Best cities for a research and development technician
The best cities for research and development technicians are Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Albuquerque, NM, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research and development technicians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research and development technicians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research and development technician or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research and development technicians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research and development technicians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research and development technician. While the absolute best city for research and development technicians is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research and development technicians in 2024.
If you're looking for a research and development technician job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research and development technicians in 2025
1. Austin, TX
Research and development technician jobs in AustinTotal research and development technician jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $92,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 2.93 2. San Antonio, TX
Research and development technician jobs in San AntonioTotal research and development technician jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $92,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 2.52 3. Albuquerque, NM
Research and development technician jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal research and development technician jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $89,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 4.36 4. Oklahoma City, OK
Research and development technician jobs in Oklahoma CityTotal research and development technician jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $83,860 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 3.62 5. Plano, TX
Research and development technician jobs in PlanoTotal research and development technician jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $91,748 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 1.61 6. Boston, MA
Research and development technician jobs in BostonTotal research and development technician jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $95,920 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 3.33 7. Houston, TX
Research and development technician jobs in HoustonTotal research and development technician jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $91,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 1.65 8. San Jose, CA
Research and development technician jobs in San JoseTotal research and development technician jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $115,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 1.27 9. Anaheim, CA
Research and development technician jobs in AnaheimTotal research and development technician jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $99,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 3.13 10. Raleigh, NC
Research and development technician jobs in RaleighTotal research and development technician jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $77,764 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 4.26
Choose from 10+ customizable research and development technician resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use research and development technician 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 technician 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 technicians
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Plano, TX
- Boston, MA
- Houston, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- (37 research and development technician jobs)
- (14 research and development technician jobs)
- (11 research and development technician jobs)
- (14 research and development technician jobs)
- (10 research and development technician jobs)
- (45 research and development technician jobs)
- (35 research and development technician jobs)
- (17 research and development technician jobs)
- (3 research and development technician jobs)
- (21 research and development technician jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research and development technician
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $92,462 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 37 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $92,449 | $58,000 | 1,492,510 | 14 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $89,734 | $57,000 | 559,277 | 11 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,860 | $53,000 | 638,367 | 14 |
| 5 | Plano, TX | $91,748 | $58,000 | 286,057 | 10 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $95,920 | $66,000 | 673,184 | 45 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $91,870 | $57,000 | 2,303,482 | 35 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $115,522 | $73,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 9 | Anaheim, CA | $99,878 | $63,000 | 351,043 | 3 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $77,764 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 21 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,946 | $58,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $116,115 | $74,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $99,345 | $63,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $101,343 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 20 |
| 15 | Chesapeake, VA | $86,836 | $59,000 | 237,940 | 3 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $83,043 | $53,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 17 | Durham, NC | $77,711 | $52,000 | 263,016 | 9 |
| 18 | Newark, NJ | $102,856 | $70,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $85,486 | $56,000 | 2,704,958 | 42 |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $102,907 | $70,000 | 264,152 | 8 |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $93,929 | $60,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 22 | San Francisco, CA | $117,164 | $74,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 23 | Atlanta, GA | $81,023 | $52,000 | 472,522 | 35 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $91,908 | $58,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,739 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 22 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $93,387 | $58,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 27 | Greensboro, NC | $77,079 | $51,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 28 | Madison, WI | $74,854 | $49,000 | 252,551 | 16 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $116,855 | $74,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 30 | Fort Worth, TX | $92,047 | $58,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $91,901 | $58,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 32 | Milwaukee, WI | $75,861 | $50,000 | 595,047 | 10 |
| 33 | Oakland, CA | $116,875 | $74,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,484 | $55,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 35 | Winston-Salem, NC | $76,755 | $51,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $106,414 | $67,000 | 376,380 | 1 |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | $79,977 | $51,000 | 403,090 | 2 |
| 38 | Lubbock, TX | $92,987 | $59,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 39 | Nashville, TN | $83,937 | $55,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 40 | Arlington, TX | $92,004 | $58,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 41 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,874 | $64,000 | 3,976,322 | 20 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $115,991 | $73,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | Garland, TX | $91,788 | $58,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 44 | Laredo, TX | $91,472 | $58,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $71,983 | $48,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 46 | Detroit, MI | $69,798 | $46,000 | 672,795 | 12 |
| 47 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $65,141 | $40,000 | 260,999 | 12 |
| 48 | Corpus Christi, TX | $91,141 | $57,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $75,681 | $50,000 | 842,051 | 19 |
| 50 | Scottsdale, AZ | $80,670 | $51,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for research and development technicians
| Rank | City | Avg. research and development technician salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $117,316 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $105,154 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $102,907 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $101,343 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $95,919 |
| 6 | Round Rock, TX | $92,466 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $89,734 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $88,135 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $86,465 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,946 |
| 11 | North Chicago, IL | $85,887 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,860 |
| 13 | Jonesboro, AR | $82,868 |
| 14 | Wilmington, DE | $81,852 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $81,023 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,739 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $77,764 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $76,250 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $74,854 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $71,983 |
Research and development technician best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for research and development technician jobs
Updated January 8, 2025