Best cities for a medical writer
The best cities for medical writers are Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for medical writers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for medical writers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a medical writer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for medical writers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for medical writers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a medical writer. While the absolute best city for medical writers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for medical writers in 2024.
If you're looking for a medical writer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for medical writers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Medical writer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal medical writer jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $85,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.99 2. Phoenix, AZ
Medical writer jobs in PhoenixTotal medical writer jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $109,155 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 0.72 3. Raleigh, NC
Medical writer jobs in RaleighTotal medical writer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $86,818 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.95 4. Washington, DC
Medical writer jobs in WashingtonTotal medical writer jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $129,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.08 5. Sacramento, CA
Medical writer jobs in SacramentoTotal medical writer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $109,455 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 1.36 6. Tucson, AZ
Medical writer jobs in TucsonTotal medical writer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $108,500 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 0.50 7. Las Vegas, NV
Medical writer jobs in Las VegasTotal medical writer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $86,749 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 0.96 8. Durham, NC
Medical writer jobs in DurhamTotal medical writer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $86,656 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.04 9. Boston, MA
Medical writer jobs in BostonTotal medical writer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $96,975 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 1.66 10. San Francisco, CA
Medical writer jobs in San FranciscoTotal medical writer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $109,996 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.51
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Best cities for medical writers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Raleigh, NC
- Washington, DC
- Sacramento, CA
- Tucson, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Durham, NC
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a medical writer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,511 | $58,000 | 1,567,872 | 17 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,155 | $74,000 | 1,615,017 | 8 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $86,818 | $59,000 | 458,880 | 9 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $129,546 | $88,000 | 681,170 | 11 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $109,455 | $73,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $108,500 | $74,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,749 | $58,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $86,656 | $59,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $96,975 | $66,000 | 673,184 | 21 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $109,996 | $74,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $109,206 | $74,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 12 | Scottsdale, AZ | $109,037 | $74,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 13 | Chandler, AZ | $108,964 | $74,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 14 | Gilbert, AZ | $108,913 | $74,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 15 | Mesa, AZ | $108,908 | $74,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $109,846 | $74,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 17 | Virginia Beach, VA | $111,340 | $76,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $109,576 | $74,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 19 | Norfolk, VA | $111,169 | $76,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $104,210 | $70,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 21 | Chesapeake, VA | $111,056 | $76,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 22 | Cleveland, OH | $82,035 | $56,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,888 | $57,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 24 | Detroit, MI | $91,364 | $63,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 25 | Reno, NV | $89,424 | $60,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,050 | $71,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $109,420 | $73,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $80,380 | $55,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 29 | Nashville, TN | $75,026 | $51,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 30 | Greensboro, NC | $85,762 | $58,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 31 | Stockton, CA | $109,265 | $73,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 32 | North Las Vegas, NV | $86,579 | $58,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $86,537 | $58,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Winston-Salem, NC | $85,319 | $58,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $84,473 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | $84,523 | $57,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $107,820 | $72,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 38 | San Diego, CA | $102,796 | $69,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,417 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 5 |
| 40 | Toledo, OH | $80,258 | $55,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $106,587 | $72,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Orlando, FL | $85,560 | $56,000 | 277,173 | 2 |
| 43 | Miami, FL | $85,505 | $55,000 | 453,579 | 3 |
| 44 | Long Beach, CA | $104,614 | $70,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 45 | Cincinnati, OH | $78,341 | $54,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 46 | Anaheim, CA | $104,501 | $70,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $104,361 | $70,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $85,216 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 49 | Riverside, CA | $104,238 | $70,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 50 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,699 | $52,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for medical writers
| Rank | City | Avg. medical writer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $129,546 |
| 2 | Richmond, VA | $110,543 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $109,996 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,155 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $96,975 |
| 6 | Hamilton, NJ | $95,247 |
| 7 | Annapolis, MD | $94,806 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $94,098 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $86,818 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $86,552 |
| 11 | Salem, OR | $85,784 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,511 |
| 13 | Juneau, AK | $85,307 |
| 14 | Bismarck, ND | $85,032 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $84,473 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $84,392 |
| 17 | Providence, RI | $83,902 |
| 18 | Dover, DE | $83,342 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge, LA | $82,268 |
| 20 | North Chicago, IL | $82,111 |
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Updated January 8, 2025