Best cities for a graduate research student
The best cities for graduate research students are Cleveland, OH, Cincinnati, OH, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for graduate research students vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for graduate research students in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a graduate research student or considering a move, this list of the best cities for graduate research students to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for graduate research students. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a graduate research student. While the absolute best city for graduate research students is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for graduate research students in 2024.
If you're looking for a graduate research student job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for graduate research students in 2025
1. Cleveland, OH
Total graduate research student jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $40,213 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 2.11 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total graduate research student jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $35,364 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 1.55 3. Boston, MA
Total graduate research student jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $46,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 4.22 4. Indianapolis, IN
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Toledo, OH
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $38,895 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Detroit, MI
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,380 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Columbus, OH
Total graduate research student jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $37,991 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 0.75 8. El Paso, TX
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $38,770 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,347 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total graduate research student jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for graduate research students
- Cleveland, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Boston, MA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Toledo, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Columbus, OH
- El Paso, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
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- (1 graduate research student jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a graduate research student
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $40,213 | $22,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $35,364 | $20,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $46,801 | $27,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $39,905 | $22,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $38,895 | $22,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $39,380 | $22,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $37,991 | $21,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | $38,770 | $22,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,347 | $27,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,941 | $26,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $42,670 | $24,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $36,711 | $19,000 | 2,303,482 | 12 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $37,355 | $20,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $37,095 | $20,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,926 | $25,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $40,929 | $24,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 17 | Lubbock, TX | $37,205 | $21,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 18 | Fort Worth, TX | $36,598 | $20,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 19 | Laredo, TX | $37,584 | $19,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $37,174 | $22,000 | 2,704,958 | 4 |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $36,562 | $20,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $36,511 | $20,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $36,497 | $20,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 24 | Corpus Christi, TX | $37,128 | $19,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 25 | Garland, TX | $36,444 | $20,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 26 | Baltimore, MD | $46,281 | $25,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 27 | Jersey City, NJ | $43,339 | $24,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 28 | Plano, TX | $36,435 | $20,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $43,316 | $24,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 30 | Hempstead, NY | $39,813 | $22,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 31 | New York, NY | $39,780 | $22,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 32 | Islip, NY | $39,766 | $22,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 33 | Oyster Bay, NY | $39,704 | $22,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 34 | Brookhaven, NY | $39,640 | $22,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,256 | $21,000 | 413,651 | 2 |
| 36 | Buffalo, NY | $37,757 | $21,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 37 | Memphis, TN | $28,741 | $16,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 38 | Wichita, KS | $32,592 | $19,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 39 | Reno, NV | $32,271 | $19,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 40 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,115 | $19,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,324 | $21,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 42 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,190 | $19,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,103 | $22,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $32,083 | $19,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $29,267 | $16,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 46 | North Las Vegas, NV | $31,974 | $19,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 47 | Aurora, CO | $34,854 | $22,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 48 | Denver, CO | $34,835 | $22,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $31,095 | $16,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 50 | Durham, NC | $30,370 | $16,000 | 263,016 | - |
Highest paying cities for graduate research students
| Rank | City | Avg. graduate research student salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $46,801 |
| 2 | Edison, NJ | $43,449 |
| 3 | Appleton, WI | $41,781 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $40,213 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $39,380 |
| 6 | Sunnyvale, CA | $37,526 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $37,174 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $37,095 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $35,829 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | $35,421 |
| 11 | Providence, RI | $35,341 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,103 |
| 13 | Albany, OR | $34,903 |
| 14 | Jackson, MS | $32,715 |
| 15 | Lawrence, KS | $32,608 |
| 16 | Kirkland, WA | $32,086 |
| 17 | Fairbanks, AK | $30,997 |
| 18 | Chapel Hill, NC | $30,184 |
| 19 | Jackson, TN | $28,881 |
| 20 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,598 |
Graduate research student best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025