Best cities for a physicist
The best cities for physicists are Winston-Salem, NC, Albuquerque, NM, and Memphis, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for physicists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for physicists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a physicist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for physicists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for physicists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a physicist. While the absolute best city for physicists is Winston-Salem, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for physicists in 2024.
If you're looking for a physicist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for physicists in 2026
1. Winston-Salem, NC
Total physicist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $125,778 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 9.40 2. Albuquerque, NM
Total physicist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $124,392 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 10.27 3. Memphis, TN
Total physicist jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $108,292 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 7.39 4. Tulsa, OK
Total physicist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $113,956 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 4.76 5. Durham, NC
Total physicist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $126,523 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 2.81 6. Cleveland, OH
Total physicist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $109,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 2.88 7. Greensboro, NC
Total physicist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $126,060 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000 Location quotient: 2.40 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total physicist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $116,374 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 3.63 9. Madison, WI
Total physicist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $111,104 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 5.53 10. Baltimore, MD
Total physicist jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $124,399 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 12.47
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Best cities for physicists
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Albuquerque, NM
- Memphis, TN
- Tulsa, OK
- Durham, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Greensboro, NC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Madison, WI
- Baltimore, MD
- (5 physicist jobs)
- (15 physicist jobs)
- (16 physicist jobs)
- (5 physicist jobs)
- (5 physicist jobs)
- (5 physicist jobs)
- (2 physicist jobs)
- (12 physicist jobs)
- (11 physicist jobs)
- (42 physicist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a physicist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston-Salem, NC | $125,778 | $76,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $124,392 | $79,000 | 559,277 | 15 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $108,292 | $66,000 | 652,717 | 16 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $113,956 | $70,000 | 403,090 | 5 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $126,523 | $76,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $109,670 | $67,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | $126,060 | $76,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $116,374 | $72,000 | 303,625 | 12 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $111,104 | $68,000 | 252,551 | 11 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $124,399 | $76,000 | 614,664 | 42 |
| 11 | Chandler, AZ | $103,940 | $67,000 | 247,477 | 11 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $103,917 | $67,000 | 237,133 | 2 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $107,480 | $66,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $122,093 | $73,000 | 673,184 | 31 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,601 | $69,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,181 | $72,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 17 | Nashville, TN | $109,857 | $67,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | $104,230 | $67,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $100,715 | $63,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $126,342 | $76,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 21 | New York, NY | $131,345 | $80,000 | 8,537,673 | 58 |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $123,654 | $74,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $109,142 | $67,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,219 | $67,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ | $102,723 | $66,000 | 530,706 | 6 |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH | $105,636 | $64,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 27 | Saint Louis, MO | $100,837 | $62,000 | 311,404 | 15 |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $116,613 | $72,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $111,609 | $69,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 30 | Brookhaven, NY | $131,686 | $80,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 31 | Islip, NY | $131,564 | $80,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $131,516 | $80,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Buffalo, NY | $131,512 | $80,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $105,900 | $66,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $98,429 | $61,000 | 2,303,482 | 69 |
| 36 | Hempstead, NY | $131,419 | $80,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 37 | Jacksonville, FL | $105,768 | $63,000 | 880,619 | 6 |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $107,538 | $69,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $107,452 | $69,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | Tampa, FL | $104,292 | $62,000 | 377,165 | 6 |
| 41 | Glendale, AZ | $104,222 | $67,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 42 | Reno, NV | $110,208 | $71,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 43 | Atlanta, GA | $106,805 | $64,000 | 472,522 | 4 |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $103,979 | $67,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 45 | Fremont, CA | $107,781 | $70,000 | 233,136 | 20 |
| 46 | Orlando, FL | $104,319 | $62,000 | 277,173 | 3 |
| 47 | Anchorage, AK | $116,285 | $83,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $105,893 | $66,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 49 | Lexington, KY | $97,345 | $59,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 50 | Plano, TX | $99,817 | $62,000 | 286,057 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for physicists
| Rank | City | Avg. physicist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $131,891 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $124,399 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $124,392 |
| 4 | Burlington, MA | $122,157 |
| 5 | Allentown, PA | $117,287 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $113,828 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $111,104 |
| 8 | Oak Ridge, TN | $110,979 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $108,064 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,601 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $107,480 |
| 12 | Rochester, MN | $105,067 |
| 13 | Peoria, AZ | $104,446 |
| 14 | Boulder, CO | $101,033 |
| 15 | Saint Louis, MO | $100,837 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $100,164 |
| 17 | Richland, WA | $99,787 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $99,199 |
| 19 | East Lansing, MI | $86,541 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $86,388 |
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Updated January 8, 2025