Best cities for a clinical research director
The best cities for clinical research directors are Sacramento, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Irvine, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for clinical research directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for clinical research directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a clinical research director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for clinical research directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for clinical research directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a clinical research director. While the absolute best city for clinical research directors is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for clinical research directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a clinical research director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for clinical research directors in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $131,512 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 4.98 2. Phoenix, AZ
Total clinical research director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $99,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 1.66 3. Irvine, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $119,538 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 2.28 4. San Francisco, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $133,257 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Oakland, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $132,984 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total clinical research director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $95,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 1.76 7. Fremont, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $132,703 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Jose, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $132,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Seattle, WA
Total clinical research director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $118,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 0.49 10. Stockton, CA
Total clinical research director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $131,683 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for clinical research directors
- Sacramento, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Irvine, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Stockton, CA
- (5 clinical research director jobs)
- (5 clinical research director jobs)
- (3 clinical research director jobs)
- (0 clinical research director jobs)
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- (2 clinical research director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a clinical research director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $131,512 | $82,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $99,998 | $62,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 3 | Irvine, CA | $119,538 | $76,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $133,257 | $84,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $132,984 | $84,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $95,999 | $60,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $132,703 | $84,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $132,585 | $84,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $118,627 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $131,683 | $83,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,934 | $77,000 | 3,976,322 | 3 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $108,072 | $69,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $129,485 | $81,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $100,985 | $63,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Bakersfield, CA | $126,666 | $80,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $120,618 | $76,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 17 | Glendale, AZ | $100,072 | $63,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MN | $95,488 | $60,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $115,318 | $73,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | $99,886 | $62,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,770 | $52,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 22 | Anaheim, CA | $120,374 | $76,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 23 | Santa Ana, CA | $119,954 | $76,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 24 | Riverside, CA | $119,823 | $76,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $99,134 | $62,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $97,818 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $99,127 | $62,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Gilbert, AZ | $99,009 | $62,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $95,792 | $60,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,371 | $71,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 31 | Newark, NJ | $110,280 | $71,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $110,804 | $71,000 | 8,537,673 | 12 |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $95,483 | $60,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Islip, NY | $111,587 | $71,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $84,178 | $53,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 36 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,421 | $51,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 37 | Oyster Bay, NY | $111,338 | $71,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 38 | Brookhaven, NY | $111,895 | $72,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $111,111 | $71,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $94,423 | $59,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $91,521 | $58,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $95,596 | $60,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $82,699 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 44 | Chula Vista, CA | $114,665 | $73,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $96,357 | $61,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $80,400 | $50,000 | 860,090 | 2 |
| 47 | Toledo, OH | $82,213 | $51,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $107,224 | $68,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 49 | Milwaukee, WI | $83,399 | $52,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 50 | Anchorage, AK | $92,391 | $60,000 | 298,192 | - |
Highest paying cities for clinical research directors
| Rank | City | Avg. clinical research director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster City, CA | $133,118 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $118,224 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $110,804 |
| 4 | Teaneck, NJ | $110,566 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $108,072 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $98,790 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $95,488 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $94,423 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $84,178 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,770 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $83,399 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $82,970 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $82,381 |
| 14 | Fayetteville, NC | $81,214 |
| 15 | Allentown, PA | $80,639 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $78,974 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge, LA | $75,292 |
| 18 | Chattanooga, TN | $73,841 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $71,737 |
| 20 | Charleston, SC | $70,712 |
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Updated January 8, 2025