Best cities for a research administrator

The best cities for research administrators are Lincoln, NE, Madison, WI, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research administrators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research administrators in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a research administrator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research administrators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research administrators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research administrator. While the absolute best city for research administrators is Lincoln, NE, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research administrators in 2024.

If you're looking for a research administrator job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for research administrators in 2025

1. Lincoln, NE

Total research administrator jobs:	6
Average annual salary:	$53,386
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$65,000
Location quotient:	5.32

2. Madison, WI

Total research administrator jobs:	30
Average annual salary:	$52,146
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$63,000
Location quotient:	16.13

3. Boston, MA

Total research administrator jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$63,976
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$50,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$80,000
Location quotient:	3.41

4. Memphis, TN

Total research administrator jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$50,429
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$40,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$62,000
Location quotient:	1.48

5. Atlanta, GA

Total research administrator jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$58,136
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$72,000
Location quotient:	1.69

6. Detroit, MI

Total research administrator jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$56,897
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$45,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$71,000
Location quotient:	0.92

7. Saint Louis, MO

Total research administrator jobs:	13
Average annual salary:	$53,910
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$67,000
Location quotient:	3.97

8. Cleveland, OH

Total research administrator jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$52,136
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$41,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$66,000
Location quotient:	0.00

9. Kansas City, MO

Total research administrator jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$53,960
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$43,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$66,000
Location quotient:	1.38

10. Toledo, OH

Total research administrator jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$51,552
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$41,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$64,000
Location quotient:	0.00

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Best cities for research administrators

Lincoln, NE
Madison, WI
Boston, MA
Memphis, TN
Atlanta, GA
Detroit, MI
Saint Louis, MO
Cleveland, OH
Kansas City, MO
Toledo, OH

(6 research administrator jobs)
(30 research administrator jobs)
(25 research administrator jobs)
(3 research administrator jobs)
(16 research administrator jobs)
(2 research administrator jobs)
(13 research administrator jobs)
(0 research administrator jobs)
(3 research administrator jobs)
(0 research administrator jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a research administrator

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Lincoln, NE	$53,386	$43,000	280,364	6
2	Madison, WI	$52,146	$42,000	252,551	30
3	Boston, MA	$63,976	$50,000	673,184	25
4	Memphis, TN	$50,429	$40,000	652,717	3
5	Atlanta, GA	$58,136	$46,000	472,522	16
6	Detroit, MI	$56,897	$45,000	672,795	2
7	Saint Louis, MO	$53,910	$43,000	311,404	13
8	Cleveland, OH	$52,136	$41,000	385,809	-
9	Kansas City, MO	$53,960	$43,000	481,420	3
10	Toledo, OH	$51,552	$41,000	278,508	-
11	Milwaukee, WI	$52,388	$42,000	595,047	2
12	Nashville, TN	$50,584	$40,000	660,388	-
13	Chicago, IL	$55,141	$44,000	2,704,958	10
14	Fort Wayne, IN	$53,457	$42,000	264,488	-
15	Albuquerque, NM	$59,826	$48,000	559,277	-
16	Indianapolis, IN	$52,685	$42,000	855,164	-
17	Columbus, OH	$50,821	$40,000	860,090	-
18	Philadelphia, PA	$50,365	$38,000	1,567,872	2
19	Pittsburgh, PA	$48,714	$38,000	303,625	3
20	Omaha, NE	$53,506	$43,000	446,970	-
21	Portland, OR	$57,643	$47,000	639,863	3
22	Seattle, WA	$56,758	$47,000	704,352	10
23	Wichita, KS	$50,521	$40,000	389,902	-
24	Jersey City, NJ	$59,365	$45,000	264,152	-
25	Cincinnati, OH	$50,148	$39,000	298,800	-
26	Newark, NJ	$59,349	$45,000	281,764	-
27	Baltimore, MD	$58,627	$45,000	614,664	8
28	Tampa, FL	$51,155	$41,000	377,165	5
29	Durham, NC	$49,496	$38,000	263,016	-
30	Raleigh, NC	$49,475	$38,000	458,880	-
31	Oakland, CA	$58,220	$45,000	420,005	4
32	Saint Paul, MN	$52,482	$43,000	302,398	-
33	Greensboro, NC	$49,318	$38,000	287,027	-
34	Minneapolis, MN	$52,472	$43,000	413,651	-
35	Winston-Salem, NC	$49,229	$38,000	242,203	-
36	Anchorage, AK	$51,488	$46,000	298,192	4
37	Glendale, AZ	$51,051	$40,000	245,895	-
38	Phoenix, AZ	$51,036	$40,000	1,615,017	-
39	Chandler, AZ	$51,004	$40,000	247,477	-
40	Scottsdale, AZ	$50,994	$40,000	246,645	-
41	Jacksonville, FL	$50,366	$40,000	880,619	4
42	Reno, NV	$50,205	$39,000	245,255	-
43	Lexington, KY	$47,506	$37,000	318,449	-
44	Gilbert, AZ	$50,991	$40,000	237,133	-
45	Charlotte, NC	$48,821	$38,000	842,051	1
46	Las Vegas, NV	$48,591	$38,000	632,912	1
47	Louisville, KY	$47,381	$37,000	597,337	-
48	Mesa, AZ	$50,987	$40,000	484,587	-
49	Tucson, AZ	$50,833	$40,000	530,706	-
50	Saint Petersburg, FL	$51,214	$41,000	260,999	-

Highest paying cities for research administrators

Rank	City	Avg. research administrator salary
1	Boston, MA	$63,976
2	Baltimore, MD	$58,627
3	Pacifica, CA	$58,264
4	Atlanta, GA	$58,136
5	Eugene, OR	$57,799
6	Seattle, WA	$56,758
7	East Lansing, MI	$56,630
8	Chicago, IL	$55,141
9	Washington, DC	$54,530
10	Saint Louis, MO	$53,910
11	Lincoln, NE	$53,386
12	New York, NY	$53,203
13	Madison, WI	$52,146
14	Boca Raton, FL	$51,696
15	Anchorage, AK	$51,488
16	Tempe, AZ	$51,016
17	Durham, NC	$49,496
18	Pittsburgh, PA	$48,714
19	Galveston, TX	$45,119