Best cities for a science writer
The best cities for science writers are Washington, DC, Tucson, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for science writers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for science writers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a science writer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for science writers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for science writers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a science writer. While the absolute best city for science writers is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for science writers in 2024.
If you're looking for a science writer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for science writers in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Total science writer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $109,950 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 2.43 2. Tucson, AZ
Total science writer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $82,683 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 7.08 3. Philadelphia, PA
Total science writer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $80,022 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 0.83 4. Sacramento, CA
Total science writer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $102,070 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.96 5. Virginia Beach, VA
Total science writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $93,909 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Norfolk, VA
Total science writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $93,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total science writer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $77,524 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 2.65 8. Chesapeake, VA
Total science writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $93,498 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Francisco, CA
Total science writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $103,394 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oakland, CA
Total science writer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $103,219 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for science writers
- Washington, DC
- Tucson, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Sacramento, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Norfolk, VA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Chesapeake, VA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- (7 science writer jobs)
- (4 science writer jobs)
- (2 science writer jobs)
- (1 science writer jobs)
- (0 science writer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a science writer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $109,950 | $69,000 | 681,170 | 7 |
| 2 | Tucson, AZ | $82,683 | $50,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,022 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $102,070 | $61,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $93,909 | $58,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 6 | Norfolk, VA | $93,732 | $58,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,524 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 8 | Chesapeake, VA | $93,498 | $58,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $103,394 | $62,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $103,219 | $62,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $103,051 | $62,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,899 | $50,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $102,998 | $61,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $102,330 | $61,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 15 | Glendale, AZ | $82,935 | $50,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $82,811 | $50,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $101,088 | $60,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $82,780 | $50,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $78,241 | $49,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 20 | Mesa, AZ | $82,768 | $50,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $75,304 | $46,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $97,316 | $58,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 23 | Scottsdale, AZ | $82,811 | $49,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 24 | Long Beach, CA | $96,981 | $58,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 25 | Anaheim, CA | $96,866 | $58,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 26 | Santa Ana, CA | $96,772 | $58,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $96,666 | $58,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $96,619 | $58,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 29 | Bakersfield, CA | $98,967 | $59,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $95,726 | $57,000 | 1,406,630 | 1 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $73,512 | $47,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 32 | Chula Vista, CA | $95,583 | $57,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 33 | Reno, NV | $66,323 | $40,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 34 | Madison, WI | $65,934 | $41,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 35 | Jersey City, NJ | $87,916 | $56,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $87,869 | $56,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 37 | New York, NY | $84,699 | $54,000 | 8,537,673 | 11 |
| 38 | Columbus, OH | $68,786 | $42,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 39 | Durham, NC | $75,288 | $46,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 40 | Greensboro, NC | $74,393 | $45,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $69,974 | $43,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $73,851 | $45,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 43 | Boston, MA | $82,530 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 44 | Islip, NY | $84,848 | $54,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | $68,900 | $42,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 46 | Hempstead, NY | $84,806 | $54,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 47 | Charlotte, NC | $71,930 | $43,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 48 | Brookhaven, NY | $84,779 | $54,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 49 | Nashville, TN | $60,619 | $36,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $84,704 | $54,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for science writers
| Rank | City | Avg. science writer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $109,950 |
| 2 | Norfolk, VA | $93,731 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $84,699 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $82,683 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $82,530 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,022 |
| 7 | New Haven, CT | $79,826 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $74,896 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,445 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $71,930 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $71,527 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $66,323 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $66,307 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $65,934 |
| 15 | College Station, TX | $63,843 |
| 16 | Gainesville, FL | $63,817 |
| 17 | Oak Ridge, TN | $61,769 |
| 18 | Lees Summit, MO | $61,412 |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | $58,591 |
| 20 | Idaho Falls, ID | $51,739 |
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Updated January 8, 2025