Best cities for a doctoral fellow
The best cities for doctoral fellows are Reno, NV, Indianapolis, IN, and Memphis, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for doctoral fellows vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for doctoral fellows in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a doctoral fellow or considering a move, this list of the best cities for doctoral fellows to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for doctoral fellows. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a doctoral fellow. While the absolute best city for doctoral fellows is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for doctoral fellows in 2024.
If you're looking for a doctoral fellow job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for doctoral fellows in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $57,834 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 14.45 2. Indianapolis, IN
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $55,083 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 18.46 3. Memphis, TN
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $64,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 12.05 4. Oakland, CA
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $68,584 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 5.59 5. Philadelphia, PA
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $51,948 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 27.22 6. Toledo, OH
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $45,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 26.77 7. Milwaukee, WI
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $51,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 23.22 8. Nashville, TN
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $63,666 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.49 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $56,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 2.18 10. San Francisco, CA
Total doctoral fellow jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $68,712 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 2.48
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Best cities for doctoral fellows
- Reno, NV
- Indianapolis, IN
- Memphis, TN
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Toledo, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Nashville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- (53 doctoral fellow jobs)
- (98 doctoral fellow jobs)
- (116 doctoral fellow jobs)
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- (129 doctoral fellow jobs)
- (58 doctoral fellow jobs)
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- (19 doctoral fellow jobs)
- (25 doctoral fellow jobs)
- (121 doctoral fellow jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a doctoral fellow
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $57,834 | $40,000 | 245,255 | 53 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $55,083 | $38,000 | 855,164 | 98 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $64,080 | $44,000 | 652,717 | 116 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $68,584 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 26 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,948 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 129 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $45,699 | $31,000 | 278,508 | 58 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,606 | $36,000 | 595,047 | 223 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $63,666 | $44,000 | 660,388 | 19 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,960 | $39,000 | 632,912 | 25 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $68,712 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 121 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $55,532 | $38,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $66,295 | $46,000 | 1,406,630 | 255 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $44,889 | $31,000 | 298,800 | 201 |
| 14 | Tucson, AZ | $57,073 | $40,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $52,135 | $36,000 | 2,704,958 | 96 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $45,799 | $31,000 | 385,809 | 49 |
| 17 | Aurora, CO | $51,128 | $36,000 | 361,710 | 30 |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $72,580 | $57,000 | 351,792 | 14 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $55,993 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 73 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $52,915 | $36,000 | 614,664 | 44 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,118 | $47,000 | 3,976,322 | 55 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,705 | $40,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $48,960 | $34,000 | 672,795 | 67 |
| 24 | Winston-Salem, NC | $47,634 | $32,000 | 242,203 | 22 |
| 25 | Glendale, AZ | $57,746 | $40,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,546 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 87 |
| 27 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,824 | $41,000 | 302,398 | 5 |
| 28 | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,608 | $40,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 29 | Tulsa, OK | $52,659 | $36,000 | 403,090 | 4 |
| 30 | Chandler, AZ | $57,587 | $40,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 31 | Henderson, NV | $56,904 | $39,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 32 | Minneapolis, MN | $57,844 | $41,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 33 | Gilbert, AZ | $57,546 | $40,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 34 | North Las Vegas, NV | $56,851 | $39,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 35 | Mesa, AZ | $57,538 | $40,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 36 | Lexington, KY | $45,566 | $31,000 | 318,449 | 10 |
| 37 | San Jose, CA | $68,577 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 38 | Portland, OR | $52,197 | $37,000 | 639,863 | 189 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $47,609 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 15 |
| 40 | Fremont, CA | $68,536 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 41 | Austin, TX | $42,754 | $29,000 | 947,890 | 54 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $67,920 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | Sacramento, CA | $67,692 | $47,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $63,389 | $43,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $66,731 | $46,000 | 266,122 | 9 |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $67,575 | $47,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $45,484 | $31,000 | 683,080 | 8 |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $67,517 | $47,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Louisville, KY | $45,713 | $31,000 | 597,337 | 6 |
| 50 | San Antonio, TX | $42,965 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for doctoral fellows
| Rank | City | Avg. doctoral fellow salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $68,712 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $64,080 |
| 3 | Farmington, CT | $60,617 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $55,993 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $55,083 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $52,915 |
| 7 | Ardmore, OK | $52,478 |
| 8 | Evanston, IL | $52,206 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $52,197 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $52,050 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,948 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $51,606 |
| 13 | Boulder, CO | $51,213 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $50,304 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $48,693 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $45,799 |
| 17 | Richmond, VA | $45,757 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $43,803 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,696 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $42,965 |
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Updated January 8, 2025