City managers in California serve communities operating under the council-manager form of government, where the elected council sets policy and the appointed manager handles administration and operations. Not all California cities use this structure — some operate under mayor-council or commission forms of government where executive and administrative duties are distributed differently.
City Manager locations are available in 82 cities across California. They are spread across 29 counties.
Cities with the highest concentration include Alameda, Hanford, Bell Gardens, which have well-established city manager offices with professional administrative staff managing large departmental workforces and complex service delivery operations.
Residents of California who want to understand how their city is structured should review the city charter, which defines whether the city operates under a mayor-council, council-manager, or another form of government, and what powers are vested in the city manager's office versus elected officials.
City Manager by Counties
Professionals interested in local government administration careers in California can find information on municipal job openings, civil service requirements, and city manager internship programs through the California City Managers Association and individual city human resources departments.
Browse City Manager by county across California to find the nearest location.