Best cities for a research scholar
The best cities for research scholars are Lexington, KY, San Francisco, CA, and Jersey City, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research scholars vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research scholars in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research scholar or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research scholars to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research scholars. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research scholar. While the absolute best city for research scholars is Lexington, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research scholars in 2024.
If you're looking for a research scholar job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research scholars in 2026
1. Lexington, KY
Total research scholar jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 7.06 2. San Francisco, CA
Total research scholar jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $78,098 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 4.39 3. Jersey City, NJ
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,417 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Newark, NJ
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,369 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Boston, MA
Total research scholar jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $68,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 9.21 6. New Orleans, LA
Total research scholar jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $60,667 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 9.59 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Reno, NV
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $68,387 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oakland, CA
Total research scholar jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research scholars
- Lexington, KY
- San Francisco, CA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Boston, MA
- New Orleans, LA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Oakland, CA
- (1 research scholar jobs)
- (10 research scholar jobs)
- (0 research scholar jobs)
- (0 research scholar jobs)
- (15 research scholar jobs)
- (2 research scholar jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a research scholar
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY | $59,869 | $36,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $78,098 | $48,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $79,417 | $46,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $79,369 | $46,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $68,274 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $60,667 | $37,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $63,103 | $38,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $68,387 | $41,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $62,881 | $38,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $77,899 | $47,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $62,837 | $38,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $77,595 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $77,865 | $46,000 | 681,170 | 9 |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $77,440 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $56,246 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 68 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $56,222 | $34,000 | 263,016 | 66 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,586 | $39,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 18 | Louisville, KY | $59,370 | $36,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $77,163 | $47,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 20 | Stockton, CA | $77,021 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,146 | $45,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 22 | Chandler, AZ | $63,441 | $39,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $63,664 | $40,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Scottsdale, AZ | $63,400 | $39,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $55,524 | $33,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 26 | Gilbert, AZ | $63,372 | $39,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 27 | Mesa, AZ | $63,337 | $39,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 28 | Tucson, AZ | $62,989 | $39,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 29 | Atlanta, GA | $60,339 | $37,000 | 472,522 | 8 |
| 30 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,903 | $33,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $70,078 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $75,143 | $46,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $65,166 | $40,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 34 | Wichita, KS | $57,352 | $35,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $55,234 | $33,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $73,680 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 37 | Long Beach, CA | $71,703 | $45,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $71,442 | $45,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $61,327 | $37,000 | 2,704,958 | 6 |
| 40 | Santa Ana, CA | $71,326 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $49,672 | $29,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 42 | New York, NY | $61,228 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 151 |
| 43 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,670 | $33,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 44 | Irvine, CA | $71,165 | $45,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | $70,882 | $45,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 46 | Saint Louis, MO | $58,531 | $36,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 47 | Greensboro, NC | $55,768 | $33,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 48 | Chula Vista, CA | $69,960 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $54,747 | $33,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,358 | $33,000 | 325,733 | - |
Highest paying cities for research scholars
| Rank | City | Avg. research scholar salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $78,098 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $77,865 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $68,274 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $65,166 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,586 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $61,327 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $61,228 |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | $60,667 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $60,339 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $56,246 |
| 11 | Bethesda, MD | $55,504 |
| 12 | Moscow, ID | $55,197 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,035 |
| 14 | Fort Collins, CO | $53,171 |
| 15 | Hampton, VA | $53,086 |
| 16 | Akron, OH | $49,779 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,444 |
| 18 | Oak Ridge, TN | $48,094 |
| 19 | Jupiter, FL | $47,055 |
| 20 | Iowa City, IA | $42,876 |
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Updated January 8, 2025