Best cities for an assistant professor
The best cities for assistant professors are Laredo, TX, Toledo, OH, and El Paso, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for assistant professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for assistant professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an assistant professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for assistant professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for assistant professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an assistant professor. While the absolute best city for assistant professors is Laredo, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for assistant professors in 2024.
If you're looking for an assistant professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for assistant professors in 2025
1. Laredo, TX
Assistant professor jobs in LaredoTotal assistant professor jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $104,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 81.79 2. Toledo, OH
Assistant professor jobs in ToledoTotal assistant professor jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $101,070 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 56.84 3. El Paso, TX
Assistant professor jobs in El PasoTotal assistant professor jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $104,237 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 75.81 4. Lubbock, TX
Assistant professor jobs in LubbockTotal assistant professor jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $101,913 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 188.18 5. New Orleans, LA
Assistant professor jobs in New OrleansTotal assistant professor jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $99,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 42.16 6. Arlington, TX
Assistant professor jobs in ArlingtonTotal assistant professor jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $100,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 36.33 7. Albuquerque, NM
Assistant professor jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal assistant professor jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $107,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 22.50 8. Cleveland, OH
Assistant professor jobs in ClevelandTotal assistant professor jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $102,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 17.32 9. Reno, NV
Assistant professor jobs in RenoTotal assistant professor jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $102,395 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 27.50 10. San Antonio, TX
Assistant professor jobs in San AntonioTotal assistant professor jobs: 187 Average annual salary: $104,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 19.49
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Best cities for assistant professors
- Laredo, TX
- Toledo, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- New Orleans, LA
- Arlington, TX
- Albuquerque, NM
- Cleveland, OH
- Reno, NV
- San Antonio, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for an assistant professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo, TX | $104,947 | $53,000 | 257,156 | 148 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $101,070 | $53,000 | 278,508 | 53 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $104,237 | $53,000 | 683,080 | 16 |
| 4 | Lubbock, TX | $101,913 | $51,000 | 252,506 | 175 |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | $99,998 | $46,000 | 391,495 | 216 |
| 6 | Arlington, TX | $100,560 | $48,000 | 392,772 | 213 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $107,568 | $56,000 | 559,277 | 111 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $102,434 | $54,000 | 385,809 | 80 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $102,395 | $59,000 | 245,255 | 253 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $104,037 | $51,000 | 1,492,510 | 187 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,248 | $47,000 | 303,625 | 48 |
| 12 | Corpus Christi, TX | $104,626 | $52,000 | 325,733 | 61 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $99,690 | $48,000 | 298,800 | 173 |
| 14 | Winston-Salem, NC | $98,639 | $45,000 | 242,203 | 176 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $101,767 | $50,000 | 860,090 | 100 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $100,205 | $46,000 | 263,016 | 197 |
| 17 | Hempstead, NY | $101,259 | $55,000 | 759,757 | 85 |
| 18 | Greensboro, NC | $99,209 | $46,000 | 287,027 | 209 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $103,305 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 78 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,254 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 159 |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $100,720 | $55,000 | 281,764 | 161 |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $100,343 | $46,000 | 458,880 | 148 |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | $104,498 | $53,000 | 614,664 | 55 |
| 24 | Buffalo, NY | $98,410 | $55,000 | 256,902 | 17 |
| 25 | Fort Wayne, IN | $92,498 | $47,000 | 264,488 | 100 |
| 26 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $114,324 | $75,000 | 351,792 | 176 |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $88,041 | $46,000 | 530,706 | 163 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $107,713 | $62,000 | 673,184 | 233 |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $103,422 | $50,000 | 947,890 | 127 |
| 30 | Indianapolis, IN | $90,688 | $44,000 | 855,164 | 24 |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $78,507 | $42,000 | 595,047 | 157 |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $77,272 | $42,000 | 252,551 | 134 |
| 33 | Miami, FL | $95,714 | $47,000 | 453,579 | 146 |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | $101,830 | $56,000 | 632,912 | 193 |
| 35 | Portland, OR | $107,070 | $66,000 | 639,863 | 191 |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $88,223 | $47,000 | 245,895 | 58 |
| 37 | Fort Worth, TX | $100,634 | $48,000 | 854,113 | 124 |
| 38 | Henderson, NV | $101,732 | $56,000 | 292,969 | 7 |
| 39 | Dallas, TX | $100,257 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | 184 |
| 40 | Orlando, FL | $95,670 | $44,000 | 277,173 | 49 |
| 41 | Norfolk, VA | $88,137 | $42,000 | 245,115 | 230 |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | $76,156 | $41,000 | 672,795 | 203 |
| 43 | Atlanta, GA | $90,701 | $42,000 | 472,522 | 168 |
| 44 | Saint Louis, MO | $86,798 | $43,000 | 311,404 | 86 |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $79,113 | $39,000 | 638,367 | 53 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $92,225 | $51,000 | 324,722 | 107 |
| 47 | Lincoln, NE | $74,946 | $40,000 | 280,364 | 190 |
| 48 | Anchorage, AK | $106,711 | $72,000 | 298,192 | 42 |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $101,672 | $56,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $70,319 | $33,000 | 318,449 | 114 |
Highest paying cities for assistant professors
| Rank | City | Avg. assistant professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $111,958 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $107,713 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $104,498 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $104,237 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $101,767 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $101,188 |
| 7 | Baton Rouge, LA | $99,991 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $99,319 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $98,191 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $95,714 |
| 11 | New Haven, CT | $93,662 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,254 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $92,853 |
| 14 | Richmond, IN | $92,459 |
| 15 | Gainesville, GA | $92,059 |
| 16 | Columbus, MS | $88,991 |
| 17 | Tempe, AZ | $88,128 |
| 18 | Richmond, VA | $87,523 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $86,798 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,984 |
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Updated January 8, 2025