Best cities for an associate research engineer
The best cities for associate research engineers are Albuquerque, NM, Detroit, MI, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for associate research engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for associate research engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an associate research engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for associate research engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for associate research engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an associate research engineer. While the absolute best city for associate research engineers is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for associate research engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for an associate research engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for associate research engineers in 2025
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total associate research engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $90,833 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 7.64 2. Detroit, MI
Total associate research engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $85,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 3.86 3. San Francisco, CA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $111,687 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 1.22 4. San Jose, CA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $111,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.86 5. Oakland, CA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $109,302 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.98 7. Fremont, CA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,298 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $80,134 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 0.84 9. Virginia Beach, VA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,189 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Norfolk, VA
Total associate research engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,024 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for associate research engineers
- Albuquerque, NM
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Norfolk, VA
- (5 associate research engineer jobs)
- (4 associate research engineer jobs)
- (6 associate research engineer jobs)
- (3 associate research engineer jobs)
- (0 associate research engineer jobs)
- (1 associate research engineer jobs)
- (0 associate research engineer jobs)
- (2 associate research engineer jobs)
- (0 associate research engineer jobs)
- (0 associate research engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an associate research engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,833 | $64,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $85,133 | $62,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $111,687 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $111,295 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $111,434 | $76,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $109,302 | $75,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $111,298 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,134 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach, VA | $100,189 | $72,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 10 | Norfolk, VA | $100,024 | $72,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 11 | Stockton, CA | $110,009 | $76,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 12 | Chesapeake, VA | $99,845 | $72,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $77,548 | $54,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 14 | Tulsa, OK | $73,754 | $53,000 | 403,090 | 5 |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $109,072 | $75,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $88,639 | $64,000 | 472,522 | 1 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $71,040 | $51,000 | 860,090 | 109 |
| 18 | Long Beach, CA | $101,785 | $70,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $81,852 | $57,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $106,696 | $73,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $101,621 | $70,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,551 | $71,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 23 | Santa Ana, CA | $101,392 | $70,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 24 | Riverside, CA | $101,243 | $70,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,834 | $59,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $74,840 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 28 |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $101,165 | $70,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $83,891 | $59,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | San Antonio, TX | $75,226 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,697 | $58,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | $69,614 | $50,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 32 | Baltimore, MD | $92,602 | $66,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | $83,674 | $58,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 34 | Oklahoma City, OK | $73,863 | $53,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 35 | Arlington, TX | $73,584 | $52,000 | 392,772 | 4 |
| 36 | Lexington, KY | $70,252 | $51,000 | 318,449 | 23 |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $86,124 | $61,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 38 | Gilbert, AZ | $83,620 | $58,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 39 | Mesa, AZ | $83,609 | $58,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 40 | Tucson, AZ | $82,960 | $58,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 41 | Las Vegas, NV | $80,206 | $55,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 42 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,182 | $52,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 43 | Cleveland, OH | $71,639 | $52,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 44 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,009 | $56,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $79,997 | $55,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $99,251 | $69,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 47 | Houston, TX | $74,087 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 7 |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,241 | $53,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 49 | Henderson, NV | $79,786 | $55,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $99,025 | $69,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for associate research engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. associate research engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $111,687 |
| 2 | Arlington, VA | $100,608 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $92,497 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,833 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $87,235 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $85,133 |
| 7 | Tempe, AZ | $83,732 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $83,408 |
| 9 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $82,127 |
| 10 | Greenwich, CT | $81,345 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $80,086 |
| 12 | Pullman, WA | $78,116 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $77,548 |
| 14 | Piscataway, NJ | $76,505 |
| 15 | Stillwater, OK | $73,759 |
| 16 | Burlington, NC | $72,442 |
| 17 | Akron, OH | $71,894 |
| 18 | Oak Ridge, TN | $70,584 |
| 19 | Iowa City, IA | $70,257 |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | $68,342 |
Associate research engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025