Best cities for a graduate research assistant
The best cities for graduate research assistants are Philadelphia, PA, Madison, WI, and Pittsburgh, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for graduate research assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for graduate research assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a graduate research assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for graduate research assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for graduate research assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a graduate research assistant. While the absolute best city for graduate research assistants is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for graduate research assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a graduate research assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for graduate research assistants in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Graduate research assistant jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,271 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Madison, WI
Graduate research assistant jobs in MadisonTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $39,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 4.06 3. Pittsburgh, PA
Graduate research assistant jobs in PittsburghTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $42,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Fort Wayne, IN
Graduate research assistant jobs in Fort WayneTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $40,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. New York, NY
Graduate research assistant jobs in New YorkTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $43,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 2.14 6. Indianapolis, IN
Graduate research assistant jobs in IndianapolisTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,454 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Cleveland, OH
Graduate research assistant jobs in ClevelandTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,443 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Milwaukee, WI
Graduate research assistant jobs in MilwaukeeTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $40,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Toledo, OH
Graduate research assistant jobs in ToledoTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,021 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Columbus, OH
Graduate research assistant jobs in ColumbusTotal graduate research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $35,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for graduate research assistants
- Philadelphia, PA
- Madison, WI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- New York, NY
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
- Milwaukee, WI
- Toledo, OH
- Columbus, OH
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Detailed list of the best cities for a graduate research assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $44,271 | $28,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $39,899 | $27,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,533 | $27,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 4 | Fort Wayne, IN | $40,664 | $27,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 5 | New York, NY | $43,939 | $28,000 | 8,537,673 | 19 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $39,454 | $25,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $36,443 | $24,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $40,171 | $27,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $36,021 | $24,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $35,939 | $23,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 11 | Hempstead, NY | $43,998 | $28,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $41,463 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 13 | Islip, NY | $43,928 | $28,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 14 | Oyster Bay, NY | $43,819 | $28,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,602 | $22,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 16 | Brookhaven, NY | $43,762 | $28,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $35,924 | $24,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 18 | Wichita, KS | $33,640 | $22,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 19 | Buffalo, NY | $41,430 | $28,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $36,152 | $24,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 21 | Jersey City, NJ | $38,612 | $24,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 22 | Newark, NJ | $38,581 | $24,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $29,838 | $19,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 24 | Baltimore, MD | $42,009 | $26,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $36,595 | $25,000 | 693,060 | 4 |
| 26 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,726 | $25,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $32,136 | $21,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 28 | Aurora, CO | $36,599 | $25,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,660 | $21,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 30 | Anchorage, AK | $32,347 | $27,000 | 298,192 | 10 |
| 31 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,187 | $21,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $32,175 | $21,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,185 | $24,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 34 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,610 | $32,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,161 | $24,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 36 | Memphis, TN | $29,302 | $18,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 37 | North Las Vegas, NV | $32,080 | $21,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 38 | New Orleans, LA | $30,788 | $18,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 39 | Lexington, KY | $28,551 | $18,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 40 | Saint Louis, MO | $29,965 | $19,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 41 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,964 | $18,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 42 | Seattle, WA | $33,892 | $25,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 43 | Tulsa, OK | $28,921 | $18,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $30,059 | $19,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Louisville, KY | $28,275 | $18,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,019 | $19,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 47 | Durham, NC | $29,434 | $18,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 48 | Raleigh, NC | $29,393 | $18,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 49 | Chandler, AZ | $29,957 | $19,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 50 | Gilbert, AZ | $29,923 | $19,000 | 237,133 | - |
Highest paying cities for graduate research assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. graduate research assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $43,939 |
| 2 | Bridgewater, MA | $41,964 |
| 3 | Bethesda, MD | $41,824 |
| 4 | West Lafayette, IN | $39,644 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $36,595 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,152 |
| 7 | Orange, CA | $35,335 |
| 8 | Lawrence, KS | $33,714 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $32,454 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $32,347 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,203 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $32,136 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $32,096 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $30,201 |
| 15 | Richmond, KY | $28,382 |
| 16 | Laredo, TX | $26,928 |
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Updated January 8, 2025