Best cities for an associate scientist
The best cities for associate scientists are San Francisco, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and Memphis, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for associate scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for associate scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an associate scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for associate scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for associate scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an associate scientist. While the absolute best city for associate scientists is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for associate scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for an associate scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for associate scientists in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Associate scientist jobs in San FranciscoTotal associate scientist jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $113,839 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 1.39 2. Bakersfield, CA
Associate scientist jobs in BakersfieldTotal associate scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $107,609 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.15 3. Memphis, TN
Associate scientist jobs in MemphisTotal associate scientist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $89,957 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.98 4. San Diego, CA
Associate scientist jobs in San DiegoTotal associate scientist jobs: 150 Average annual salary: $98,604 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location quotient: 8.02 5. Fremont, CA
Associate scientist jobs in FremontTotal associate scientist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $113,156 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.97 6. Oakland, CA
Associate scientist jobs in OaklandTotal associate scientist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $113,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.68 7. Santa Ana, CA
Associate scientist jobs in Santa AnaTotal associate scientist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $102,403 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 1.30 8. Madison, WI
Associate scientist jobs in MadisonTotal associate scientist jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $70,520 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 17.87 9. Nashville, TN
Associate scientist jobs in NashvilleTotal associate scientist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $91,053 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.12 10. Irvine, CA
Associate scientist jobs in IrvineTotal associate scientist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $102,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.95
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Best cities for associate scientists
- San Francisco, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Memphis, TN
- San Diego, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Madison, WI
- Nashville, TN
- Irvine, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for an associate scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $113,839 | $72,000 | 870,887 | 43 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,609 | $67,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $89,957 | $60,000 | 652,717 | 6 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $98,604 | $62,000 | 1,406,630 | 150 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $113,156 | $71,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $113,536 | $71,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 7 | Santa Ana, CA | $102,403 | $64,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $70,520 | $48,000 | 252,551 | 100 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $91,053 | $61,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 10 | Irvine, CA | $102,037 | $64,000 | 266,122 | 8 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $112,988 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $77,811 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $70,827 | $48,000 | 595,047 | 17 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,450 | $46,000 | 1,567,872 | 164 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $80,423 | $55,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $80,191 | $51,000 | 704,352 | 51 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $112,154 | $70,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Anchorage, AK | $80,127 | $52,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $112,048 | $70,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,616 | $53,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 21 | Durham, NC | $64,597 | $43,000 | 263,016 | 38 |
| 22 | North Las Vegas, NV | $84,352 | $53,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,114 | $65,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 24 | Reno, NV | $89,303 | $56,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $84,064 | $53,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $109,901 | $69,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Boston, MA | $76,510 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 59 |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $103,036 | $65,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Baltimore, MD | $77,347 | $53,000 | 614,664 | 55 |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $66,192 | $45,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $102,741 | $65,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $102,087 | $64,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,757 | $44,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 34 | Fort Wayne, IN | $78,720 | $54,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $81,515 | $52,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $81,594 | $52,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $81,371 | $52,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,391 | $55,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 39 | Chandler, AZ | $80,850 | $51,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 40 | Mesa, AZ | $80,817 | $51,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 41 | Chula Vista, CA | $98,092 | $62,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 42 | Gilbert, AZ | $80,739 | $51,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 43 | Columbus, OH | $65,396 | $45,000 | 860,090 | 8 |
| 44 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $101,799 | $74,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $78,908 | $50,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 46 | Raleigh, NC | $64,553 | $43,000 | 458,880 | 7 |
| 47 | Chicago, IL | $74,672 | $51,000 | 2,704,958 | 8 |
| 48 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,172 | $47,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 49 | Tulsa, OK | $72,014 | $47,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 50 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $62,097 | $40,000 | 260,999 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for associate scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. associate scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $113,839 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $82,166 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $81,252 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $80,191 |
| 5 | Newark, DE | $77,660 |
| 6 | Bloomington, IN | $77,405 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $77,347 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $76,510 |
| 9 | North Chicago, IL | $74,853 |
| 10 | Bartlesville, OK | $72,118 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $71,430 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $70,520 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,450 |
| 14 | Boulder, CO | $66,089 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $64,597 |
| 16 | Ames, IA | $62,850 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $61,998 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $60,677 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $56,365 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $54,343 |
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Updated January 8, 2025