Best cities for a research leader
The best cities for research leaders are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Philadelphia, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research leaders vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research leaders in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research leader or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research leaders to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research leaders. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research leader. While the absolute best city for research leaders is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research leaders in 2024.
If you're looking for a research leader job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research leaders in 2025
1. New York, NY
Total research leader jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $133,729 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location quotient: 3.74 2. San Francisco, CA
Total research leader jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $134,134 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location quotient: 4.57 3. Philadelphia, PA
Total research leader jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $109,045 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 3.73 4. Jersey City, NJ
Total research leader jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $141,357 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location quotient: 2.19 5. Fremont, CA
Total research leader jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $133,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location quotient: 2.99 6. Oakland, CA
Total research leader jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $133,832 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location quotient: 2.51 7. Indianapolis, IN
Total research leader jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $96,104 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 3.36 8. Seattle, WA
Total research leader jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $126,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location quotient: 1.85 9. Columbus, OH
Total research leader jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $93,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 2.43 10. Detroit, MI
Total research leader jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $95,332 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 2.28
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Best cities for research leaders
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Fremont, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Seattle, WA
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- (102 research leader jobs)
- (38 research leader jobs)
- (15 research leader jobs)
- (6 research leader jobs)
- (5 research leader jobs)
- (2 research leader jobs)
- (11 research leader jobs)
- (13 research leader jobs)
- (9 research leader jobs)
- (4 research leader jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research leader
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $133,729 | $81,000 | 8,537,673 | 102 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $134,134 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 38 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,045 | $66,000 | 1,567,872 | 15 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $141,357 | $85,000 | 264,152 | 6 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $133,452 | $76,000 | 233,136 | 5 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $133,832 | $76,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,104 | $58,000 | 855,164 | 11 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $126,705 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 13 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $93,640 | $57,000 | 860,090 | 9 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $95,332 | $57,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $101,459 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $100,906 | $57,000 | 632,912 | 3 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $141,228 | $85,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 14 | Islip, NY | $134,905 | $81,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 15 | Oyster Bay, NY | $134,588 | $81,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 16 | Brookhaven, NY | $135,498 | $82,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 17 | Hempstead, NY | $134,159 | $81,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $106,890 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 26 |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $133,250 | $75,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $130,590 | $79,000 | 681,170 | 9 |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $98,268 | $59,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $91,401 | $56,000 | 458,880 | 14 |
| 23 | Buffalo, NY | $127,941 | $77,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $96,573 | $57,000 | 2,303,482 | 18 |
| 25 | Stockton, CA | $132,459 | $75,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 26 | Toledo, OH | $95,396 | $57,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 27 | Sacramento, CA | $132,237 | $75,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $105,128 | $59,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $100,731 | $57,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Fort Wayne, IN | $101,560 | $61,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $91,546 | $57,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 32 | Henderson, NV | $100,323 | $57,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $120,936 | $69,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 34 | Fresno, CA | $130,074 | $74,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,368 | $57,000 | 413,651 | 13 |
| 36 | Austin, TX | $97,237 | $58,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 37 | Bakersfield, CA | $126,574 | $72,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 38 | Dallas, TX | $97,249 | $58,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $100,684 | $59,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $97,575 | $58,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $97,486 | $58,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | $93,383 | $56,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 43 | Durham, NC | $91,644 | $56,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 44 | Irving, TX | $97,249 | $58,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $99,900 | $60,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Garland, TX | $96,919 | $58,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $96,754 | $58,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $96,092 | $57,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $89,719 | $55,000 | 472,522 | 21 |
| 50 | Lincoln, NE | $75,485 | $48,000 | 280,364 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for research leaders
| Rank | City | Avg. research leader salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $141,357 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $134,134 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $133,729 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $130,590 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $129,335 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $126,705 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $118,158 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,045 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $108,142 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $106,890 |
| 11 | Mentor, OH | $99,101 |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $97,486 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,104 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $96,025 |
| 15 | Midland, MI | $95,059 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $91,401 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,368 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,589 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $89,719 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $85,147 |
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Updated January 8, 2025