Best cities for a professor
The best cities for professors are Lubbock, TX, El Paso, TX, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a professor. While the absolute best city for professors is Lubbock, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for professors in 2024.
If you're looking for a professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for professors in 2025
1. Lubbock, TX
Total professor jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $182,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $325,000 Location quotient: 42.93 2. El Paso, TX
Total professor jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $181,720 Lowest 10 percent warn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $324,000 Location quotient: 29.26 3. Detroit, MI
Total professor jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $174,194 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $302,000 Location quotient: 12.14 4. Arlington, TX
Total professor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $179,318 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $320,000 Location quotient: 13.37 5. Riverside, CA
Total professor jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $214,716 Lowest 10 percent warn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $374,000 Location quotient: 27.89 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total professor jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $215,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $374,000 Location quotient: 11.82 7. Austin, TX
Total professor jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $173,777 Lowest 10 percent warn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $314,000 Location quotient: 12.47 8. Irvine, CA
Total professor jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $214,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $122,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $374,000 Location quotient: 12.68 9. Durham, NC
Total professor jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $167,552 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $298,000 Location quotient: 16.56 10. Winston-Salem, NC
Total professor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $168,155 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $300,000 Location quotient: 13.20
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Best cities for professors
- Lubbock, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Riverside, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Austin, TX
- Irvine, CA
- Durham, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- (10 professor jobs)
- (13 professor jobs)
- (20 professor jobs)
- (5 professor jobs)
- (13 professor jobs)
- (79 professor jobs)
- (65 professor jobs)
- (27 professor jobs)
- (21 professor jobs)
- (5 professor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock, TX | $182,899 | $102,000 | 252,506 | 10 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $181,720 | $101,000 | 683,080 | 13 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $174,194 | $100,000 | 672,795 | 20 |
| 4 | Arlington, TX | $179,318 | $100,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $214,716 | $123,000 | 324,722 | 13 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $215,032 | $123,000 | 3,976,322 | 79 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $173,777 | $95,000 | 947,890 | 65 |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $214,475 | $122,000 | 266,122 | 27 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $167,552 | $93,000 | 263,016 | 21 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem, NC | $168,155 | $94,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $203,866 | $118,000 | 8,537,673 | 183 |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $179,529 | $100,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $200,975 | $116,000 | 256,902 | 8 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $214,702 | $123,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | $216,671 | $127,000 | 870,887 | 33 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $212,480 | $121,000 | 1,406,630 | 44 |
| 17 | Laredo, TX | $161,354 | $87,000 | 257,156 | 3 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $157,276 | $86,000 | 391,495 | 11 |
| 19 | Plano, TX | $179,670 | $100,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $176,206 | $99,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 21 | Irving, TX | $179,493 | $100,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 22 | Dallas, TX | $179,263 | $100,000 | 1,317,929 | 5 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $170,787 | $93,000 | 2,303,482 | 62 |
| 24 | Garland, TX | $179,423 | $100,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 25 | Tulsa, OK | $173,995 | $98,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 26 | Boston, MA | $185,217 | $108,000 | 673,184 | 51 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $216,885 | $126,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $156,917 | $89,000 | 303,625 | 25 |
| 29 | Glendale, AZ | $156,203 | $88,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $157,528 | $90,000 | 1,567,872 | 36 |
| 31 | Fremont, CA | $216,793 | $126,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $171,131 | $94,000 | 1,492,510 | 9 |
| 33 | Oakland, CA | $216,659 | $126,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 34 | Aurora, CO | $162,469 | $93,000 | 361,710 | 39 |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $139,541 | $79,000 | 385,809 | 22 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $216,362 | $126,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $167,389 | $93,000 | 458,880 | 11 |
| 38 | Fresno, CA | $216,620 | $125,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $203,857 | $118,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | Minneapolis, MN | $167,838 | $98,000 | 413,651 | 24 |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $216,237 | $125,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Islip, NY | $203,797 | $118,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 43 | Oyster Bay, NY | $203,783 | $118,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 44 | Brookhaven, NY | $203,761 | $118,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 45 | Lincoln, NE | $151,077 | $86,000 | 280,364 | 7 |
| 46 | Sacramento, CA | $215,793 | $126,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 47 | Albuquerque, NM | $170,703 | $96,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $145,475 | $82,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $153,095 | $86,000 | 530,706 | 11 |
| 50 | Long Beach, CA | $214,685 | $123,000 | 470,130 | - |
Highest paying cities for professors
| Rank | City | Avg. professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $216,671 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $203,866 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $195,643 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $189,600 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $185,217 |
| 6 | Richardson, TX | $179,582 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $174,263 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $167,838 |
| 9 | Chapel Hill, NC | $167,622 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $167,064 |
| 11 | Bloomington, IN | $163,083 |
| 12 | Aurora, CO | $162,469 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $157,528 |
| 14 | Tempe, AZ | $155,858 |
| 15 | Gainesville, FL | $152,548 |
| 16 | College Park, MD | $148,347 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $143,611 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $141,095 |
| 19 | Columbia, MO | $139,080 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $138,205 |
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Updated January 8, 2025