Best cities for a senior associate scientist
The best cities for senior associate scientists are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and San Diego, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior associate scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior associate scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior associate scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior associate scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior associate scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior associate scientist. While the absolute best city for senior associate scientists is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior associate scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior associate scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior associate scientists in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $122,600 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 2.49 2. Sacramento, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $119,831 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 2.11 3. San Diego, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $107,853 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location quotient: 6.03 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $112,970 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 1.71 5. Oakland, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $122,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $121,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $121,823 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Boston, MA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $88,147 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 3.27 9. Stockton, CA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $120,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total senior associate scientist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $75,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 3.63
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Best cities for senior associate scientists
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Boston, MA
- Stockton, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- (17 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (3 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (25 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (10 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (0 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (0 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (0 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (16 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (0 senior associate scientist jobs)
- (12 senior associate scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior associate scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $122,600 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 17 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $119,831 | $75,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $107,853 | $67,000 | 1,406,630 | 25 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $112,970 | $70,000 | 3,976,322 | 10 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $122,211 | $76,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $121,901 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $121,823 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $88,147 | $59,000 | 673,184 | 16 |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $120,282 | $75,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,606 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 12 |
| 11 | Irvine, CA | $111,111 | $69,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $118,455 | $73,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $116,612 | $72,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 14 | Fort Wayne, IN | $88,436 | $57,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 15 | Anaheim, CA | $111,725 | $69,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 16 | Anchorage, AK | $98,658 | $65,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | $112,016 | $70,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 18 | Santa Ana, CA | $111,433 | $69,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $84,463 | $54,000 | 855,164 | 2 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $82,995 | $52,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,584 | $46,000 | 303,625 | 8 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $111,085 | $69,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $90,371 | $55,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,278 | $55,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $90,094 | $55,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 26 | Chandler, AZ | $89,465 | $54,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $72,935 | $47,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 28 | Mesa, AZ | $89,432 | $54,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 29 | Gilbert, AZ | $89,331 | $54,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 30 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,475 | $51,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $61,658 | $39,000 | 458,880 | 8 |
| 32 | Reno, NV | $86,780 | $53,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $84,210 | $51,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 34 | Chula Vista, CA | $107,274 | $67,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 35 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $89,576 | $66,000 | 351,792 | 2 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $84,142 | $51,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $90,804 | $59,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 38 | Milwaukee, WI | $73,807 | $48,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | $86,786 | $53,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 40 | Nashville, TN | $71,336 | $45,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,704 | $48,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 42 | Newark, NJ | $90,707 | $59,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 43 | New York, NY | $76,863 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 50 |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | $58,596 | $38,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 45 | Seattle, WA | $67,471 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 25 |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $71,083 | $44,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $55,125 | $35,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $88,945 | $57,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 49 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,693 | $48,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 50 | Islip, NY | $77,881 | $51,000 | 335,543 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior associate scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. senior associate scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $122,600 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $100,156 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $94,264 |
| 4 | Bridgewater, NJ | $89,898 |
| 5 | Andover, MA | $88,273 |
| 6 | Rockville, MD | $87,780 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $82,995 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $76,863 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,606 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $75,478 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $72,935 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $67,471 |
| 13 | Kalamazoo, MI | $64,681 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $64,446 |
| 15 | McLean, VA | $61,977 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $61,658 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $55,938 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $55,125 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $52,563 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,133 |











