Best cities for a research investigator
The best cities for research investigators are Oakland, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Nashville, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research investigators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research investigators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research investigator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research investigators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research investigators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research investigator. While the absolute best city for research investigators is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research investigators in 2024.
If you're looking for a research investigator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research investigators in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $152,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location quotient: 3.73 2. San Francisco, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $153,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 1.43 3. Nashville, TN
Total research investigator jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $111,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 1.36 4. Fremont, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $152,147 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Anchorage, AK
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Jose, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $152,087 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Indianapolis, IN
Total research investigator jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $100,136 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 4.53 8. Urban Honolulu, HI
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $158,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Stockton, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $148,742 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Sacramento, CA
Total research investigator jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $147,190 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research investigators
- Oakland, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Nashville, TN
- Fremont, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- San Jose, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a research investigator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $152,733 | $92,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $153,493 | $92,000 | 870,887 | 4 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $111,854 | $76,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $152,147 | $92,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $142,901 | $84,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $152,087 | $92,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $100,136 | $68,000 | 855,164 | 5 |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $158,983 | $104,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $148,742 | $89,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $147,190 | $88,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $123,244 | $77,000 | 1,406,630 | 19 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $144,999 | $88,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 13 | Jersey City, NJ | $134,078 | $89,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $109,066 | $75,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $134,335 | $83,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 16 | Newark, NJ | $134,042 | $89,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 17 | Bakersfield, CA | $142,034 | $87,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 18 | Tucson, AZ | $90,994 | $59,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 19 | Long Beach, CA | $132,120 | $81,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 20 | Fort Wayne, IN | $104,702 | $70,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $131,111 | $81,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 22 | Santa Ana, CA | $130,473 | $81,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $105,760 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,949 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,496 | $62,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 26 | Chandler, AZ | $92,604 | $60,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $129,675 | $80,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $128,944 | $80,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $100,282 | $67,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | $96,807 | $65,000 | 842,051 | 1 |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $100,120 | $67,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 32 | Greensboro, NC | $99,517 | $67,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 33 | Portland, OR | $96,780 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $97,563 | $59,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 35 | Winston-Salem, NC | $99,090 | $66,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $122,410 | $76,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $93,268 | $60,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,122 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $96,238 | $65,000 | 2,704,958 | 1 |
| 40 | Scottsdale, AZ | $92,788 | $60,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $92,458 | $60,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $92,448 | $60,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,205 | $55,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 44 | Virginia Beach, VA | $97,069 | $65,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 45 | Henderson, NV | $87,636 | $55,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 46 | Norfolk, VA | $96,930 | $65,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | $87,388 | $55,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $84,385 | $57,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $96,496 | $65,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $80,293 | $53,000 | 385,809 | - |
Highest paying cities for research investigators
| Rank | City | Avg. research investigator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $153,493 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $134,042 |
| 3 | Wallingford, CT | $134,025 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $114,825 |
| 5 | Marlborough, MA | $106,143 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $100,136 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,949 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $96,780 |
| 9 | Bethesda, MD | $96,772 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $92,472 |
| 11 | Tucson, AZ | $90,994 |
| 12 | Olympia, WA | $89,253 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $88,967 |
| 14 | Bloomington, MN | $81,790 |
| 15 | Ann Arbor, MI | $77,662 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $67,329 |
| 17 | Gainesville, FL | $62,792 |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $58,962 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $56,753 |
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Updated January 8, 2025