Best cities for a research and development engineer
The best cities for research and development engineers are San Jose, CA, Albuquerque, NM, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research and development engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research and development engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research and development engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research and development engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research and development engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research and development engineer. While the absolute best city for research and development engineers is San Jose, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research and development engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a research and development engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research and development engineers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in San JoseTotal research and development engineer jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $134,429 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 102.63 2. Albuquerque, NM
Research and development engineer jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal research and development engineer jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $111,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 26.06 3. Fremont, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in FremontTotal research and development engineer jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $134,651 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 17.94 4. Irvine, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in IrvineTotal research and development engineer jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $119,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 81.20 5. Santa Ana, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in Santa AnaTotal research and development engineer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $119,971 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 26.30 6. Chandler, AZ
Research and development engineer jobs in ChandlerTotal research and development engineer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $95,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 171.94 7. San Francisco, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in San FranciscoTotal research and development engineer jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $135,115 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 4.46 8. Anaheim, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in AnaheimTotal research and development engineer jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $120,513 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 15.54 9. Riverside, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in RiversideTotal research and development engineer jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $120,347 Lowest 10 percent warn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 14.26 10. San Diego, CA
Research and development engineer jobs in San DiegoTotal research and development engineer jobs: 207 Average annual salary: $115,183 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 22.38
Choose from 10+ customizable research and development engineer resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use research and development engineer resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your research and development engineer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for research and development engineers
- San Jose, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Fremont, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Chandler, AZ
- San Francisco, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Riverside, CA
- San Diego, CA
- (84 research and development engineer jobs)
- (53 research and development engineer jobs)
- (55 research and development engineer jobs)
- (82 research and development engineer jobs)
- (20 research and development engineer jobs)
- (4 research and development engineer jobs)
- (68 research and development engineer jobs)
- (12 research and development engineer jobs)
- (13 research and development engineer jobs)
- (207 research and development engineer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research and development engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $134,429 | $96,000 | 1,025,350 | 84 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $111,648 | $80,000 | 559,277 | 53 |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $134,651 | $96,000 | 233,136 | 55 |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | $119,494 | $85,000 | 266,122 | 82 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $119,971 | $85,000 | 334,217 | 20 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $95,324 | $68,000 | 247,477 | 4 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $135,115 | $96,000 | 870,887 | 68 |
| 8 | Anaheim, CA | $120,513 | $86,000 | 351,043 | 12 |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $120,347 | $86,000 | 324,722 | 13 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $115,183 | $82,000 | 1,406,630 | 207 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $134,966 | $96,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,162 | $87,000 | 3,976,322 | 78 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,998 | $68,000 | 246,645 | 9 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $92,654 | $65,000 | 947,890 | 179 |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $92,597 | $66,000 | 286,057 | 60 |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $132,334 | $94,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $99,388 | $72,000 | 465,101 | 137 |
| 18 | Garland, TX | $92,612 | $66,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $93,024 | $66,000 | 854,113 | 13 |
| 20 | Arlington, TX | $92,922 | $66,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $91,819 | $64,000 | 2,303,482 | 175 |
| 22 | Sacramento, CA | $134,460 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 5 |
| 23 | Tucson, AZ | $93,354 | $67,000 | 530,706 | 12 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $92,820 | $66,000 | 238,289 | 23 |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $120,569 | $86,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,376 | $59,000 | 303,625 | 74 |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $80,029 | $60,000 | 252,551 | 49 |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,952 | $68,000 | 1,615,017 | 17 |
| 29 | Tulsa, OK | $81,209 | $59,000 | 403,090 | 12 |
| 30 | Reno, NV | $108,900 | $77,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 31 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,131 | $74,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $92,762 | $66,000 | 1,317,929 | 19 |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $134,427 | $96,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 34 | Memphis, TN | $80,267 | $59,000 | 652,717 | 11 |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $76,863 | $56,000 | 263,016 | 54 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $104,074 | $74,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Henderson, NV | $103,474 | $73,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,541 | $58,000 | 264,488 | 4 |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $95,901 | $68,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Toledo, OH | $76,458 | $57,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,093 | $91,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 42 | Portland, OR | $96,112 | $69,000 | 639,863 | 13 |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $95,097 | $68,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,716 | $61,000 | 638,367 | 8 |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $75,826 | $56,000 | 242,203 | 9 |
| 46 | Glendale, AZ | $95,957 | $68,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 47 | Buffalo, NY | $88,796 | $66,000 | 256,902 | 13 |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $95,403 | $68,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $76,038 | $57,000 | 855,164 | 23 |
| 50 | Seattle, WA | $104,760 | $75,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for research and development engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. research and development engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $135,295 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $111,648 |
| 3 | Marlborough, MA | $100,025 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $99,388 |
| 5 | Hillsboro, OR | $96,178 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,952 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $92,654 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $91,412 |
| 9 | Arlington Heights, IL | $87,167 |
| 10 | Farmington Hills, MI | $83,024 |
| 11 | Burlington, VT | $82,040 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,376 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $80,029 |
| 14 | Duluth, GA | $79,715 |
| 15 | Plymouth, MN | $79,418 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $76,863 |
| 17 | Madison, AL | $75,293 |
Research and development engineer best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for research and development engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025