Best cities for a laboratory director
The best cities for laboratory directors are Lubbock, TX, Philadelphia, PA, and San Antonio, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for laboratory directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for laboratory directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a laboratory director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for laboratory directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for laboratory directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a laboratory director. While the absolute best city for laboratory directors is Lubbock, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for laboratory directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a laboratory director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for laboratory directors in 2026
1. Lubbock, TX
Total laboratory director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $96,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 2.22 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total laboratory director jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $93,139 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 1.92 3. San Antonio, TX
Total laboratory director jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $96,262 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 1.58 4. Tucson, AZ
Total laboratory director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $95,369 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 2.35 5. Arlington, TX
Total laboratory director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $91,748 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 2.77 6. Sacramento, CA
Total laboratory director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $114,945 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 1.59 7. Houston, TX
Total laboratory director jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $93,638 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.48 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total laboratory director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $102,147 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Total laboratory director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $101,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. San Jose, CA
Total laboratory director jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $115,637 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 1.03
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Best cities for laboratory directors
- Lubbock, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, TX
- Tucson, AZ
- Arlington, TX
- Sacramento, CA
- Houston, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- (1 laboratory director jobs)
- (14 laboratory director jobs)
- (7 laboratory director jobs)
- (4 laboratory director jobs)
- (2 laboratory director jobs)
- (5 laboratory director jobs)
- (25 laboratory director jobs)
- (0 laboratory director jobs)
- (0 laboratory director jobs)
- (11 laboratory director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a laboratory director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock, TX | $96,449 | $51,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,139 | $53,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $96,262 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $95,369 | $53,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 5 | Arlington, TX | $91,748 | $48,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $114,945 | $65,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $93,638 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 25 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $102,147 | $57,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $101,901 | $57,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $115,637 | $65,000 | 1,025,350 | 11 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $109,042 | $61,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $103,690 | $56,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $115,832 | $65,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,176 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 15 | Henderson, NV | $101,390 | $56,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 16 | New York, NY | $110,579 | $63,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $95,298 | $49,000 | 947,890 | 3 |
| 18 | Laredo, TX | $96,830 | $50,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $91,195 | $47,000 | 1,317,929 | 13 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $88,877 | $49,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 21 | Brookhaven, NY | $111,561 | $64,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 22 | Islip, NY | $111,352 | $64,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 23 | Oyster Bay, NY | $111,020 | $63,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 24 | Corpus Christi, TX | $95,242 | $49,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 25 | Hempstead, NY | $110,925 | $63,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 26 | Glendale, AZ | $96,793 | $54,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 27 | Phoenix, AZ | $96,708 | $54,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 28 | Virginia Beach, VA | $94,825 | $51,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 29 | Scottsdale, AZ | $96,514 | $54,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | $116,633 | $66,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 31 | Oakland, CA | $116,283 | $65,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 32 | Chandler, AZ | $96,389 | $54,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 33 | Gilbert, AZ | $96,300 | $53,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $96,296 | $53,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $103,492 | $58,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 36 | Irving, TX | $91,221 | $47,000 | 238,289 | 2 |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $100,280 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 38 | Fort Worth, TX | $91,964 | $48,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | $84,931 | $45,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 40 | Stockton, CA | $114,758 | $64,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 41 | Boston, MA | $98,733 | $56,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $85,052 | $47,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,755 | $44,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $102,869 | $58,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $85,107 | $46,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $102,800 | $58,000 | 324,722 | 1 |
| 47 | Fresno, CA | $112,251 | $63,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 48 | Washington, DC | $103,063 | $57,000 | 681,170 | 14 |
| 49 | Detroit, MI | $86,739 | $48,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 50 | Lexington, KY | $74,337 | $40,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for laboratory directors
| Rank | City | Avg. laboratory director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $116,633 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $110,579 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $103,063 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $100,280 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $98,733 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $96,262 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $93,139 |
| 8 | Eugene, OR | $92,651 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $87,861 |
| 10 | Lawton, OK | $84,708 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $84,094 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $79,430 |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $74,124 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,309 |
| 15 | Oak Ridge, TN | $69,494 |
| 16 | Little Rock, AR | $67,914 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $63,869 |
| 18 | Madison, MS | $63,566 |
| 19 | Daytona Beach, FL | $63,550 |
| 20 | Manhattan, KS | $60,905 |
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Updated January 8, 2025