Best cities for a postdoctoral scholar
The best cities for postdoctoral scholars are San Francisco, CA, Memphis, TN, and Los Angeles, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for postdoctoral scholars vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for postdoctoral scholars in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a postdoctoral scholar or considering a move, this list of the best cities for postdoctoral scholars to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for postdoctoral scholars. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a postdoctoral scholar. While the absolute best city for postdoctoral scholars is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for postdoctoral scholars in 2024.
If you're looking for a postdoctoral scholar job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for postdoctoral scholars in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Postdoctoral scholar jobs in San FranciscoTotal postdoctoral scholar jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $71,444 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 42.73 2. Memphis, TN
Postdoctoral scholar jobs in MemphisTotal postdoctoral scholar jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $61,010 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 3.37 3. Los Angeles, CA
Postdoctoral scholar jobs in Los AngelesTotal postdoctoral scholar jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $69,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 28.61 4. Reno, NV
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $58,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 18.44 5. Nashville, TN
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $59,794 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.12 6. Riverside, CA
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $69,080 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 44.60 7. San Diego, CA
Postdoctoral scholar jobs in San DiegoTotal postdoctoral scholar jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $68,726 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 51.95 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $57,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 5.66 9. Irvine, CA
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $69,199 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 27.26 10. Phoenix, AZ
Total postdoctoral scholar jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $63,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 0.45
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Best cities for postdoctoral scholars
- San Francisco, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Reno, NV
- Nashville, TN
- Riverside, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Irvine, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- (2 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (24 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (115 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (50 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (20 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (96 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (111 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (48 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (12 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
- (10 postdoctoral scholar jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a postdoctoral scholar
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $71,444 | $49,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $61,010 | $42,000 | 652,717 | 24 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,554 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | 115 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $58,571 | $40,000 | 245,255 | 50 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $59,794 | $41,000 | 660,388 | 20 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $69,080 | $49,000 | 324,722 | 96 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $68,726 | $49,000 | 1,406,630 | 111 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,992 | $40,000 | 632,912 | 48 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $69,199 | $49,000 | 266,122 | 12 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,801 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 10 |
| 11 | Stockton, CA | $70,724 | $49,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $70,515 | $48,000 | 495,234 | 138 |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $70,281 | $49,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | $63,852 | $45,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 15 | Scottsdale, AZ | $63,681 | $45,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $63,653 | $45,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $56,157 | $39,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $63,602 | $45,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $46,235 | $32,000 | 385,809 | 191 |
| 20 | Mesa, AZ | $63,591 | $45,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 21 | Lexington, KY | $44,806 | $30,000 | 318,449 | 185 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $71,228 | $49,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 23 | Saint Paul, MN | $63,525 | $47,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,750 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 39 |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $71,326 | $49,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,534 | $47,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $63,067 | $44,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,358 | $41,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 29 | Tulsa, OK | $57,639 | $40,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 30 | Fort Wayne, IN | $56,392 | $39,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $71,234 | $49,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | Albuquerque, NM | $48,527 | $34,000 | 559,277 | 146 |
| 33 | Jersey City, NJ | $68,794 | $46,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 34 | Chicago, IL | $53,629 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | 214 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $68,699 | $46,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $57,951 | $40,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 37 | Boston, MA | $57,885 | $39,000 | 673,184 | 45 |
| 38 | Bakersfield, CA | $70,069 | $49,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $57,883 | $40,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Long Beach, CA | $69,401 | $49,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 41 | Anaheim, CA | $69,302 | $49,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 42 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,030 | $36,000 | 1,567,872 | 10 |
| 43 | Santa Ana, CA | $69,260 | $49,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 44 | Seattle, WA | $53,892 | $39,000 | 704,352 | 212 |
| 45 | Greensboro, NC | $47,813 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 22 |
| 46 | Chula Vista, CA | $68,662 | $49,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $47,869 | $32,000 | 458,880 | 22 |
| 48 | Toledo, OH | $45,436 | $31,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 49 | Anchorage, AK | $54,853 | $46,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 50 | Portland, OR | $52,267 | $38,000 | 639,863 | - |
Highest paying cities for postdoctoral scholars
| Rank | City | Avg. postdoctoral scholar salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $71,444 |
| 2 | Tempe, AZ | $63,706 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $61,010 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $58,892 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $58,571 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $57,885 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $57,661 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $53,892 |
| 9 | Evanston, IL | $53,664 |
| 10 | Eugene, OR | $53,559 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,750 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $48,527 |
| 13 | Greenville, NC | $48,147 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $46,235 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $46,171 |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $46,160 |
| 17 | Birmingham, AL | $42,692 |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $42,592 |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | $37,787 |
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Updated January 8, 2025