Best cities for a clinical research scientist
The best cities for clinical research scientists are Oakland, CA, Chandler, AZ, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for clinical research scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for clinical research scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a clinical research scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for clinical research scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for clinical research scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a clinical research scientist. While the absolute best city for clinical research scientists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for clinical research scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a clinical research scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for clinical research scientists in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $128,995 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 19.11 2. Chandler, AZ
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $103,483 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 18.41 3. San Jose, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $128,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 2.58 4. Santa Ana, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $117,855 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 27.46 5. Seattle, WA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $116,557 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 2.16 6. San Francisco, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $129,245 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fremont, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $128,760 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Irvine, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $117,495 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 8.36 9. Stockton, CA
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $127,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total clinical research scientist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $104,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 1.46
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Best cities for clinical research scientists
- Oakland, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- (4 clinical research scientist jobs)
- (4 clinical research scientist jobs)
- (4 clinical research scientist jobs)
- (3 clinical research scientist jobs)
- (4 clinical research scientist jobs)
- (0 clinical research scientist jobs)
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- (5 clinical research scientist jobs)
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- (2 clinical research scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a clinical research scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $128,995 | $81,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 2 | Chandler, AZ | $103,483 | $64,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $128,692 | $81,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 4 | Santa Ana, CA | $117,855 | $74,000 | 334,217 | 3 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $116,557 | $72,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $129,245 | $81,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $128,760 | $81,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $117,495 | $74,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $127,816 | $80,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,521 | $65,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $127,632 | $80,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Glendale, AZ | $104,608 | $65,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $104,392 | $64,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $126,175 | $79,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Mesa, AZ | $103,468 | $64,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 16 | Gilbert, AZ | $103,329 | $64,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $97,492 | $60,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $123,531 | $77,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $105,443 | $66,000 | 673,184 | 6 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $87,928 | $52,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $118,409 | $74,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 22 | Tucson, AZ | $100,548 | $62,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $118,216 | $74,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $119,490 | $75,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 25 | Fort Wayne, IN | $92,270 | $55,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $117,765 | $74,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | San Diego, CA | $113,564 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 28 | Las Vegas, NV | $93,888 | $58,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $93,716 | $58,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Henderson, NV | $93,450 | $58,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 31 | Detroit, MI | $88,867 | $53,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $81,465 | $49,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 33 | Chula Vista, CA | $112,917 | $71,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 34 | Portland, OR | $95,699 | $59,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $92,254 | $56,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 36 | Oklahoma City, OK | $79,720 | $49,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 37 | Minneapolis, MN | $92,147 | $56,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $90,266 | $53,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $97,224 | $60,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 40 | Newark, NJ | $97,131 | $60,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,688 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $78,873 | $47,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $82,269 | $50,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 44 | Brookhaven, NY | $96,865 | $60,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 45 | Durham, NC | $82,186 | $50,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 46 | Islip, NY | $96,515 | $60,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 47 | Oyster Bay, NY | $96,259 | $59,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 48 | Anchorage, AK | $89,264 | $58,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM | $82,967 | $51,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 50 | New York, NY | $95,698 | $59,000 | 8,537,673 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for clinical research scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. clinical research scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $129,245 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $116,557 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $105,443 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,521 |
| 5 | Hackensack, NJ | $97,402 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $95,698 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $95,165 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $87,928 |
| 9 | Pleasant Grove, UT | $86,514 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $79,720 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $79,061 |
| 12 | Gaithersburg, MD | $76,814 |
| 13 | Athens, OH | $76,460 |
| 14 | Knoxville, TN | $71,723 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $71,347 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $67,458 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $65,146 |
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Updated January 8, 2025