Best cities for a professional research assistant
The best cities for professional research assistants are Durham, NC, Minneapolis, MN, and Chicago, IL, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for professional research assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for professional research assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a professional research assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for professional research assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for professional research assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a professional research assistant. While the absolute best city for professional research assistants is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for professional research assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a professional research assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for professional research assistants in 2026
1. Durham, NC
Total professional research assistant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $71,399 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 1.58 2. Minneapolis, MN
Total professional research assistant jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $63,099 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 6.83 3. Chicago, IL
Total professional research assistant jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $67,192 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 30.47 4. Cleveland, OH
Total professional research assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $64,543 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.54 5. Columbus, OH
Total professional research assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $62,277 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 0.96 6. Charlotte, NC
Total professional research assistant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $68,376 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 1.16 7. Raleigh, NC
Total professional research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $71,423 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total professional research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $64,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Toledo, OH
Total professional research assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Saint Paul, MN
Total professional research assistant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $63,138 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 0.89
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Best cities for professional research assistants
- Durham, NC
- Minneapolis, MN
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Charlotte, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Philadelphia, PA
- Toledo, OH
- Saint Paul, MN
- (3 professional research assistant jobs)
- (30 professional research assistant jobs)
- (95 professional research assistant jobs)
- (1 professional research assistant jobs)
- (5 professional research assistant jobs)
- (8 professional research assistant jobs)
- (0 professional research assistant jobs)
- (0 professional research assistant jobs)
- (0 professional research assistant jobs)
- (2 professional research assistant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a professional research assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $71,399 | $44,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,099 | $41,000 | 413,651 | 30 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $67,192 | $43,000 | 2,704,958 | 95 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $64,543 | $41,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $62,277 | $39,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $68,376 | $43,000 | 842,051 | 8 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $71,423 | $44,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,851 | $41,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $63,386 | $40,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $63,138 | $41,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $81,302 | $52,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $70,577 | $44,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $70,111 | $44,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $62,777 | $40,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 15 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,051 | $53,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 16 | Louisville, KY | $62,305 | $40,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $61,442 | $39,000 | 472,522 | 15 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,288 | $38,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $60,075 | $39,000 | 530,706 | 12 |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $83,016 | $53,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,969 | $40,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 22 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,798 | $38,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $59,251 | $38,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 24 | Wichita, KS | $59,551 | $39,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 25 | New Orleans, LA | $60,176 | $38,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 26 | Saint Louis, MO | $61,546 | $40,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 27 | Orlando, FL | $60,238 | $38,000 | 277,173 | 4 |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,482 | $40,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $59,613 | $39,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 30 | Kansas City, MO | $60,540 | $39,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $60,486 | $40,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 32 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,217 | $37,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $66,835 | $44,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 34 | Glendale, AZ | $60,483 | $40,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 35 | Mesa, AZ | $60,404 | $40,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 36 | Chandler, AZ | $60,391 | $40,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 37 | Gilbert, AZ | $60,384 | $40,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $56,862 | $36,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 39 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,073 | $38,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $58,045 | $38,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $55,624 | $41,000 | 298,192 | 15 |
| 42 | Henderson, NV | $57,986 | $38,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 43 | Jacksonville, FL | $60,914 | $38,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 44 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,414 | $37,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 45 | San Francisco, CA | $64,435 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 64 |
| 46 | Miami, FL | $60,046 | $38,000 | 453,579 | - |
| 47 | Tampa, FL | $60,027 | $38,000 | 377,165 | 1 |
| 48 | Sacramento, CA | $64,662 | $42,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 49 | Hialeah, FL | $60,041 | $38,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,749 | $35,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for professional research assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. professional research assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $69,687 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $68,376 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $67,192 |
| 4 | Davis, CA | $64,672 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,099 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $62,277 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $61,930 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $61,442 |
| 9 | Fayetteville, AR | $61,109 |
| 10 | Tempe, AZ | $60,419 |
| 11 | Annandale, VA | $58,084 |
| 12 | Fairbanks, AK | $57,972 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $56,862 |
| 14 | Boulder, CO | $54,033 |