Best cities for a staff scientist
The best cities for staff scientists are Oakland, CA, San Jose, CA, and Madison, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for staff scientists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for staff scientists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a staff scientist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for staff scientists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for staff scientists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a staff scientist. While the absolute best city for staff scientists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for staff scientists in 2024.
If you're looking for a staff scientist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for staff scientists in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total staff scientist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $118,907 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 15.31 2. San Jose, CA
Total staff scientist jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $118,817 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 3.86 3. Madison, WI
Total staff scientist jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $83,318 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 24.73 4. Fremont, CA
Total staff scientist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $118,786 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location quotient: 3.40 5. Nashville, TN
Total staff scientist jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $79,418 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 23.81 6. San Francisco, CA
Total staff scientist jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $119,207 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 2.83 7. Baltimore, MD
Total staff scientist jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $101,059 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 21.26 8. Indianapolis, IN
Total staff scientist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $85,252 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 3.22 9. Irvine, CA
Total staff scientist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $106,018 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 8.22 10. Reno, NV
Total staff scientist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $86,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 1.30
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Best cities for staff scientists
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Madison, WI
- Fremont, CA
- Nashville, TN
- San Francisco, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Reno, NV
- (15 staff scientist jobs)
- (28 staff scientist jobs)
- (46 staff scientist jobs)
- (7 staff scientist jobs)
- (64 staff scientist jobs)
- (29 staff scientist jobs)
- (67 staff scientist jobs)
- (13 staff scientist jobs)
- (23 staff scientist jobs)
- (1 staff scientist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a staff scientist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $118,907 | $72,000 | 420,005 | 15 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $118,817 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | 28 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $83,318 | $54,000 | 252,551 | 46 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $118,786 | $72,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $79,418 | $50,000 | 660,388 | 64 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $119,207 | $73,000 | 870,887 | 29 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $101,059 | $67,000 | 614,664 | 67 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $85,252 | $56,000 | 855,164 | 13 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $106,018 | $66,000 | 266,122 | 23 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $86,747 | $52,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,969 | $55,000 | 1,567,872 | 31 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $101,436 | $63,000 | 1,406,630 | 65 |
| 13 | Bakersfield, CA | $113,463 | $69,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $80,076 | $53,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $84,599 | $55,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $74,833 | $47,000 | 652,717 | 56 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,932 | $52,000 | 1,615,017 | 19 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $83,530 | $54,000 | 458,880 | 8 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $82,849 | $51,000 | 530,706 | 19 |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $115,586 | $70,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 21 | Fort Wayne, IN | $87,890 | $58,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $84,744 | $52,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $83,690 | $54,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $117,047 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $116,000 | $70,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,632 | $67,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,120 | $52,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $99,467 | $67,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 29 | Boston, MA | $89,563 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 90 |
| 30 | North Las Vegas, NV | $85,798 | $52,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 31 | Mesa, AZ | $84,245 | $52,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $85,648 | $52,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $107,167 | $66,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $85,118 | $55,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $99,402 | $67,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $106,986 | $66,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $106,542 | $66,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 38 | Santa Ana, CA | $106,489 | $66,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $78,962 | $52,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | Portland, OR | $74,507 | $44,000 | 639,863 | 56 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $82,999 | $53,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 42 | Seattle, WA | $76,293 | $44,000 | 704,352 | 124 |
| 43 | Chicago, IL | $75,670 | $49,000 | 2,704,958 | 98 |
| 44 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,072 | $52,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $78,773 | $52,000 | 681,170 | 39 |
| 46 | Detroit, MI | $79,597 | $52,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $85,025 | $52,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,624 | $33,000 | 638,367 | 53 |
| 49 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,381 | $67,000 | 351,792 | 11 |
| 50 | Chandler, AZ | $84,318 | $52,000 | 247,477 | - |
Highest paying cities for staff scientists
| Rank | City | Avg. staff scientist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $119,251 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $101,059 |
| 3 | Framingham, MA | $89,687 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $86,040 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $85,252 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,932 |
| 7 | Newport News, VA | $83,645 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $83,318 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,969 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $78,773 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $76,293 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $75,670 |
| 13 | Memphis, TN | $74,833 |
| 14 | Beaverton, OR | $74,814 |
| 15 | Charleston, WV | $65,267 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $59,019 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $55,704 |
| 18 | Jupiter, FL | $55,427 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $53,742 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,624 |
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Updated January 8, 2025