Best cities for a systems director
The best cities for systems directors are Lexington, KY, San Francisco, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for systems directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for systems directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a systems director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for systems directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for systems directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a systems director. While the absolute best city for systems directors is Lexington, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for systems directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a systems director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for systems directors in 2026
1. Lexington, KY
Total systems director jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $128,735 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 20.64 2. San Francisco, CA
Total systems director jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $171,868 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 3.00 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total systems director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $144,088 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 1.82 4. San Jose, CA
Total systems director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $170,746 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 2.22 5. Portland, OR
Total systems director jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $150,108 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 2.93 6. Riverside, CA
Total systems director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $156,713 Lowest 10 percent warn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location quotient: 7.16 7. Seattle, WA
Total systems director jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $158,091 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location quotient: 1.52 8. Indianapolis, IN
Total systems director jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $127,637 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 2.17 9. Fremont, CA
Total systems director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $171,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 1.42 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total systems director jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $126,913 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 5.72
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Best cities for systems directors
- Lexington, KY
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Portland, OR
- Riverside, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Fremont, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- (9 systems director jobs)
- (21 systems director jobs)
- (3 systems director jobs)
- (11 systems director jobs)
- (7 systems director jobs)
- (3 systems director jobs)
- (9 systems director jobs)
- (6 systems director jobs)
- (2 systems director jobs)
- (25 systems director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a systems director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY | $128,735 | $89,000 | 318,449 | 9 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $171,868 | $116,000 | 870,887 | 21 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $144,088 | $96,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $170,746 | $115,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $150,108 | $98,000 | 639,863 | 7 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $156,713 | $105,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $158,091 | $103,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $127,637 | $88,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 9 | Fremont, CA | $171,080 | $116,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $126,913 | $85,000 | 1,615,017 | 25 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $127,826 | $89,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $152,183 | $102,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $138,398 | $99,000 | 673,184 | 17 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $138,366 | $96,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 15 | Anchorage, AK | $157,309 | $108,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 16 | North Las Vegas, NV | $143,895 | $96,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $143,379 | $96,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $158,885 | $106,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $171,603 | $116,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $171,136 | $115,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $126,400 | $90,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 22 | Stockton, CA | $170,618 | $115,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $127,196 | $89,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 24 | Fort Wayne, IN | $129,299 | $89,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $122,355 | $84,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 26 | Durham, NC | $117,700 | $83,000 | 263,016 | 7 |
| 27 | Toledo, OH | $126,480 | $88,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $167,652 | $113,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 29 | Buffalo, NY | $141,146 | $100,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $125,760 | $87,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $124,246 | $86,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $139,999 | $99,000 | 264,152 | 4 |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $164,159 | $111,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 34 | Long Beach, CA | $157,470 | $105,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 35 | Irvine, CA | $156,296 | $105,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $157,242 | $105,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $124,554 | $87,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | $118,985 | $79,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $156,767 | $105,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Chandler, AZ | $126,106 | $84,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 41 | Atlanta, GA | $127,394 | $88,000 | 472,522 | 7 |
| 42 | Omaha, NE | $116,411 | $77,000 | 446,970 | 4 |
| 43 | Madison, WI | $121,519 | $83,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 44 | San Diego, CA | $151,302 | $101,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $126,972 | $85,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $126,836 | $84,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $117,631 | $83,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $142,105 | $101,000 | 8,537,673 | 28 |
| 49 | Mesa, AZ | $126,114 | $84,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | $123,518 | $82,000 | 683,080 | - |
Highest paying cities for systems directors
| Rank | City | Avg. systems director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $171,868 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $159,244 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $150,623 |
| 4 | Ithaca, NY | $142,189 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $139,999 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $138,398 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $127,394 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $126,913 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $126,400 |
| 10 | Dayton, OH | $124,985 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $124,449 |
| 12 | Englewood, CO | $122,211 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $121,740 |
| 14 | Grapevine, TX | $118,676 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $117,700 |
| 16 | Little Rock, AR | $116,474 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $116,411 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $113,401 |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $110,722 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $107,167 |
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Updated January 8, 2025