Best cities for a research and development chemist
The best cities for research and development chemists are Memphis, TN, Irving, TX, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research and development chemists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research and development chemists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research and development chemist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research and development chemists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research and development chemists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research and development chemist. While the absolute best city for research and development chemists is Memphis, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research and development chemists in 2024.
If you're looking for a research and development chemist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research and development chemists in 2025
1. Memphis, TN
Total research and development chemist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $83,795 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 19.25 2. Irving, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $87,400 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 9.64 3. Cleveland, OH
Total research and development chemist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $79,082 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 14.38 4. Dallas, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $87,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 9.95 5. Fort Worth, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $87,367 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 9.21 6. Houston, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $82,980 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 14.91 7. El Paso, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,774 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Cincinnati, OH
Total research and development chemist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $77,073 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 14.09 9. Plano, TX
Total research and development chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,526 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Virginia Beach, VA
Total research and development chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $105,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research and development chemists
- Memphis, TN
- Irving, TX
- Cleveland, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Houston, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Plano, TX
- Virginia Beach, VA
- (5 research and development chemist jobs)
- (5 research and development chemist jobs)
- (3 research and development chemist jobs)
- (8 research and development chemist jobs)
- (2 research and development chemist jobs)
- (22 research and development chemist jobs)
- (0 research and development chemist jobs)
- (4 research and development chemist jobs)
- (0 research and development chemist jobs)
- (0 research and development chemist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research and development chemist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $83,795 | $53,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 2 | Irving, TX | $87,400 | $53,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $79,082 | $53,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $87,295 | $53,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 5 | Fort Worth, TX | $87,367 | $53,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $82,980 | $51,000 | 2,303,482 | 22 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $87,774 | $53,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,073 | $50,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 9 | Plano, TX | $87,526 | $53,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 10 | Virginia Beach, VA | $105,871 | $69,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 11 | Garland, TX | $87,404 | $53,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 12 | Norfolk, VA | $105,863 | $69,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $85,564 | $55,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $88,096 | $55,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 15 | Chesapeake, VA | $105,662 | $68,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $78,066 | $51,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $87,506 | $55,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 18 | Arlington, TX | $87,282 | $53,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $75,185 | $50,000 | 595,047 | 5 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $77,690 | $47,000 | 559,277 | 6 |
| 21 | Lubbock, TX | $89,243 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 22 | San Antonio, TX | $82,653 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $78,776 | $52,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 24 | Austin, TX | $84,058 | $51,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 25 | Greensboro, NC | $70,780 | $45,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 26 | Saint Paul, MN | $78,624 | $52,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 27 | Lexington, KY | $74,941 | $48,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 28 | Seattle, WA | $90,223 | $57,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $80,023 | $49,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $74,656 | $48,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 31 | Corpus Christi, TX | $79,228 | $49,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $78,765 | $48,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $86,281 | $52,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO | $70,947 | $45,000 | 481,420 | 8 |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $85,144 | $62,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | Madison, WI | $74,963 | $50,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 37 | Wichita, KS | $73,202 | $46,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 38 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,527 | $44,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,591 | $52,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 40 | Boston, MA | $86,152 | $58,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 41 | Portland, OR | $79,209 | $50,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | $69,179 | $46,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 43 | Saint Louis, MO | $71,832 | $46,000 | 311,404 | 2 |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $68,508 | $45,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $95,915 | $63,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 46 | Sacramento, CA | $87,632 | $53,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 47 | Durham, NC | $70,909 | $45,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 48 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,487 | $56,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $69,485 | $44,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 50 | Newark, NJ | $83,476 | $56,000 | 281,764 | - |
Highest paying cities for research and development chemists
| Rank | City | Avg. research and development chemist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $106,315 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | $88,418 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $87,295 |
| 4 | Needham, MA | $86,393 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge, TN | $86,287 |
| 6 | East Brunswick, NJ | $83,521 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $81,167 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $78,066 |
| 9 | Florence, KY | $75,534 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $75,185 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $70,947 |
| 12 | Greenville, NC | $70,886 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $68,413 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $67,550 |
| 15 | Allentown, PA | $65,434 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $64,638 |
| 17 | Miami Lakes, FL | $52,798 |