Best cities for a unit leader
The best cities for unit leaders are Buffalo, NY, Santa Ana, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for unit leaders vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for unit leaders in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a unit leader or considering a move, this list of the best cities for unit leaders to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for unit leaders. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a unit leader. While the absolute best city for unit leaders is Buffalo, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for unit leaders in 2024.
If you're looking for a unit leader job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for unit leaders in 2026
1. Buffalo, NY
Total unit leader jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $74,453 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.74 2. Santa Ana, CA
Total unit leader jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $60,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.76 3. Boston, MA
Total unit leader jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $71,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.32 4. Mesa, AZ
Total unit leader jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $42,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 5.60 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total unit leader jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $61,413 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 0.40 6. Newark, NJ
Total unit leader jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $62,581 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 0.32 7. Durham, NC
Total unit leader jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $47,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.69 8. Gilbert, AZ
Total unit leader jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $42,186 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 1.56 9. San Jose, CA
Total unit leader jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $71,224 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.27 10. New York, NY
Total unit leader jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $79,390 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.15
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Best cities for unit leaders
- Buffalo, NY
- Santa Ana, CA
- Boston, MA
- Mesa, AZ
- Los Angeles, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Durham, NC
- Gilbert, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- New York, NY
- (2 unit leader jobs)
- (1 unit leader jobs)
- (6 unit leader jobs)
- (7 unit leader jobs)
- (9 unit leader jobs)
- (1 unit leader jobs)
- (3 unit leader jobs)
- (1 unit leader jobs)
- (5 unit leader jobs)
- (13 unit leader jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a unit leader
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | $74,453 | $33,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 2 | Santa Ana, CA | $60,536 | $27,000 | 334,217 | 1 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $71,891 | $33,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 4 | Mesa, AZ | $42,255 | $19,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,413 | $27,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $62,581 | $27,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $47,568 | $22,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 8 | Gilbert, AZ | $42,186 | $19,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $71,224 | $29,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $79,390 | $34,000 | 8,537,673 | 13 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $72,519 | $30,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $44,569 | $19,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 13 | Brookhaven, NY | $81,673 | $36,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 14 | Islip, NY | $80,881 | $35,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 15 | Oyster Bay, NY | $80,561 | $35,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 16 | Hempstead, NY | $79,889 | $34,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,249 | $17,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $52,740 | $24,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $72,163 | $30,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $62,678 | $27,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $71,568 | $30,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $71,080 | $29,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $64,202 | $27,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,417 | $23,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ | $41,130 | $19,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $70,711 | $29,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Long Beach, CA | $60,828 | $27,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 28 | Portland, OR | $48,659 | $22,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $60,711 | $27,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $44,517 | $21,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 31 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,589 | $19,000 | 1,615,017 | 7 |
| 32 | Cincinnati, OH | $35,564 | $16,000 | 298,800 | 6 |
| 33 | Riverside, CA | $60,441 | $27,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 34 | Fresno, CA | $67,412 | $28,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 35 | Irvine, CA | $60,358 | $27,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 36 | San Diego, CA | $58,411 | $26,000 | 1,406,630 | 4 |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $42,571 | $19,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 38 | Saint Louis, MO | $34,785 | $17,000 | 311,404 | 12 |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,510 | $23,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 40 | Tampa, FL | $41,645 | $21,000 | 377,165 | 6 |
| 41 | Miami, FL | $39,827 | $21,000 | 453,579 | 9 |
| 42 | Raleigh, NC | $47,266 | $22,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 43 | Virginia Beach, VA | $43,011 | $18,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $57,670 | $24,000 | 614,664 | 1 |
| 45 | Cleveland, OH | $45,557 | $20,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $35,226 | $16,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $47,195 | $22,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 48 | Austin, TX | $34,238 | $16,000 | 947,890 | 23 |
| 49 | Reno, NV | $33,162 | $14,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 50 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,990 | $22,000 | 242,203 | - |
Highest paying cities for unit leaders
| Rank | City | Avg. unit leader salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schenectady, NY | $80,926 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $72,519 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $71,891 |
| 4 | Southington, CT | $68,841 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $52,740 |
| 6 | Charleston, WV | $50,508 |
| 7 | Jackson, MS | $47,938 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $44,517 |
| 9 | Evanston, IL | $42,616 |
| 10 | Southfield, MI | $41,663 |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $39,827 |
| 12 | Appleton, WI | $39,522 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,249 |
| 14 | Guaynabo, PR | $36,668 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,151 |
| 16 | San Angelo, TX | $34,974 |
| 17 | Saint Charles, MO | $34,805 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $33,694 |
| 19 | Spartanburg, SC | $33,592 |
| 20 | Kokomo, IN | $32,114 |
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Updated January 8, 2025