Best cities for a postdoctoral associate
The best cities for postdoctoral associates are Tucson, AZ, Tulsa, OK, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for postdoctoral associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for postdoctoral associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a postdoctoral associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for postdoctoral associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for postdoctoral associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a postdoctoral associate. While the absolute best city for postdoctoral associates is Tucson, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for postdoctoral associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a postdoctoral associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for postdoctoral associates in 2026
1. Tucson, AZ
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $61,271 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 1.03 2. Tulsa, OK
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $54,160 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 2.90 3. Sacramento, CA
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $68,482 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 1.11 4. Riverside, CA
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $66,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 19.79 5. Indianapolis, IN
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $54,586 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 0.24 6. San Diego, CA
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $66,638 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 16.98 7. Minneapolis, MN
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $55,028 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 43.10 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $49,995 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 106.18 9. Glendale, AZ
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,097 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total postdoctoral associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $62,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 0.07
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Best cities for postdoctoral associates
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Sacramento, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Diego, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Glendale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- (5 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (12 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (10 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (51 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (4 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (188 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (188 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (103 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (0 postdoctoral associate jobs)
- (2 postdoctoral associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a postdoctoral associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson, AZ | $61,271 | $42,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 2 | Tulsa, OK | $54,160 | $37,000 | 403,090 | 12 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $68,482 | $46,000 | 495,234 | 10 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $66,885 | $45,000 | 324,722 | 51 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,586 | $38,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $66,638 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 188 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,028 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 188 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,995 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 103 |
| 9 | Glendale, AZ | $62,097 | $42,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,052 | $42,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $61,948 | $42,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,016 | $39,000 | 302,398 | 183 |
| 13 | Memphis, TN | $72,005 | $49,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 14 | Chandler, AZ | $61,899 | $42,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $71,355 | $49,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $69,504 | $46,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 17 | Gilbert, AZ | $61,850 | $42,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $61,846 | $42,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $56,759 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 86 |
| 20 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,966 | $38,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,356 | $34,000 | 1,567,872 | 192 |
| 22 | Oakland, CA | $69,364 | $46,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,407 | $46,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 24 | Fremont, CA | $69,255 | $46,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 25 | Madison, WI | $54,438 | $38,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $69,245 | $46,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 27 | Oklahoma City, OK | $54,420 | $37,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,415 | $38,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $46,713 | $31,000 | 263,016 | 22 |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $68,658 | $46,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 31 | Newark, NJ | $59,869 | $40,000 | 281,764 | 29 |
| 32 | Toledo, OH | $47,838 | $33,000 | 278,508 | 17 |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $68,076 | $46,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $67,894 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 35 | Long Beach, CA | $67,268 | $46,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 36 | Irvine, CA | $67,050 | $45,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 37 | Reno, NV | $54,771 | $37,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 38 | Louisville, KY | $44,593 | $30,000 | 597,337 | 140 |
| 39 | Anaheim, CA | $67,144 | $45,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 40 | Santa Ana, CA | $67,110 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 41 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,080 | $36,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $54,019 | $36,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $48,009 | $33,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 44 | Lincoln, NE | $46,607 | $33,000 | 280,364 | 12 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $53,994 | $36,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO | $54,964 | $38,000 | 465,101 | 3 |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $51,812 | $35,000 | 256,902 | 95 |
| 48 | Chula Vista, CA | $66,591 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 49 | Chicago, IL | $52,783 | $37,000 | 2,704,958 | 24 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,921 | $32,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for postdoctoral associates
| Rank | City | Avg. postdoctoral associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $69,360 |
| 2 | Farmington, CT | $61,844 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $59,869 |
| 4 | College Park, MD | $57,328 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $56,759 |
| 6 | Laramie, WY | $55,118 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,028 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $54,949 |
| 9 | Albany, NY | $54,351 |
| 10 | Burlington, VT | $51,775 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,356 |
| 12 | Fayetteville, AR | $47,585 |
| 13 | Athens, OH | $46,891 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $46,713 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $45,878 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $44,665 |
| 17 | College Station, TX | $42,706 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $41,215 |
| 19 | Starkville, MS | $39,271 |
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Updated January 8, 2025