Best cities for a studio director
The best cities for studio directors are Oakland, CA, Portland, OR, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for studio directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for studio directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a studio director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for studio directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for studio directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a studio director. While the absolute best city for studio directors is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for studio directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a studio director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for studio directors in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total studio director jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $146,193 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $373,000 Location quotient: 49.18 2. Portland, OR
Total studio director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $167,107 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $463,000 Location quotient: 3.95 3. Fremont, CA
Total studio director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $145,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $370,000 Location quotient: 6.68 4. Anchorage, AK
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $194,686 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $473,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Wichita, KS
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $356,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Seattle, WA
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $164,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $464,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Francisco, CA
Total studio director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $146,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $374,000 Location quotient: 1.34 8. Chicago, IL
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $151,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $347,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Sacramento, CA
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $147,243 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $376,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Detroit, MI
Total studio director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $112,070 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $247,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for studio directors
- Oakland, CA
- Portland, OR
- Fremont, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Wichita, KS
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Sacramento, CA
- Detroit, MI
- (7 studio director jobs)
- (2 studio director jobs)
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- (0 studio director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a studio director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $146,193 | $57,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $167,107 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $145,052 | $56,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $194,686 | $80,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | $142,409 | $56,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $164,443 | $58,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $146,533 | $57,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $151,064 | $65,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $147,243 | $57,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $112,070 | $50,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,651 | $43,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $122,865 | $47,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $145,414 | $56,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $129,213 | $50,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,501 | $51,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $144,143 | $56,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $118,495 | $51,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $110,024 | $42,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $139,552 | $54,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $110,628 | $43,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Durham, NC | $108,410 | $45,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $108,235 | $45,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC | $104,760 | $42,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $127,982 | $50,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 25 | Greensboro, NC | $107,783 | $45,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 26 | Long Beach, CA | $127,975 | $50,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 27 | Riverside, CA | $127,964 | $50,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 28 | Winston-Salem, NC | $107,379 | $44,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $133,988 | $52,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | Santa Ana, CA | $127,571 | $50,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 31 | Irvine, CA | $127,229 | $50,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 32 | Toledo, OH | $94,480 | $42,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 33 | Cleveland, OH | $94,233 | $42,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 34 | New York, NY | $113,181 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $109,530 | $50,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 36 | New Orleans, LA | $102,170 | $40,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $95,274 | $41,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 38 | Cincinnati, OH | $93,408 | $39,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $123,246 | $48,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 40 | Nashville, TN | $89,965 | $36,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 41 | Chula Vista, CA | $122,519 | $48,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 42 | Islip, NY | $113,252 | $53,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $113,247 | $53,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $100,313 | $40,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 45 | Brookhaven, NY | $113,185 | $53,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 46 | Oyster Bay, NY | $113,153 | $53,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 47 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,870 | $51,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $112,369 | $52,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 49 | Newark, NJ | $109,842 | $51,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $92,712 | $36,000 | 559,277 | - |
Highest paying cities for studio directors
| Rank | City | Avg. studio director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $167,107 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $164,486 |
| 3 | Nampa, ID | $151,439 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $151,064 |
| 5 | Chico, CA | $150,656 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $113,181 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,651 |
| 8 | Edison, NJ | $109,946 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $109,530 |
| 10 | Lafayette, LA | $103,210 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $99,081 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $89,285 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $82,604 |
| 14 | Tempe, AZ | $81,046 |
| 15 | State College, PA | $80,158 |











