People · Best cities

Best cities for hr managers

Generalist HR / people ops lead, 5+ years, mid-size org. Scores combine cost-of-living-adjusted take-home pay (45%), hiring velocity from live postings (40%), and salary growth (15%).

Top pick: Minneapolis, MN — Minneapolis: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.

01
MN
Minneapolis
Minneapolis: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
77/100
Median pay
$102k
Real take-home
$75k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 106·Rent $1,698·No state tax·Full Minneapolis profile →
02
PA
Philadelphia
Philadelphia: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
76/100
Median pay
$102k
Real take-home
$78k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 102·Rent $1,901·No state tax·Full Philadelphia profile →
03
GA
Atlanta
Atlanta: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
75/100
Median pay
$100k
Real take-home
$68k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
69/100
COL 109·Rent $1,825·4.9% state+local·Full Atlanta profile →
04
TX
Austin
Austin: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
71/100
Median pay
$104k
Real take-home
$68k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
78/100
COL 119·Rent $1,604·No state tax·Full Austin profile →
05
WA
Seattle
Seattle: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
69/100
Median pay
$131k
Real take-home
$66k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
65/100
COL 152·Rent $2,208·No state tax·Full Seattle profile →
06
TX
Houston
Houston: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
63/100
Median pay
$95k
Real take-home
$74k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 102·Rent $1,619·No state tax·Full Houston profile →
07
VA
Richmond
Richmond: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
62/100
Median pay
$82k
Real take-home
$69k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 96·Rent $1,736·No state tax·Full Richmond profile →
08
IL
Chicago
Chicago: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
61/100
Median pay
$104k
Real take-home
$63k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
65/100
COL 121·Rent $2,219·4.9% state+local·Full Chicago profile →
09
TX
Dallas
Dallas: top-tier real take-home for hr managers after rent and tax, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
57/100
Median pay
$102k
Real take-home
$71k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 112·Rent $1,660·No state tax·Full Dallas profile →
10
CA
San Francisco
San Francisco: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
54/100
Median pay
$152k
Real take-home
$53k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
79/100
COL 195·Rent $3,206·7.2% state+local·Full San Francisco profile →
11
TN
Nashville
Nashville: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
50/100
Median pay
$80k
Real take-home
$60k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
67/100
COL 108·Rent $1,784·No state tax·Full Nashville profile →
12
NC
Charlotte
Charlotte: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
47/100
Median pay
$83k
Real take-home
$61k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
63/100
COL 104·Rent $1,733·4.3% state+local·Full Charlotte profile →
13
DC
Washington
Washington: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
47/100
Median pay
$122k
Real take-home
$62k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 152·Rent $2,375·No state tax·Full Washington profile →
14
AZ
Phoenix
Phoenix: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
44/100
Median pay
$83k
Real take-home
$61k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
57/100
COL 107·Rent $1,741·2.2% state+local·Full Phoenix profile →
15
MA
Boston
Boston: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
38/100
Median pay
$118k
Real take-home
$56k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 162·Rent $3,184·No state tax·Full Boston profile →
16
NY
New York
New York: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
34/100
Median pay
$131k
Real take-home
$47k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
65/100
COL 187·Rent $3,406·9.0% state+local·Full New York profile →
17
NC
Raleigh
Raleigh: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
27/100
Median pay
$87k
Real take-home
$64k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 103·Rent $1,674·4.3% state+local·Full Raleigh profile →
18
CA
Los Angeles
Los Angeles: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
21/100
Median pay
$128k
Real take-home
$52k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 173·Rent $2,892·6.9% state+local·Full Los Angeles profile →
19
CO
Denver
Denver: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
16/100
Median pay
$97k
Real take-home
$57k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 128·Rent $1,887·3.9% state+local·Full Denver profile →
20
FL
Miami
Miami: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
11/100
Median pay
$83k
Real take-home
$48k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
36/100
COL 138·Rent $2,683·No state tax·Full Miami profile →

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