Best cities for a research and development project manager
The best cities for research and development project managers are San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research and development project managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research and development project managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research and development project manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research and development project managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research and development project managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research and development project manager. While the absolute best city for research and development project managers 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 project managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a research and development project manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research and development project managers in 2025
1. San Jose, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $132,559 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 16.97 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,712 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Henderson, NV
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $114,702 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Reno, NV
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $126,994 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Francisco, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $133,968 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 0.60 7. Fremont, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $133,104 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oakland, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $133,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Sacramento, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $132,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Stockton, CA
Total research and development project manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $132,551 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research and development project managers
- San Jose, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Reno, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Stockton, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a research and development project manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $132,559 | $83,000 | 1,025,350 | 20 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $115,712 | $72,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $115,499 | $72,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 4 | Henderson, NV | $114,702 | $72,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $126,994 | $79,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $133,968 | $84,000 | 870,887 | 1 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $133,104 | $83,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $133,684 | $84,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $132,684 | $83,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $132,551 | $83,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | Bakersfield, CA | $122,619 | $77,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 12 | New York, NY | $111,675 | $77,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $99,026 | $67,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 14 | Hempstead, NY | $111,759 | $77,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $127,975 | $80,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,370 | $73,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 17 | Islip, NY | $111,652 | $77,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $98,292 | $67,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 19 | Oyster Bay, NY | $111,531 | $77,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $114,431 | $72,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 21 | Brookhaven, NY | $111,327 | $77,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $106,634 | $74,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,416 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,932 | $67,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 25 | Fort Wayne, IN | $89,306 | $61,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $87,000 | $60,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $86,153 | $59,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $89,681 | $61,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 29 | Long Beach, CA | $115,249 | $73,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 30 | Anaheim, CA | $115,039 | $73,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $114,731 | $73,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $114,565 | $72,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,499 | $61,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $87,378 | $60,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $106,797 | $73,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 36 | Portland, OR | $99,521 | $61,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $93,128 | $59,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,066 | $59,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $111,811 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | 2 |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $92,933 | $59,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Chandler, AZ | $92,707 | $59,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 42 | Raleigh, NC | $89,948 | $62,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 43 | Mesa, AZ | $92,655 | $59,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 44 | Durham, NC | $89,922 | $62,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 45 | Gilbert, AZ | $92,630 | $59,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $86,329 | $56,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $89,016 | $62,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 48 | Cleveland, OH | $84,119 | $58,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 49 | Winston-Salem, NC | $88,576 | $61,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $111,449 | $71,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for research and development project managers
| Rank | City | Avg. research and development project manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $133,791 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $111,675 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $106,634 |
| 4 | Plymouth, MN | $98,827 |
| 5 | North Brunswick, NJ | $96,567 |
| 6 | Horsham, PA | $91,398 |
| 7 | Greenville, NC | $91,091 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $88,552 |
| 9 | Portage, MI | $88,079 |
| 10 | Cedar Park, TX | $87,261 |
| 11 | Columbus, IN | $87,141 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $86,296 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $84,781 |
| 14 | Lenexa, KS | $75,980 |
| 15 | Tallahassee, FL | $73,951 |











