Best cities for a chief scientific officer
The best cities for chief scientific officers are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for chief scientific officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for chief scientific officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a chief scientific officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for chief scientific officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for chief scientific officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a chief scientific officer. While the absolute best city for chief scientific officers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for chief scientific officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a chief scientific officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for chief scientific officers in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $130,453 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 39.81 2. San Francisco, CA
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $130,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location quotient: 19.03 3. Seattle, WA
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $127,302 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location quotient: 18.03 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $125,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Reno, NV
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,569 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. North Las Vegas, NV
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $125,753 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Washington, DC
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $136,114 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 13.21 8. Sacramento, CA
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $130,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Henderson, NV
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $125,100 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $218,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Fremont, CA
Total chief scientific officer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for chief scientific officers
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Washington, DC
- Sacramento, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Fremont, CA
- (2 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (10 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (8 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (0 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (0 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (0 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (4 chief scientific officer jobs)
- (0 chief scientific officer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a chief scientific officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $130,453 | $74,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $130,647 | $74,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $127,302 | $70,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $125,960 | $71,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $137,569 | $78,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 6 | North Las Vegas, NV | $125,753 | $71,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $136,114 | $81,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $130,734 | $74,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $125,100 | $71,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $129,904 | $74,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $120,263 | $68,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $129,885 | $74,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $129,492 | $74,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $106,271 | $63,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $104,246 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $97,027 | $57,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $91,598 | $54,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 18 | Jersey City, NJ | $111,729 | $66,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 19 | Newark, NJ | $111,633 | $66,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 20 | Fresno, CA | $126,707 | $72,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 21 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,812 | $70,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 22 | Toledo, OH | $95,074 | $56,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 23 | Long Beach, CA | $115,195 | $66,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $115,098 | $66,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,665 | $67,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $114,836 | $66,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | Santa Ana, CA | $114,628 | $66,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $88,229 | $52,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 29 | Irvine, CA | $114,214 | $66,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $93,972 | $54,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 31 | Glendale, AZ | $93,940 | $54,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,918 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 33 | New York, NY | $104,497 | $62,000 | 8,537,673 | 29 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $92,850 | $54,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Baltimore, MD | $109,377 | $65,000 | 614,664 | 1 |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $92,726 | $54,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 37 | Brookhaven, NY | $105,775 | $63,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $92,621 | $54,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 39 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,876 | $53,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $87,640 | $51,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $109,610 | $63,000 | 1,406,630 | 4 |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | $81,639 | $48,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 43 | Islip, NY | $105,369 | $62,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 44 | Oyster Bay, NY | $105,110 | $62,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 45 | Hempstead, NY | $104,822 | $62,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 46 | Chula Vista, CA | $108,767 | $63,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $102,129 | $60,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $89,388 | $52,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $80,232 | $47,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 50 | Virginia Beach, VA | $95,377 | $58,000 | 452,602 | - |
Highest paying cities for chief scientific officers
| Rank | City | Avg. chief scientific officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $136,114 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $130,647 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $127,302 |
| 4 | Juneau, AK | $111,366 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $106,271 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $104,497 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $104,246 |
| 8 | Fairfield, OH | $88,622 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $86,641 |
| 10 | Concord, NH | $84,927 |
| 11 | Wyandotte, MI | $79,930 |
| 12 | Lancaster, PA | $79,136 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $76,962 |
| 14 | Fort Myers, FL | $76,605 |
| 15 | Bismarck, ND | $74,238 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $73,425 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $72,923 |
| 18 | Montgomery, AL | $70,560 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $63,874 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,440 |
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Updated January 8, 2025