Best cities for a post doctoral researcher
The best cities for post doctoral researchers are Los Angeles, CA, Fresno, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for post doctoral researchers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for post doctoral researchers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a post doctoral researcher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for post doctoral researchers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for post doctoral researchers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a post doctoral researcher. While the absolute best city for post doctoral researchers is Los Angeles, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for post doctoral researchers in 2024.
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10 best cities for post doctoral researchers in 2025
1. Los Angeles, CA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $79,524 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 8.69 2. Fresno, CA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $82,502 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 8.50 3. San Jose, CA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $85,023 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 3.58 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $60,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 4.71 5. Nashville, TN
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $54,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 6.65 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $50,369 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 53.13 7. San Francisco, CA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $85,725 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.48 8. Newark, NJ
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $63,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 6.81 9. Indianapolis, IN
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $58,740 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 2.42 10. Oakland, CA
Total post doctoral researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,470 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for post doctoral researchers
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fresno, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Nashville, TN
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Indianapolis, IN
- Oakland, CA
- (47 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (3 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (16 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (7 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (11 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (162 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (3 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (5 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (6 post doctoral researcher jobs)
- (0 post doctoral researcher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a post doctoral researcher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,524 | $50,000 | 3,976,322 | 47 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $82,502 | $51,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $85,023 | $52,000 | 1,025,350 | 16 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,164 | $38,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $54,705 | $35,000 | 660,388 | 11 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,369 | $31,000 | 1,567,872 | 162 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $85,725 | $52,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $63,138 | $38,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,740 | $38,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $85,470 | $52,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $85,158 | $52,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $84,347 | $52,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,072 | $30,000 | 303,625 | 57 |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $84,336 | $52,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Bakersfield, CA | $81,269 | $50,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $78,721 | $49,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $77,018 | $49,000 | 1,406,630 | 3 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $41,918 | $27,000 | 860,090 | 160 |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $78,585 | $49,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $43,021 | $28,000 | 278,508 | 13 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $79,022 | $50,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 22 | Irvine, CA | $78,399 | $49,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 23 | Reno, NV | $64,519 | $40,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 24 | Detroit, MI | $48,023 | $31,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 25 | Riverside, CA | $78,086 | $49,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 26 | Henderson, NV | $59,989 | $38,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 27 | Chula Vista, CA | $76,844 | $49,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 28 | North Las Vegas, NV | $59,985 | $38,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,386 | $39,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,746 | $39,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $41,800 | $26,000 | 458,880 | 88 |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $46,647 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | $60,389 | $38,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $60,318 | $38,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $42,866 | $27,000 | 252,506 | 5 |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $60,821 | $39,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $60,303 | $38,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $55,495 | $36,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $44,746 | $28,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 40 | Tucson, AZ | $59,195 | $38,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $54,242 | $35,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $60,583 | $39,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Jersey City, NJ | $63,228 | $38,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 44 | Lincoln, NE | $43,023 | $29,000 | 280,364 | 6 |
| 45 | Cleveland, OH | $43,581 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 46 | Seattle, WA | $54,880 | $36,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $40,876 | $26,000 | 392,772 | 14 |
| 48 | Tulsa, OK | $43,957 | $29,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 49 | Boston, MA | $60,507 | $36,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,316 | $28,000 | 559,277 | 7 |
Highest paying cities for post doctoral researchers
| Rank | City | Avg. post doctoral researcher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $85,410 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $63,309 |
| 3 | Falmouth, MA | $60,748 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,740 |
| 5 | Albany, NY | $55,631 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $54,880 |
| 7 | Knoxville, TN | $53,803 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $51,114 |
| 9 | Laramie, WY | $50,624 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,369 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $50,130 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $48,023 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $47,310 |
| 14 | Richmond, VA | $44,764 |
| 15 | Akron, OH | $43,283 |
| 16 | Las Cruces, NM | $43,129 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $41,800 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $41,204 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $41,064 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $40,544 |
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Updated January 8, 2025