Best cities for a junior scientist
The best cities for junior scientists are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for junior scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for junior scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a junior scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for junior scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for junior scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a junior scientist. While the absolute best city for junior scientists is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for junior scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a junior scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for junior scientists in 2026
1. San Francisco, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $96,761 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Oakland, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $96,520 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fremont, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $96,218 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. San Jose, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $96,018 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Reno, NV
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $74,582 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Stockton, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,398 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Sacramento, CA
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,300 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Nashville, TN
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Fort Wayne, IN
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,643 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Indianapolis, IN
Total junior scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Choose from 10+ customizable junior scientist resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use junior scientist resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your junior scientist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for junior scientists
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Reno, NV
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Nashville, TN
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Indianapolis, IN
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
- (0 junior scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a junior scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $96,761 | $62,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $96,520 | $62,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $96,218 | $62,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $96,018 | $62,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $74,582 | $47,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $95,398 | $61,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $95,300 | $61,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $69,027 | $45,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 9 | Fort Wayne, IN | $72,643 | $49,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,027 | $48,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $93,123 | $60,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,803 | $57,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $87,248 | $57,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,316 | $45,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $68,388 | $44,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $87,102 | $57,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $70,158 | $45,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $90,584 | $59,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $86,949 | $57,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $86,785 | $57,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 21 | Henderson, NV | $69,962 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $86,773 | $57,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $85,303 | $56,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 24 | Glendale, AZ | $70,321 | $46,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $70,262 | $46,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 26 | Scottsdale, AZ | $70,136 | $46,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 27 | Chandler, AZ | $69,960 | $46,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 28 | Chula Vista, CA | $85,075 | $56,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $69,914 | $46,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $69,894 | $46,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $69,018 | $45,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 32 | Chicago, IL | $71,355 | $49,000 | 2,704,958 | 5 |
| 33 | Jersey City, NJ | $76,527 | $51,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 34 | Toledo, OH | $60,995 | $41,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $76,471 | $51,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $62,149 | $42,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $60,834 | $41,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,828 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | $63,757 | $44,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 40 | Brookhaven, NY | $70,546 | $47,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 41 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,678 | $41,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 42 | Boston, MA | $72,893 | $50,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 43 | Islip, NY | $70,545 | $47,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,130 | $40,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 45 | Hempstead, NY | $70,417 | $47,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 46 | Oyster Bay, NY | $70,383 | $47,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $63,237 | $43,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 48 | New York, NY | $70,276 | $47,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $70,608 | $47,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 50 | Buffalo, NY | $67,249 | $46,000 | 256,902 | - |
Highest paying cities for junior scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. junior scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,803 |
| 2 | Englewood, NJ | $76,481 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $71,355 |
| 4 | Central Islip, NY | $70,508 |
| 5 | Frederick, MD | $70,031 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $63,971 |
| 7 | Neenah, WI | $63,360 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $62,095 |
| 9 | Longmont, CO | $60,874 |
| 10 | Cranberry, PA | $60,760 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $56,333 |
| 12 | Austin, MN | $53,421 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,212 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $52,159 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $50,859 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $50,426 |
| 17 | Marietta, GA | $47,120 |
Junior scientist best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for junior scientist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025