Best cities for a laboratory research assistant
The best cities for laboratory research assistants are Tucson, AZ, Boston, MA, and Reno, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for laboratory research assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for laboratory research assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a laboratory research assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for laboratory research assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for laboratory research assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a laboratory research assistant. While the absolute best city for laboratory research assistants is Tucson, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for laboratory research assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a laboratory research assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for laboratory research assistants in 2026
1. Tucson, AZ
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $37,615 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 3.08 2. Boston, MA
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $60,256 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 2.92 3. Reno, NV
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $37,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location quotient: 3.47 4. Chicago, IL
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $49,887 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 1.50 5. Milwaukee, WI
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $36,490 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.88 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $39,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 0.18 7. Detroit, MI
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $38,330 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Newark, NJ
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $50,107 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 0.75 9. Lexington, KY
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Louisville, KY
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,385 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for laboratory research assistants
- Tucson, AZ
- Boston, MA
- Reno, NV
- Chicago, IL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Philadelphia, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Newark, NJ
- Lexington, KY
- Louisville, KY
- (4 laboratory research assistant jobs)
- (24 laboratory research assistant jobs)
- (3 laboratory research assistant jobs)
- (17 laboratory research assistant jobs)
- (2 laboratory research assistant jobs)
- (1 laboratory research assistant jobs)
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- (1 laboratory research assistant jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a laboratory research assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson, AZ | $37,615 | $24,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $60,256 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 24 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $37,685 | $25,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $49,887 | $33,000 | 2,704,958 | 17 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,490 | $24,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,876 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $38,330 | $24,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $50,107 | $31,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 9 | Lexington, KY | $36,473 | $24,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 10 | Louisville, KY | $36,385 | $24,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $35,929 | $23,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $43,235 | $29,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $45,080 | $30,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $36,464 | $23,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 15 | Anchorage, AK | $58,873 | $50,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $36,124 | $24,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | $50,138 | $31,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $37,474 | $24,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,970 | $23,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,332 | $28,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 21 | Chandler, AZ | $37,448 | $24,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 22 | Toledo, OH | $35,544 | $23,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 23 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,407 | $24,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | $39,657 | $26,000 | 472,522 | 1 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,233 | $29,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 26 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,495 | $23,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $41,353 | $26,000 | 614,664 | 98 |
| 28 | Seattle, WA | $43,680 | $30,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 29 | Gilbert, AZ | $37,405 | $23,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $35,951 | $23,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $33,521 | $21,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 32 | Mesa, AZ | $37,340 | $23,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 33 | Buffalo, NY | $38,859 | $24,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $37,221 | $23,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 35 | Greensboro, NC | $35,670 | $23,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $35,538 | $23,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | $35,690 | $23,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 38 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,652 | $23,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 39 | New York, NY | $39,645 | $24,000 | 8,537,673 | 17 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $35,490 | $23,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $39,838 | $24,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Charlotte, NC | $34,951 | $23,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 43 | Islip, NY | $39,818 | $24,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 44 | Oyster Bay, NY | $39,774 | $24,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 45 | Omaha, NE | $33,752 | $22,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $38,219 | $24,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Hempstead, NY | $39,726 | $24,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,366 | $21,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $44,995 | $28,000 | 681,170 | 3 |
| 50 | Norfolk, VA | $38,110 | $24,000 | 245,115 | - |
Highest paying cities for laboratory research assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. laboratory research assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $60,256 |
| 2 | North Chicago, IL | $50,688 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $45,080 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $44,996 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $43,680 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $41,353 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,876 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,844 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $39,645 |
| 10 | Farmington Hills, MI | $38,291 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $38,084 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $37,685 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $37,615 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $36,972 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $36,464 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $35,929 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $34,674 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $33,824 |
| 19 | Gainesville, FL | $33,011 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $32,899 |
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Updated January 8, 2025