25 Best Cities for Marketing Managers in 2026
Marketing managers are found in virtually every industry, but the highest-paying roles concentrate in metros with major media, tech, and consumer brand headquarters. We balanced income against affordability, since marketing salaries span a wide range and cost of living can be the decisive factor in real financial outcomes.
Methodology
Scoring weights: median income (35%), rent-to-income ratio (30%, inverted), unemployment rate (25%, inverted), violent crime rate (10%, inverted).
Laconia
New Hampshire
Median Income
$97,692
Median Rent
$1,037/mo
Rent/Income
13%
Unemployment
2.1%
Heber
Utah
Median Income
$134,986
Median Rent
$2,434/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
2.5%
Lexington Park
Maryland
Median Income
$116,297
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
California
Median Income
$153,202
Median Rent
$2,773/mo
Rent/Income
22%
Unemployment
3.6%
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Median Income
$103,727
Median Rent
$1,668/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.4%
Concord
New Hampshire
Median Income
$92,110
Median Rent
$1,398/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Bismarck
North Dakota
Median Income
$83,440
Median Rent
$951/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.0%
Burlington-South Burlington
Vermont
Median Income
$95,497
Median Rent
$1,604/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
1.6%
Keene
New Hampshire
Median Income
$89,314
Median Rent
$1,259/mo
Rent/Income
17%
Unemployment
2.3%
Ogden
Utah
Median Income
$100,461
Median Rent
$1,528/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.5%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Median Income
$111,058
Median Rent
$1,862/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
3.1%
Torrington
Connecticut
Median Income
$91,020
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Rent/Income
15%
Unemployment
3.0%
Provo-Orem-Lehi
Utah
Median Income
$100,791
Median Rent
$1,556/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
2.7%
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Median Income
$92,117
Median Rent
$1,551/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.2%
Kapaa
Hawaii
Median Income
$103,564
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Rent/Income
21%
Unemployment
2.6%
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
Median Income
$82,864
Median Rent
$953/mo
Rent/Income
14%
Unemployment
2.5%
Appleton
Wisconsin
Median Income
$83,966
Median Rent
$1,087/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
2.3%
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Median Income
$78,937
Median Rent
$1,218/mo
Rent/Income
19%
Unemployment
1.9%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minnesota
Median Income
$95,102
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.6%
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
Median Income
$76,226
Median Rent
$988/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.7%
Logan
Utah
Median Income
$85,111
Median Rent
$1,253/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.4%
Huntsville
Alabama
Median Income
$84,929
Median Rent
$1,240/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.0%
Fargo
North Dakota
Median Income
$72,889
Median Rent
$989/mo
Rent/Income
16%
Unemployment
1.9%
Rochester
Minnesota
Median Income
$85,213
Median Rent
$1,271/mo
Rent/Income
18%
Unemployment
2.4%
Charlottesville
Virginia
Median Income
$92,265
Median Rent
$1,540/mo
Rent/Income
20%
Unemployment
2.5%
Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries pay marketing managers the most?
Tech, finance, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods consistently offer the highest marketing manager salaries. Agencies generally pay less than in-house corporate roles at equivalent seniority.
Are marketing management roles increasingly remote?
More so than before, though brand marketing, product marketing, and demand generation leadership roles often require proximity to the product team. Digital-only marketing roles have the most location flexibility.
How important is a marketing-specific degree versus business or liberal arts?
Less important than portfolio and demonstrated results. Many top marketing managers have degrees in business, communications, psychology, or even unrelated fields. Data analytics skills have become increasingly valuable.