Best cities for a research nurse
The best cities for research nurses are Omaha, NE, Cleveland, OH, and Philadelphia, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research nurse. While the absolute best city for research nurses is Omaha, NE, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a research nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research nurses in 2025
1. Omaha, NE
Total research nurse jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $52,248 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 20.70 2. Cleveland, OH
Total research nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $52,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 2.26 3. Philadelphia, PA
Total research nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $58,809 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 1.30 4. Houston, TX
Total research nurse jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $54,941 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 3.60 5. Seattle, WA
Total research nurse jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $61,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.96 6. Buffalo, NY
Total research nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $62,753 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 2.64 7. Columbus, OH
Total research nurse jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $50,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 2.42 8. Detroit, MI
Total research nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $54,981 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 0.43 9. Fort Wayne, IN
Total research nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $52,740 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Pittsburgh, PA
Total research nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,532 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research nurses
- Omaha, NE
- Cleveland, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Houston, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Buffalo, NY
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- (49 research nurse jobs)
- (4 research nurse jobs)
- (7 research nurse jobs)
- (45 research nurse jobs)
- (9 research nurse jobs)
- (3 research nurse jobs)
- (12 research nurse jobs)
- (1 research nurse jobs)
- (0 research nurse jobs)
- (0 research nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $52,248 | $37,000 | 446,970 | 49 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $52,133 | $36,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,809 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $54,941 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | 45 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $61,983 | $43,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $62,753 | $43,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $50,420 | $35,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $54,981 | $38,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 9 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,740 | $37,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,532 | $38,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 11 | Fort Worth, TX | $53,445 | $37,000 | 854,113 | 1 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $64,501 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 30 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $60,695 | $42,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,699 | $37,000 | 1,615,017 | 11 |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $55,921 | $39,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 16 | Brookhaven, NY | $64,764 | $45,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $55,307 | $38,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $51,293 | $36,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 19 | Islip, NY | $64,710 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 20 | Corpus Christi, TX | $55,879 | $39,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 21 | Oyster Bay, NY | $64,639 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $59,781 | $41,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $55,020 | $38,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | Arlington, TX | $53,432 | $37,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 25 | Hempstead, NY | $64,591 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $54,880 | $38,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $54,538 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 28 | Scottsdale, AZ | $53,702 | $37,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 29 | Dallas, TX | $53,367 | $37,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 30 | Tucson, AZ | $53,158 | $37,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 31 | Greensboro, NC | $51,840 | $36,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 32 | Irving, TX | $53,356 | $37,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 33 | Indianapolis, IN | $51,890 | $36,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 34 | Lincoln, NE | $52,187 | $37,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 35 | Garland, TX | $53,284 | $37,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 36 | Lubbock, TX | $53,914 | $38,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 37 | Plano, TX | $53,245 | $37,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $52,132 | $36,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 39 | Glendale, AZ | $53,704 | $37,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $49,613 | $35,000 | 252,551 | 15 |
| 41 | Durham, NC | $52,145 | $36,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 42 | Mesa, AZ | $53,528 | $37,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 43 | Chandler, AZ | $53,514 | $37,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 44 | Gilbert, AZ | $53,495 | $37,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 45 | Portland, OR | $54,843 | $38,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 46 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,367 | $35,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,479 | $34,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 48 | North Las Vegas, NV | $52,302 | $35,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 49 | Winston-Salem, NC | $51,690 | $36,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 50 | San Francisco, CA | $64,748 | $43,000 | 870,887 | - |
Highest paying cities for research nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. research nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $64,501 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $61,983 |
| 3 | San Fernando, CA | $60,005 |
| 4 | Springfield, MA | $59,878 |
| 5 | Hackensack, NJ | $59,484 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,809 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $58,400 |
| 8 | Galveston, TX | $55,188 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $54,843 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $53,780 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $53,702 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $52,248 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $52,133 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $51,745 |
| 15 | Springfield, IL | $51,739 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $50,605 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,028 |
| 18 | Charlottesville, VA | $49,142 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,877 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $47,516 |
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Updated January 8, 2025