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $135,572 | $90,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $134,863 | $90,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | $135,480 | $90,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,799 | $69,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 21 | Madison, WI | $104,522 | $69,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $102,444 | $65,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $107,959 | $71,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $131,034 | $87,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $107,919 | $71,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $107,836 | $70,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $105,503 | $68,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Virginia Beach, VA | $117,932 | $78,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 29 | Saint Paul, MN | $105,768 | $69,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $93,997 | $62,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 31 | Mesa, AZ | $107,632 | $70,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,769 | $66,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 33 | Norfolk, VA | $117,827 | $78,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $107,609 | $70,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 35 | Tucson, AZ | $106,821 | $69,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | $100,676 | $66,000 | 842,051 | 7 |
| 37 | Chesapeake, VA | $117,635 | $78,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 38 | Lubbock, TX | $104,150 | $67,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $103,576 | $65,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 40 | Austin, TX | $103,446 | $65,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 41 | Dallas, TX | $102,413 | $65,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 42 | Durham, NC | $102,023 | $67,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 43 | Albuquerque, NM | $103,963 | $68,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 44 | Portland, OR | $109,752 | $73,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 45 | Greensboro, NC | $101,722 | $67,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 46 | Laredo, TX | $103,264 | $64,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 47 | Winston-Salem, NC | $101,563 | $67,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 48 | Houston, TX | $102,751 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 49 | Minneapolis, MN | $105,780 | $69,000 | 413,651 | 2 |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $102,692 | $64,000 | 325,733 | - |
Highest paying cities for strategic project managers
| Rank | City | Avg. strategic project manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $136,517 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $136,350 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $120,216 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $119,288 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $115,888 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $114,944 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $112,840 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $112,030 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $111,548 |
| 10 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $111,351 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $107,516 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $105,780 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,799 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $103,576 |
| 15 | Hartford, CT | $103,278 |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $101,722 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,769 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $98,028 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $96,388 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $95,387 |
Strategic project manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025