Best cities for a staff research scientist
The best cities for staff research scientists are Reno, NV, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff research scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff research scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff research scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff research scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff research scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff research scientist. While the absolute best city for staff research scientists is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff research scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff research scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff research scientists in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total staff research scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $107,546 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 62.43 2. San Francisco, CA
Total staff research scientist jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $131,636 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 23.51 3. San Jose, CA
Total staff research scientist jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $130,946 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 16.12 4. Fremont, CA
Total staff research scientist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $130,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 3.34 5. Anchorage, AK
Total staff research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,923 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Oakland, CA
Total staff research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $131,276 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fort Wayne, IN
Total staff research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $101,575 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Las Vegas, NV
Total staff research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $104,454 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Total staff research scientist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $104,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total staff research scientist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $121,059 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 3.13
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Best cities for staff research scientists
- Reno, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Oakland, CA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- (7 staff research scientist jobs)
- (35 staff research scientist jobs)
- (17 staff research scientist jobs)
- (1 staff research scientist jobs)
- (0 staff research scientist jobs)
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- (4 staff research scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff research scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $107,546 | $66,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $131,636 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 35 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $130,946 | $81,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $130,983 | $81,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $117,923 | $72,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $131,276 | $81,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $101,575 | $68,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,454 | $64,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $104,073 | $64,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,059 | $75,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $103,963 | $64,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $129,385 | $80,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $128,798 | $79,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $127,271 | $78,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 15 | Long Beach, CA | $119,995 | $74,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 16 | Glendale, AZ | $98,818 | $61,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $97,951 | $65,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $124,669 | $77,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Anaheim, CA | $119,651 | $74,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,710 | $61,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 21 | Santa Ana, CA | $119,295 | $74,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $98,501 | $61,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 23 | Chandler, AZ | $97,784 | $61,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 24 | Irvine, CA | $118,890 | $74,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 25 | Mesa, AZ | $97,761 | $61,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $118,854 | $73,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,090 | $62,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,026 | $75,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 29 | Gilbert, AZ | $97,637 | $60,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 30 | Newark, NJ | $108,938 | $75,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $114,200 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $86,058 | $57,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,306 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $95,117 | $59,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $91,636 | $61,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,546 | $61,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 37 | Memphis, TN | $84,180 | $56,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 38 | Chula Vista, CA | $113,379 | $70,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 39 | Durham, NC | $85,413 | $57,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 40 | Milwaukee, WI | $76,409 | $51,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 41 | Raleigh, NC | $85,391 | $57,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 42 | Greensboro, NC | $84,298 | $56,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 43 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,714 | $56,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | $77,800 | $52,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $90,708 | $55,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH | $72,190 | $48,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 47 | Boston, MA | $91,062 | $64,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $74,871 | $50,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $81,705 | $54,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 50 | Toledo, OH | $76,343 | $51,000 | 278,508 | - |
Highest paying cities for staff research scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. staff research scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $131,636 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $107,546 |
| 3 | East Hartford, CT | $106,723 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $91,018 |
| 5 | Beaverton, OR | $90,876 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $89,803 |
| 7 | Oak Ridge, TN | $87,619 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $85,864 |
| 9 | Bellevue, WA | $81,395 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $76,409 |
| 11 | Hampton, VA | $72,367 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $72,190 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $71,679 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $71,179 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $66,642 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $65,468 |
| 17 | Florence, SC | $60,616 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,128 |
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Updated January 8, 2025