Best cities for a clinical research assistant
The best cities for clinical research assistants are Boston, MA, Buffalo, NY, and Memphis, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for clinical research assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for clinical research assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a clinical research assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for clinical research assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for clinical research assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a clinical research assistant. While the absolute best city for clinical research assistants is Boston, MA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for clinical research assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a clinical research assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for clinical research assistants in 2026
1. Boston, MA
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $49,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 3.38 2. Buffalo, NY
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,377 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 2.68 3. Memphis, TN
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $43,218 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 1.39 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $41,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 5.56 5. Baltimore, MD
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $46,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 8.75 6. Nashville, TN
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $43,478 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.84 7. Madison, WI
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $42,335 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 1.21 8. Reno, NV
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,342 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. New York, NY
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $47,599 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.75 10. Detroit, MI
Total clinical research assistant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $38,402 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.78
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Best cities for clinical research assistants
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Memphis, TN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Baltimore, MD
- Nashville, TN
- Madison, WI
- Reno, NV
- New York, NY
- Detroit, MI
- (44 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (5 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (5 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (49 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (49 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (4 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (4 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (0 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (45 clinical research assistant jobs)
- (3 clinical research assistant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a clinical research assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $49,571 | $35,000 | 673,184 | 44 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $47,377 | $33,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $43,218 | $31,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,688 | $29,000 | 1,567,872 | 49 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $46,851 | $33,000 | 614,664 | 49 |
| 6 | Nashville, TN | $43,478 | $31,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $42,335 | $30,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $46,342 | $33,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | New York, NY | $47,599 | $33,000 | 8,537,673 | 45 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $38,402 | $27,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $42,104 | $30,000 | 639,863 | 97 |
| 12 | Lubbock, TX | $38,562 | $27,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,310 | $32,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,133 | $28,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 15 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,204 | $27,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 16 | Islip, NY | $47,864 | $33,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 17 | Oyster Bay, NY | $47,823 | $33,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $35,667 | $25,000 | 860,090 | 31 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $50,897 | $36,000 | 264,152 | 1 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $49,591 | $40,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 21 | Hempstead, NY | $47,683 | $33,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $45,290 | $32,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 23 | North Las Vegas, NV | $45,222 | $32,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 24 | Seattle, WA | $47,762 | $34,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 25 | Santa Ana, CA | $46,262 | $33,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 26 | Irvine, CA | $46,226 | $33,000 | 266,122 | 12 |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $42,705 | $30,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $39,571 | $28,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,142 | $27,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 30 | Newark, NJ | $50,878 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,448 | $33,000 | 3,976,322 | 21 |
| 32 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,267 | $31,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $48,019 | $34,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | $37,538 | $26,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 35 | Houston, TX | $39,246 | $28,000 | 2,303,482 | 8 |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $36,804 | $26,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | El Paso, TX | $39,788 | $28,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 38 | Sacramento, CA | $48,068 | $33,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 39 | Laredo, TX | $39,564 | $28,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 40 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,732 | $26,000 | 311,404 | 28 |
| 41 | Kansas City, MO | $36,514 | $26,000 | 481,420 | 30 |
| 42 | San Francisco, CA | $48,843 | $34,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $45,980 | $33,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $38,456 | $27,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 45 | Oakland, CA | $48,731 | $34,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $47,576 | $33,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 47 | Corpus Christi, TX | $39,458 | $28,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 48 | Fremont, CA | $48,652 | $34,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 49 | San Jose, CA | $48,652 | $34,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $38,482 | $27,000 | 392,772 | - |
Highest paying cities for clinical research assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. clinical research assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington, CT | $51,852 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $49,571 |
| 3 | Syracuse, NY | $48,280 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $47,762 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $46,851 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,448 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,310 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $43,872 |
| 9 | Madison, AL | $43,196 |
| 10 | Charleston, SC | $42,392 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $42,335 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $42,104 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,688 |
| 14 | Providence, RI | $41,497 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $40,846 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $39,246 |
| 17 | Rochester, MN | $38,408 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $38,402 |
| 19 | Iowa City, IA | $38,352 |
| 20 | Greeley, CO | $37,773 |
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Updated January 8, 2025