Best cities for a research computing specialist
The best cities for research computing specialists are Memphis, TN, Plano, TX, and Buffalo, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research computing specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research computing specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research computing specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research computing specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research computing specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research computing specialist. While the absolute best city for research computing specialists is Memphis, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research computing specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a research computing specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research computing specialists in 2025
1. Memphis, TN
Total research computing specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $75,208 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 2.10 2. Plano, TX
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,188 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Buffalo, NY
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $101,221 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Garland, TX
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $83,985 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Austin, TX
Total research computing specialist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $79,595 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 1.24 6. Newark, NJ
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $110,189 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Brookhaven, NY
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,769 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Chicago, IL
Total research computing specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $85,995 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 1.47 9. Irving, TX
Total research computing specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $83,888 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Minneapolis, MN
Total research computing specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $79,860 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location quotient: 1.65
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Best cities for research computing specialists
- Memphis, TN
- Plano, TX
- Buffalo, NY
- Garland, TX
- Austin, TX
- Newark, NJ
- Brookhaven, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Irving, TX
- Minneapolis, MN
- (2 research computing specialist jobs)
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- (4 research computing specialist jobs)
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- (7 research computing specialist jobs)
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- (3 research computing specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research computing specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $75,208 | $46,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 2 | Plano, TX | $84,188 | $52,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $101,221 | $63,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 4 | Garland, TX | $83,985 | $52,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $79,595 | $50,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $110,189 | $69,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 7 | Brookhaven, NY | $100,769 | $63,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $85,995 | $54,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $83,888 | $52,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,860 | $50,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | $110,170 | $69,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 12 | Oyster Bay, NY | $100,512 | $63,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 13 | New York, NY | $100,109 | $63,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $83,745 | $52,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 15 | Islip, NY | $100,442 | $63,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 16 | Fort Worth, TX | $83,742 | $52,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 17 | Hempstead, NY | $100,147 | $63,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $99,938 | $68,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $83,653 | $52,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $79,884 | $50,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $82,004 | $52,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $77,087 | $47,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 23 | Lubbock, TX | $85,240 | $53,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $78,732 | $49,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 25 | San Francisco, CA | $86,616 | $57,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,053 | $46,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $67,649 | $42,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $78,426 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 29 | Washington, DC | $98,496 | $62,000 | 681,170 | 1 |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $88,175 | $58,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $83,880 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 32 | Corpus Christi, TX | $75,526 | $48,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 33 | Cleveland, OH | $67,671 | $42,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 34 | Baltimore, MD | $83,924 | $52,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $74,811 | $48,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,895 | $45,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | $66,826 | $41,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 38 | Norfolk, VA | $79,355 | $49,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $70,733 | $44,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 40 | Virginia Beach, VA | $79,295 | $49,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | $79,019 | $49,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $86,898 | $57,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | Raleigh, NC | $68,427 | $42,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $64,998 | $40,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $74,231 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 46 | Atlanta, GA | $71,704 | $44,000 | 472,522 | 1 |
| 47 | Milwaukee, WI | $67,959 | $42,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 48 | Oakland, CA | $86,565 | $57,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 49 | Durham, NC | $68,712 | $42,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 50 | Denver, CO | $77,301 | $49,000 | 693,060 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for research computing specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. research computing specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clifton Park, NY | $101,487 |
| 2 | Redmond, WA | $99,896 |
| 3 | Berkeley, CA | $86,811 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $85,995 |
| 5 | Waltham, MA | $83,910 |
| 6 | Columbia, MD | $83,631 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $83,174 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,860 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $79,595 |
| 10 | Oak Ridge, TN | $77,231 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $74,231 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,053 |
| 13 | Idaho Falls, ID | $72,134 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $70,240 |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $67,649 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $58,964 |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $55,937 |
| 18 | Tallahassee, FL | $50,474 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,942 |











