Best cities for a science professor
The best cities for science professors are Brookhaven, NY, Islip, NY, and Oyster Bay, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for science professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for science professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a science professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for science professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for science professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a science professor. While the absolute best city for science professors is Brookhaven, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for science professors in 2024.
If you're looking for a science professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for science professors in 2025
1. Brookhaven, NY
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Islip, NY
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Oyster Bay, NY
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,448 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. New York, NY
Total science professor jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $139,156 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 4.88 5. Hempstead, NY
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $139,397 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $280,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $144,969 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Francisco, CA
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $143,896 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Stockton, CA
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $143,806 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Oakland, CA
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $143,788 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Detroit, MI
Total science professor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,483 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for science professors
- Brookhaven, NY
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- New York, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Detroit, MI
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- (7 science professor jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a science professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookhaven, NY | $139,701 | $69,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 2 | Islip, NY | $139,659 | $69,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 3 | Oyster Bay, NY | $139,448 | $69,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 4 | New York, NY | $139,156 | $69,000 | 8,537,673 | 7 |
| 5 | Hempstead, NY | $139,397 | $69,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $144,969 | $84,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $143,896 | $84,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 8 | Stockton, CA | $143,806 | $84,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $143,788 | $84,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $111,483 | $55,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $143,166 | $84,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $135,416 | $67,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $142,607 | $83,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $113,889 | $65,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $104,676 | $53,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $108,654 | $54,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $140,402 | $82,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $106,685 | $61,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 19 | Bakersfield, CA | $135,991 | $80,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $130,904 | $77,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $129,898 | $77,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,658 | $61,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $130,057 | $77,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $106,064 | $61,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $115,131 | $73,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 26 | Long Beach, CA | $129,797 | $77,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 27 | Santa Ana, CA | $129,519 | $77,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $129,224 | $77,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $114,766 | $66,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 30 | Albuquerque, NM | $102,712 | $58,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $99,784 | $51,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 32 | San Diego, CA | $124,812 | $75,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 33 | Madison, WI | $97,959 | $51,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | $90,241 | $44,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $111,954 | $55,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $88,574 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | Chula Vista, CA | $123,725 | $74,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 38 | Saint Paul, MN | $98,449 | $53,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 39 | Wichita, KS | $92,864 | $50,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $87,216 | $43,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,275 | $53,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 42 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,472 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $90,304 | $49,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $93,651 | $49,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 45 | Memphis, TN | $80,433 | $43,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 46 | Seattle, WA | $101,109 | $58,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | $88,282 | $48,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 48 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,513 | $42,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 49 | Cincinnati, OH | $84,164 | $42,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $106,444 | $52,000 | 614,664 | - |
Highest paying cities for science professors
| Rank | City | Avg. science professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $139,156 |
| 2 | Anaheim, CA | $129,898 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $108,866 |
| 4 | Bethesda, MD | $105,700 |
| 5 | Tacoma, WA | $101,936 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $93,651 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $88,574 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $84,237 |
| 9 | Mobile, AL | $83,613 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $74,192 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $72,350 |
| 12 | Tempe, AZ | $68,941 |
| 13 | Mayagez, PR | $66,054 |
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Updated January 8, 2025