Best cities for an phd researcher
The best cities for phd researchers are Nashville, TN, Riverside, CA, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for phd researchers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for phd researchers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an phd researcher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for phd researchers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for phd researchers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an phd researcher. While the absolute best city for phd researchers is Nashville, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for phd researchers in 2024.
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10 best cities for phd researchers in 2025
1. Nashville, TN
Total phd researcher jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $66,240 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 24.28 2. Riverside, CA
Total phd researcher jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $72,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 39.59 3. Reno, NV
Total phd researcher jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $59,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 4.19 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total phd researcher jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $73,392 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 3.25 5. San Diego, CA
Total phd researcher jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $71,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 9.28 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total phd researcher jobs: 195 Average annual salary: $51,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 132.64 7. San Francisco, CA
Total phd researcher jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $78,586 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 1.11 8. Urban Honolulu, HI
Total phd researcher jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $73,118 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 16.80 9. Tucson, AZ
Total phd researcher jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $56,318 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 4.19 10. Mesa, AZ
Total phd researcher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $57,374 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 2.23
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Best cities for phd researchers
- Nashville, TN
- Riverside, CA
- Reno, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Tucson, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- (121 phd researcher jobs)
- (45 phd researcher jobs)
- (6 phd researcher jobs)
- (53 phd researcher jobs)
- (107 phd researcher jobs)
- (195 phd researcher jobs)
- (21 phd researcher jobs)
- (40 phd researcher jobs)
- (9 phd researcher jobs)
- (2 phd researcher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an phd researcher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $66,240 | $43,000 | 660,388 | 121 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $72,266 | $46,000 | 324,722 | 45 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $59,068 | $37,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $73,392 | $46,000 | 3,976,322 | 53 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $71,386 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 107 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,536 | $32,000 | 1,567,872 | 195 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $78,586 | $48,000 | 870,887 | 21 |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $73,118 | $58,000 | 351,792 | 40 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $56,318 | $36,000 | 530,706 | 9 |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | $57,374 | $37,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $67,099 | $44,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $54,628 | $35,000 | 639,863 | 156 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,473 | $32,000 | 303,625 | 53 |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $78,011 | $48,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $78,363 | $48,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $78,108 | $48,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $77,370 | $48,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Newark, NJ | $57,824 | $35,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $55,697 | $35,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $77,356 | $48,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $72,512 | $46,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $53,787 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | $75,831 | $47,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 24 | Long Beach, CA | $72,990 | $46,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 25 | Bakersfield, CA | $74,787 | $47,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 26 | Anaheim, CA | $72,756 | $46,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 27 | New York, NY | $53,974 | $33,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $72,655 | $46,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,297 | $36,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $57,054 | $35,000 | 673,184 | 18 |
| 31 | El Paso, TX | $45,247 | $29,000 | 683,080 | 5 |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $43,270 | $27,000 | 458,880 | 62 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $42,734 | $28,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $57,801 | $37,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 35 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,736 | $37,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $71,228 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $57,596 | $37,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 38 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,805 | $33,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 39 | Chandler, AZ | $57,432 | $37,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $41,190 | $26,000 | 1,317,929 | 130 |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $57,360 | $37,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 42 | Baltimore, MD | $57,007 | $36,000 | 614,664 | 7 |
| 43 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,997 | $28,000 | 559,277 | 8 |
| 44 | Wichita, KS | $43,171 | $29,000 | 389,902 | 6 |
| 45 | Cleveland, OH | $43,149 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 46 | Henderson, NV | $55,564 | $35,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,246 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 5 |
| 48 | North Las Vegas, NV | $55,546 | $35,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 49 | Seattle, WA | $55,388 | $36,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $50,728 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | 22 |
Highest paying cities for phd researchers
| Rank | City | Avg. phd researcher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $78,617 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $73,118 |
| 3 | Oak Ridge, TN | $65,348 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $57,824 |
| 5 | Tempe, AZ | $57,536 |
| 6 | Falmouth, MA | $57,165 |
| 7 | Gaithersburg, MD | $56,452 |
| 8 | Bozeman, MT | $56,178 |
| 9 | Eugene, OR | $55,876 |
| 10 | Syracuse, NY | $54,239 |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $52,669 |
| 12 | Newark, DE | $51,685 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,535 |
| 14 | Laramie, WY | $51,212 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $50,728 |
| 16 | Idaho Falls, ID | $45,780 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $45,723 |
| 18 | Richmond, VA | $45,541 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $43,270 |
| 20 | Kent, OH | $42,999 |
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Updated January 8, 2025