Best cities for a research professor
The best cities for research professors are Toledo, OH, Cincinnati, OH, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research professor. While the absolute best city for research professors is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research professors in 2024.
If you're looking for a research professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research professors in 2026
1. Toledo, OH
Total research professor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 42.77 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total research professor jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $136,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 32.30 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $165,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $294,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Nashville, TN
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $143,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Indianapolis, IN
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $164,338 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $292,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Memphis, TN
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $141,951 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Cleveland, OH
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,441 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Columbus, OH
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $137,407 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Detroit, MI
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $140,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Boston, MA
Total research professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $164,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $286,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research professors
- Toledo, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Nashville, TN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Memphis, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Boston, MA
- (3 research professor jobs)
- (11 research professor jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a research professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $138,806 | $78,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $136,420 | $76,000 | 298,800 | 11 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $165,627 | $93,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $143,011 | $80,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $164,338 | $92,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $141,951 | $80,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $139,441 | $78,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $137,407 | $77,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $140,684 | $79,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $164,103 | $93,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $179,945 | $108,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $179,316 | $107,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $179,716 | $108,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $179,045 | $107,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 15 | Jersey City, NJ | $166,560 | $96,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $179,018 | $107,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Newark, NJ | $166,536 | $96,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $178,730 | $107,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $137,572 | $81,000 | 1,615,017 | 4 |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $135,475 | $75,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $136,154 | $80,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $134,854 | $75,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $124,554 | $70,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $175,618 | $105,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $166,735 | $99,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | $171,933 | $103,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $166,574 | $99,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $166,304 | $99,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $167,640 | $100,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 30 | Riverside, CA | $166,254 | $99,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $137,655 | $81,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $166,040 | $99,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $137,554 | $81,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $137,264 | $81,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Philadelphia, PA | $126,094 | $72,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $137,167 | $81,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $137,153 | $81,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Jacksonville, FL | $140,043 | $79,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $149,606 | $85,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 40 | San Diego, CA | $163,311 | $97,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $125,220 | $71,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $134,460 | $75,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $162,826 | $97,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $157,908 | $90,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN | $134,372 | $75,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 46 | Brookhaven, NY | $149,758 | $86,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $128,672 | $77,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 48 | Islip, NY | $149,305 | $86,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 49 | Winston-Salem, NC | $125,496 | $70,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $149,266 | $86,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for research professors
| Rank | City | Avg. research professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena, CA | $167,607 |
| 2 | Piscataway, NJ | $165,835 |
| 3 | Amherst, MA | $163,269 |
| 4 | Gaithersburg, MD | $157,341 |
| 5 | Albany, NY | $152,467 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $140,184 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $138,806 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $137,572 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $135,449 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $135,361 |
| 11 | Tampa, FL | $131,962 |
| 12 | Evanston, IL | $130,390 |
| 13 | Missoula, MT | $128,865 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $128,582 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $126,094 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $125,220 |
| 17 | Columbia, MO | $124,439 |
| 18 | Laramie, WY | $123,675 |
| 19 | Blacksburg, VA | $122,795 |
| 20 | Richardson, TX | $110,828 |
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Updated January 8, 2025