Best cities for a research analyst
The best cities for research analysts are New York, NY, Anchorage, AK, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research analysts vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research analysts in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research analyst or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research analysts to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research analysts. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research analyst. While the absolute best city for research analysts is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research analysts in 2024.
If you're looking for a research analyst job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research analysts in 2026
1. New York, NY
Research analyst jobs in New YorkTotal research analyst jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $87,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 26.77 2. Anchorage, AK
Research analyst jobs in AnchorageTotal research analyst jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $75,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 16.05 3. Boston, MA
Research analyst jobs in BostonTotal research analyst jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $69,370 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 19.89 4. Chicago, IL
Research analyst jobs in ChicagoTotal research analyst jobs: 195 Average annual salary: $66,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 15.45 5. Houston, TX
Research analyst jobs in HoustonTotal research analyst jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $59,380 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 7.66 6. Oakland, CA
Research analyst jobs in OaklandTotal research analyst jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $72,986 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 12.40 7. San Francisco, CA
Research analyst jobs in San FranciscoTotal research analyst jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $73,176 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 9.55 8. Pittsburgh, PA
Research analyst jobs in PittsburghTotal research analyst jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $60,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 4.48 9. Portland, OR
Research analyst jobs in PortlandTotal research analyst jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $67,039 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 5.17 10. Philadelphia, PA
Research analyst jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal research analyst jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $62,954 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 4.83
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Best cities for research analysts
- New York, NY
- Anchorage, AK
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Philadelphia, PA
Detailed list of the best cities for a research analyst
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $87,910 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 27 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $75,354 | $51,000 | 298,192 | 24 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $69,370 | $44,000 | 673,184 | 164 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $66,701 | $42,000 | 2,704,958 | 195 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $59,380 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | 254 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $72,986 | $44,000 | 420,005 | 35 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $73,176 | $44,000 | 870,887 | 26 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,296 | $37,000 | 303,625 | 40 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $67,039 | $41,000 | 639,863 | 52 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,954 | $39,000 | 1,567,872 | 69 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $57,868 | $36,000 | 385,809 | 27 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $59,278 | $38,000 | 1,492,510 | 49 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $60,994 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 40 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $57,777 | $37,000 | 392,772 | 12 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $54,372 | $34,000 | 263,016 | 111 |
| 16 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,323 | $49,000 | 264,152 | 39 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $59,415 | $38,000 | 947,890 | 85 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $94,849 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 76 |
| 19 | Newark, NJ | $78,284 | $49,000 | 281,764 | 13 |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $60,359 | $37,000 | 672,795 | 19 |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $74,082 | $45,000 | 495,234 | 28 |
| 22 | Washington, DC | $67,275 | $42,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 23 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,938 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 47 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $49,815 | $32,000 | 660,388 | 50 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $57,604 | $37,000 | 1,317,929 | 77 |
| 26 | Toledo, OH | $56,484 | $35,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,927 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 233 |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | $54,380 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 35 |
| 29 | Atlanta, GA | $56,580 | $36,000 | 472,522 | 128 |
| 30 | Baltimore, MD | $60,628 | $38,000 | 614,664 | 123 |
| 31 | Memphis, TN | $49,131 | $32,000 | 652,717 | 25 |
| 32 | Brookhaven, NY | $88,652 | $56,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 33 | Madison, WI | $52,965 | $33,000 | 252,551 | 21 |
| 34 | Islip, NY | $88,400 | $56,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 35 | Riverside, CA | $63,673 | $41,000 | 324,722 | 10 |
| 36 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $51,789 | $33,000 | 260,999 | 17 |
| 37 | Hialeah, FL | $51,257 | $33,000 | 236,387 | 6 |
| 38 | Oyster Bay, NY | $88,292 | $56,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $85,945 | $54,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 40 | Hempstead, NY | $88,080 | $56,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 41 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,049 | $34,000 | 595,047 | 18 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,090 | $32,000 | 246,645 | 22 |
| 43 | Miami, FL | $51,234 | $33,000 | 453,579 | 127 |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $54,016 | $34,000 | 860,090 | 37 |
| 45 | El Paso, TX | $60,221 | $39,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,322 | $30,000 | 855,164 | 102 |
| 47 | Lexington, KY | $43,019 | $27,000 | 318,449 | 56 |
| 48 | Fremont, CA | $72,223 | $44,000 | 233,136 | 12 |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $65,453 | $41,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 50 | Virginia Beach, VA | $60,514 | $38,000 | 452,602 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for research analysts
| Rank | City | Avg. research analyst salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $94,849 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,910 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,323 |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | $77,261 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $76,048 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $73,176 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $69,370 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $67,275 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $66,701 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $62,967 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,954 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,938 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $60,628 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $59,764 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $59,415 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $57,614 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $56,580 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $54,380 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $51,234 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,082 |
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Updated January 8, 2025