Best cities for a principal investigator

The best cities for principal investigators are Columbus, OH, Oakland, CA, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal investigators in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a principal investigator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal investigators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal investigators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal investigator. While the absolute best city for principal investigators is Columbus, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal investigators in 2024.

If you're looking for a principal investigator job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for principal investigators in 2026

1. Columbus, OH

Total principal investigator jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$85,637
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$120,000
Location quotient:	6.18

2. Oakland, CA

Total principal investigator jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$123,824
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$189,000
Location quotient:	2.88

3. Portland, OR

Total principal investigator jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$106,777
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$161,000
Location quotient:	2.02

4. San Francisco, CA

Total principal investigator jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$124,349
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$189,000
Location quotient:	0.69

5. Philadelphia, PA

Total principal investigator jobs:	26
Average annual salary:	$82,341
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$116,000
Location quotient:	7.40

6. New York, NY

Total principal investigator jobs:	36
Average annual salary:	$101,880
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$72,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$144,000
Location quotient:	1.51

7. Los Angeles, CA

Total principal investigator jobs:	28
Average annual salary:	$107,603
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$73,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$157,000
Location quotient:	4.49

8. Fremont, CA

Total principal investigator jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$123,009
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$80,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$187,000
Location quotient:	0.00

9. San Jose, CA

Total principal investigator jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$122,576
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$80,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$186,000
Location quotient:	0.00

10. Indianapolis, IN

Total principal investigator jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$88,253
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$63,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$123,000
Location quotient:	0.70

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Best cities for principal investigators

Columbus, OH
Oakland, CA
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Philadelphia, PA
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Fremont, CA
San Jose, CA
Indianapolis, IN

(20 principal investigator jobs)
(2 principal investigator jobs)
(5 principal investigator jobs)
(5 principal investigator jobs)
(26 principal investigator jobs)
(36 principal investigator jobs)
(28 principal investigator jobs)
(0 principal investigator jobs)
(0 principal investigator jobs)
(2 principal investigator jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a principal investigator

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Columbus, OH	$85,637	$60,000	860,090	20
2	Oakland, CA	$123,824	$81,000	420,005	2
3	Portland, OR	$106,777	$70,000	639,863	5
4	San Francisco, CA	$124,349	$81,000	870,887	5
5	Philadelphia, PA	$82,341	$58,000	1,567,872	26
6	New York, NY	$101,880	$72,000	8,537,673	36
7	Los Angeles, CA	$107,603	$73,000	3,976,322	28
8	Fremont, CA	$123,009	$80,000	233,136	-
9	San Jose, CA	$122,576	$80,000	1,025,350	-
10	Indianapolis, IN	$88,253	$63,000	855,164	2
11	Sacramento, CA	$122,167	$79,000	495,234	-
12	Stockton, CA	$121,651	$79,000	307,072	-
13	Irvine, CA	$105,466	$72,000	266,122	4
14	San Diego, CA	$103,083	$71,000	1,406,630	20
15	Durham, NC	$80,582	$57,000	263,016	7
16	Fort Wayne, IN	$89,966	$64,000	264,488	-
17	Fresno, CA	$116,753	$77,000	522,053	-
18	Hempstead, NY	$101,945	$72,000	759,757	-
19	Cleveland, OH	$86,806	$61,000	385,809	-
20	Islip, NY	$101,864	$72,000	335,543	-
21	Cincinnati, OH	$83,709	$59,000	298,800	1
22	Toledo, OH	$85,289	$60,000	278,508	-
23	Anchorage, AK	$96,149	$71,000	298,192	-
24	Reno, NV	$87,058	$56,000	245,255	-
25	Bakersfield, CA	$112,698	$75,000	376,380	-
26	Brookhaven, NY	$101,666	$72,000	486,040	-
27	Dallas, TX	$74,675	$53,000	1,317,929	26
28	Buffalo, NY	$97,853	$68,000	256,902	2
29	Seattle, WA	$95,839	$63,000	704,352	5
30	Oyster Bay, NY	$101,758	$71,000	293,214	-
31	Pittsburgh, PA	$79,838	$56,000	303,625	3
32	Long Beach, CA	$106,477	$72,000	470,130	-
33	Anaheim, CA	$106,110	$72,000	351,043	-
34	Santa Ana, CA	$105,802	$72,000	334,217	-
35	Saint Paul, MN	$90,297	$66,000	302,398	-
36	Riverside, CA	$105,330	$72,000	324,722	-
37	Minneapolis, MN	$90,255	$66,000	413,651	-
38	San Antonio, TX	$75,411	$53,000	1,492,510	2
39	Detroit, MI	$81,568	$57,000	672,795	-
40	Chula Vista, CA	$102,848	$71,000	267,172	-
41	Greensboro, NC	$80,098	$56,000	287,027	-
42	Winston-Salem, NC	$79,828	$56,000	242,203	-
43	Albuquerque, NM	$80,036	$56,000	559,277	-
44	Lubbock, TX	$75,624	$53,000	252,506	-
45	Las Vegas, NV	$77,677	$52,000	632,912	1
46	Corpus Christi, TX	$74,000	$52,000	325,733	1
47	Raleigh, NC	$80,508	$57,000	458,880	-
48	Oklahoma City, OK	$72,724	$52,000	638,367	2
49	Charlotte, NC	$78,529	$55,000	842,051	2
50	Fort Worth, TX	$74,843	$53,000	854,113	-

Highest paying cities for principal investigators

Rank	City	Avg. principal investigator salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$124,349
2	Portland, OR	$106,777
3	New York, NY	$101,880
4	Wilmington, DE	$101,714
5	Seattle, WA	$95,839
6	Silver Spring, MD	$91,698
7	Washington, DC	$88,208
8	Columbus, OH	$85,637
9	Boston, MA	$82,402
10	Philadelphia, PA	$82,341
11	Jersey City, NJ	$82,305
12	Arlington, VA	$81,039
13	Durham, NC	$80,582
14	Albuquerque, NM	$80,036
15	Chicago, IL	$77,143
16	Pueblo, CO	$76,664
17	Austin, TX	$75,455
18	Little Rock, AR	$74,704
19	Madison, WI	$74,677
20	Saint Louis, MO	$73,064