Best cities for a research chemist
The best cities for research chemists are Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Cincinnati, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research chemists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research chemists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research chemist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research chemists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research chemists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research chemist. While the absolute best city for research chemists is Houston, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research chemists in 2024.
If you're looking for a research chemist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research chemists in 2025
1. Houston, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $82,015 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 14.64 2. San Antonio, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $82,096 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 4.67 3. Cincinnati, OH
Total research chemist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $75,930 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 25.37 4. Oklahoma City, OK
Total research chemist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $87,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 4.47 5. Louisville, KY
Total research chemist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $77,630 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 7.78 6. El Paso, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $83,300 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Lexington, KY
Total research chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,124 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Lubbock, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,583 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Austin, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,303 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Dallas, TX
Total research chemist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $81,890 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 2.99
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Best cities for research chemists
- Houston, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Louisville, KY
- El Paso, TX
- Lexington, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- (36 research chemist jobs)
- (3 research chemist jobs)
- (12 research chemist jobs)
- (2 research chemist jobs)
- (3 research chemist jobs)
- (0 research chemist jobs)
- (0 research chemist jobs)
- (0 research chemist jobs)
- (0 research chemist jobs)
- (4 research chemist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research chemist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $82,015 | $54,000 | 2,303,482 | 36 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $82,096 | $54,000 | 1,492,510 | 3 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $75,930 | $52,000 | 298,800 | 12 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $87,891 | $60,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 5 | Louisville, KY | $77,630 | $53,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $83,300 | $54,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 7 | Lexington, KY | $78,124 | $54,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | $82,583 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $82,303 | $54,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $81,890 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $75,676 | $52,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | $108,427 | $75,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $91,557 | $63,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 14 | Norfolk, VA | $108,364 | $75,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $89,901 | $62,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 16 | Chesapeake, VA | $108,301 | $75,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $82,038 | $54,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 18 | Arlington, TX | $82,004 | $54,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $87,609 | $60,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 20 | Irving, TX | $81,886 | $54,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $71,844 | $49,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 22 | Garland, TX | $81,783 | $54,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 23 | Plano, TX | $81,744 | $54,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,321 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 12 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $81,252 | $54,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $76,444 | $53,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 27 | Saint Paul, MN | $73,344 | $50,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 28 | New Orleans, LA | $68,162 | $45,000 | 391,495 | 5 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,046 | $46,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 30 | Toledo, OH | $75,472 | $52,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 31 | Laredo, TX | $81,245 | $53,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 32 | Washington, DC | $96,292 | $67,000 | 681,170 | 4 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $86,553 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 34 | Albuquerque, NM | $76,324 | $50,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 35 | Wichita, KS | $72,247 | $50,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 36 | Madison, WI | $64,057 | $44,000 | 252,551 | 3 |
| 37 | Anchorage, AK | $80,665 | $65,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $79,027 | $52,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 39 | Reno, NV | $72,290 | $46,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,824 | $48,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 41 | Baltimore, MD | $88,528 | $61,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,258 | $45,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 43 | Fort Wayne, IN | $67,279 | $46,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $70,458 | $48,000 | 472,522 | 6 |
| 45 | North Las Vegas, NV | $70,084 | $45,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,290 | $50,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 47 | Henderson, NV | $69,896 | $45,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 48 | Durham, NC | $63,304 | $44,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 49 | Milwaukee, WI | $64,216 | $44,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 50 | San Francisco, CA | $81,491 | $52,000 | 870,887 | - |
Highest paying cities for research chemists
| Rank | City | Avg. research chemist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLean, VA | $108,186 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $98,095 |
| 3 | Kingsport, TN | $93,807 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $86,453 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $82,015 |
| 6 | Richmond, CA | $81,369 |
| 7 | Ewing, NJ | $80,202 |
| 8 | Spartanburg, SC | $78,942 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $75,930 |
| 10 | Littleton, CO | $72,097 |
| 11 | Ann Arbor, MI | $72,058 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $70,458 |
| 13 | Levittown, PA | $69,584 |
| 14 | Lafayette, LA | $68,522 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,046 |
| 16 | Champaign, IL | $65,949 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $64,486 |
| 18 | Cary, NC | $63,260 |
| 19 | Logan, UT | $61,129 |
| 20 | Columbia, MO | $61,001 |
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Updated January 8, 2025