Best cities for a research assistant professor
The best cities for research assistant professors are Reno, NV, Cincinnati, OH, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research assistant professors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research assistant professors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research assistant professor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research assistant professors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research assistant professors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research assistant professor. While the absolute best city for research assistant professors is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research assistant professors in 2024.
If you're looking for a research assistant professor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research assistant professors in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total research assistant professor jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $81,675 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 101.07 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total research assistant professor jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $73,003 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 54.24 3. Lexington, KY
Total research assistant professor jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $76,731 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 91.74 4. Toledo, OH
Total research assistant professor jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $73,888 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 63.03 5. New Orleans, LA
Total research assistant professor jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $76,356 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 66.68 6. Durham, NC
Total research assistant professor jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $73,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 41.87 7. Boston, MA
Total research assistant professor jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $90,727 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 18.90 8. Raleigh, NC
Total research assistant professor jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $73,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 30.76 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total research assistant professor jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $77,738 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 17.43 10. Portland, OR
Total research assistant professor jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $84,745 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 18.83
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Best cities for research assistant professors
- Reno, NV
- Cincinnati, OH
- Lexington, KY
- Toledo, OH
- New Orleans, LA
- Durham, NC
- Boston, MA
- Raleigh, NC
- Las Vegas, NV
- Portland, OR
- (76 research assistant professor jobs)
- (117 research assistant professor jobs)
- (57 research assistant professor jobs)
- (28 research assistant professor jobs)
- (61 research assistant professor jobs)
- (68 research assistant professor jobs)
- (135 research assistant professor jobs)
- (80 research assistant professor jobs)
- (41 research assistant professor jobs)
- (64 research assistant professor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research assistant professor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $81,675 | $56,000 | 245,255 | 76 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,003 | $53,000 | 298,800 | 117 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $76,731 | $56,000 | 318,449 | 57 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $73,888 | $54,000 | 278,508 | 28 |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | $76,356 | $53,000 | 391,495 | 61 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $73,876 | $53,000 | 263,016 | 68 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $90,727 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 135 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $73,891 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 80 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $77,738 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 41 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $84,745 | $60,000 | 639,863 | 64 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $74,755 | $54,000 | 385,809 | 17 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,726 | $51,000 | 559,277 | 68 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $77,516 | $57,000 | 2,704,958 | 147 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,344 | $52,000 | 855,164 | 152 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $73,864 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 44 |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $66,191 | $48,000 | 660,388 | 139 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $87,078 | $63,000 | 472,522 | 78 |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $73,318 | $53,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,858 | $49,000 | 1,567,872 | 221 |
| 20 | Greensboro, NC | $73,521 | $53,000 | 287,027 | 5 |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $71,946 | $50,000 | 530,706 | 123 |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,553 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 238 |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $65,858 | $48,000 | 280,364 | 127 |
| 24 | Newark, NJ | $83,367 | $59,000 | 281,764 | 15 |
| 25 | North Las Vegas, NV | $77,546 | $54,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | $76,310 | $56,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $77,488 | $54,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Washington, DC | $93,149 | $67,000 | 681,170 | 70 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $71,944 | $53,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $88,186 | $61,000 | 3,976,322 | 126 |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $72,653 | $53,000 | 842,051 | 11 |
| 32 | Mesa, AZ | $72,379 | $51,000 | 484,587 | 6 |
| 33 | Saint Louis, MO | $71,294 | $52,000 | 311,404 | 94 |
| 34 | San Francisco, CA | $95,233 | $65,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $94,765 | $64,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | San Jose, CA | $94,611 | $64,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 37 | Oakland, CA | $95,048 | $65,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 38 | Sacramento, CA | $94,315 | $64,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $94,224 | $64,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 40 | Norfolk, VA | $73,282 | $53,000 | 245,115 | 15 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $68,380 | $50,000 | 672,795 | 11 |
| 42 | Lubbock, TX | $57,876 | $41,000 | 252,506 | 67 |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,897 | $54,000 | 413,651 | 12 |
| 44 | Seattle, WA | $77,067 | $54,000 | 704,352 | 97 |
| 45 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,555 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 16 |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $65,447 | $47,000 | 652,717 | 17 |
| 47 | Aurora, CO | $70,341 | $51,000 | 361,710 | 56 |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $59,041 | $41,000 | 683,080 | 33 |
| 49 | Fresno, CA | $92,445 | $63,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 50 | Miami, FL | $67,717 | $48,000 | 453,579 | 107 |
Highest paying cities for research assistant professors
| Rank | City | Avg. research assistant professor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $93,149 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $90,727 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $88,186 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $87,078 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $84,745 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $81,675 |
| 7 | Evanston, IL | $77,537 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $77,067 |
| 9 | Morgantown, WV | $76,843 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $76,356 |
| 11 | College Park, MD | $75,049 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $74,653 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $73,891 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $73,779 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,003 |
| 16 | Charlottesville, VA | $72,567 |
| 17 | Tempe, AZ | $72,465 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,726 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $71,346 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,344 |











