Best cities for a research internship
The best cities for research interns are Seattle, WA, Austin, TX, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research interns vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research interns in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research internship or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research interns to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research interns. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research internship. While the absolute best city for research interns is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research interns in 2024.
If you're looking for a research internship job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research interns in 2025
1. Seattle, WA
Research internship jobs in SeattleTotal research internship jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $56,366 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 2.36 2. Austin, TX
Research internship jobs in AustinTotal research internship jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $50,332 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 2.24 3. Boston, MA
Research internship jobs in BostonTotal research internship jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $50,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 2.30 4. San Francisco, CA
Research internship jobs in San FranciscoTotal research internship jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $57,016 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.55 5. New York, NY
Research internship jobs in New YorkTotal research internship jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $50,627 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 1.49 6. Sacramento, CA
Research internship jobs in SacramentoTotal research internship jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $55,566 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 1.43 7. Philadelphia, PA
Research internship jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal research internship jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $42,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location quotient: 1.13 8. Madison, WI
Research internship jobs in MadisonTotal research internship jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $40,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 7.69 9. Dallas, TX
Research internship jobs in DallasTotal research internship jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $47,965 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.33 10. Laredo, TX
Research internship jobs in LaredoTotal research internship jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,451 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research interns
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- New York, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Madison, WI
- Dallas, TX
- Laredo, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for a research internship
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $56,366 | $36,000 | 704,352 | 40 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $50,332 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 30 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $50,349 | $31,000 | 673,184 | 33 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $57,016 | $35,000 | 870,887 | 31 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $50,627 | $31,000 | 8,537,673 | 98 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $55,566 | $34,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $42,634 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $40,211 | $26,000 | 252,551 | 28 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $47,965 | $31,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 10 | Laredo, TX | $51,451 | $33,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $51,215 | $33,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $48,122 | $31,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $56,640 | $35,000 | 1,025,350 | 13 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $50,205 | $32,000 | 2,303,482 | 7 |
| 15 | Lubbock, TX | $48,700 | $31,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,064 | $33,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $50,673 | $32,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 18 | Arlington, TX | $48,110 | $31,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $45,990 | $29,000 | 2,704,958 | 25 |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,620 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 21 | Irving, TX | $47,919 | $31,000 | 238,289 | 1 |
| 22 | Newark, NJ | $58,588 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,698 | $33,000 | 3,976,322 | 19 |
| 24 | Garland, TX | $47,777 | $31,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,040 | $24,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 26 | Plano, TX | $47,674 | $31,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 27 | Saint Paul, MN | $40,292 | $26,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 28 | Scottsdale, AZ | $40,899 | $26,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 29 | Oakland, CA | $56,834 | $35,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 30 | Fremont, CA | $56,673 | $35,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $50,810 | $31,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $38,973 | $25,000 | 458,880 | 12 |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $50,793 | $31,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $48,082 | $32,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Stockton, CA | $55,930 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $50,715 | $31,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,001 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 13 |
| 38 | Hempstead, NY | $50,709 | $31,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | $36,317 | $23,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 40 | Irvine, CA | $51,944 | $32,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $39,008 | $25,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 42 | Fresno, CA | $54,990 | $34,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $54,256 | $34,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 44 | Milwaukee, WI | $40,897 | $26,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 45 | Long Beach, CA | $52,317 | $33,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 46 | Anaheim, CA | $52,172 | $33,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $52,066 | $33,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $51,048 | $32,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 49 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,056 | $23,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | $37,186 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for research interns
| Rank | City | Avg. research internship salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $58,588 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $57,016 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $56,366 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $50,627 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $50,349 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $50,332 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $48,826 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $48,707 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $45,990 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $45,632 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $43,237 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $42,634 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,001 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $40,300 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $40,292 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $40,211 |
| 17 | Durham, NC | $39,008 |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $36,734 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $36,317 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $35,418 |
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Updated January 8, 2025