Best cities for an associate professor
The best cities for associate professors are El Paso, TX, Lubbock, TX, and Long Beach, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for associate professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for associate professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an associate professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for associate professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for associate professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an associate professor. While the absolute best city for associate professors is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for associate professors in 2024.
If you're looking for an associate professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for associate professors in 2025
1. El Paso, TX
Associate professor jobs in El PasoTotal associate professor jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $114,193 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location quotient: 7.98 2. Lubbock, TX
Associate professor jobs in LubbockTotal associate professor jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $112,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 23.34 3. Long Beach, CA
Associate professor jobs in Long BeachTotal associate professor jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $139,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 3.48 4. New Orleans, LA
Associate professor jobs in New OrleansTotal associate professor jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $109,884 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 6.12 5. Bakersfield, CA
Associate professor jobs in BakersfieldTotal associate professor jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $139,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location quotient: 3.35 6. Riverside, CA
Total associate professor jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $139,680 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 2.54 7. Laredo, TX
Associate professor jobs in LaredoTotal associate professor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $108,370 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 5.12 8. Greensboro, NC
Associate professor jobs in GreensboroTotal associate professor jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $105,307 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 4.97 9. Durham, NC
Associate professor jobs in DurhamTotal associate professor jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $106,362 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location quotient: 4.10 10. Winston-Salem, NC
Total associate professor jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $104,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 4.37
Choose from 10+ customizable associate professor resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use associate professor resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your associate professor resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for associate professors
- El Paso, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Long Beach, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Laredo, TX
- Greensboro, NC
- Durham, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- (30 associate professor jobs)
- (46 associate professor jobs)
- (14 associate professor jobs)
- (37 associate professor jobs)
- (10 associate professor jobs)
- (10 associate professor jobs)
- (5 associate professor jobs)
- (25 associate professor jobs)
- (44 associate professor jobs)
- (14 associate professor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an associate professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $114,193 | $60,000 | 683,080 | 30 |
| 2 | Lubbock, TX | $112,769 | $59,000 | 252,506 | 46 |
| 3 | Long Beach, CA | $139,623 | $80,000 | 470,130 | 14 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $109,884 | $53,000 | 391,495 | 37 |
| 5 | Bakersfield, CA | $139,692 | $81,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $139,680 | $80,000 | 324,722 | 10 |
| 7 | Laredo, TX | $108,370 | $55,000 | 257,156 | 5 |
| 8 | Greensboro, NC | $105,307 | $50,000 | 287,027 | 25 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $106,362 | $50,000 | 263,016 | 44 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem, NC | $104,734 | $50,000 | 242,203 | 14 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $119,306 | $75,000 | 639,863 | 77 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $139,697 | $80,000 | 3,976,322 | 82 |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $139,034 | $81,000 | 522,053 | 7 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $103,346 | $54,000 | 672,795 | 47 |
| 15 | Hempstead, NY | $116,804 | $61,000 | 759,757 | 5 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $110,730 | $56,000 | 1,492,510 | 42 |
| 17 | Arlington, TX | $110,379 | $55,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 18 | Buffalo, NY | $114,693 | $61,000 | 256,902 | 78 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi, TX | $108,331 | $55,000 | 325,733 | 3 |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $110,496 | $55,000 | 854,113 | 16 |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $106,603 | $50,000 | 458,880 | 36 |
| 22 | Tucson, AZ | $102,691 | $56,000 | 530,706 | 28 |
| 23 | Irvine, CA | $139,602 | $80,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 24 | Orlando, FL | $110,566 | $53,000 | 277,173 | 32 |
| 25 | Memphis, TN | $94,308 | $46,000 | 652,717 | 37 |
| 26 | Boston, MA | $115,904 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 133 |
| 27 | San Diego, CA | $139,236 | $79,000 | 1,406,630 | 40 |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $103,190 | $57,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $103,119 | $57,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $110,003 | $54,000 | 2,303,482 | 91 |
| 31 | Miami, FL | $102,933 | $52,000 | 453,579 | 79 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,293 | $45,000 | 303,625 | 111 |
| 33 | Sacramento, CA | $137,923 | $82,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 34 | Anaheim, CA | $139,647 | $80,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $138,524 | $82,000 | 870,887 | 37 |
| 36 | Lincoln, NE | $101,234 | $55,000 | 280,364 | 11 |
| 37 | Jacksonville, FL | $109,588 | $52,000 | 880,619 | 30 |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $89,168 | $46,000 | 278,508 | 11 |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $139,620 | $80,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Austin, TX | $111,040 | $56,000 | 947,890 | 36 |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,639 | $47,000 | 1,567,872 | 134 |
| 42 | San Jose, CA | $138,804 | $82,000 | 1,025,350 | 12 |
| 43 | Lexington, KY | $82,221 | $40,000 | 318,449 | 88 |
| 44 | Aurora, CO | $93,368 | $52,000 | 361,710 | 99 |
| 45 | Fremont, CA | $138,668 | $82,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $89,517 | $43,000 | 660,388 | 47 |
| 47 | Chula Vista, CA | $139,132 | $79,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 48 | Oakland, CA | $138,525 | $82,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 49 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $110,740 | $54,000 | 260,999 | 4 |
| 50 | Omaha, NE | $100,145 | $54,000 | 446,970 | 20 |
Highest paying cities for associate professors
| Rank | City | Avg. associate professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $139,697 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $119,306 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $116,706 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $115,904 |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $112,769 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $111,599 |
| 7 | Gainesville, FL | $111,149 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | $110,498 |
| 9 | Birmingham, AL | $107,681 |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $107,508 |
| 11 | Columbus, GA | $106,583 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $106,362 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $105,245 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $103,346 |
| 15 | Little Rock, AR | $100,887 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $97,351 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $96,190 |
| 18 | New Brunswick, NJ | $94,310 |
| 19 | Aurora, CO | $93,368 |
| 20 | Charlottesville, VA | $92,613 |
Associate professor best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for associate professor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025