Best cities for a research specialist
The best cities for research specialists are Saint Paul, MN, Newark, NJ, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research specialist. While the absolute best city for research specialists is Saint Paul, MN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a research specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research specialists in 2026
1. Saint Paul, MN
Total research specialist jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $61,409 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 5.66 2. Newark, NJ
Total research specialist jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $65,360 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 41.84 3. Columbus, OH
Total research specialist jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $55,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.88 4. Minneapolis, MN
Total research specialist jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $61,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 2.71 5. El Paso, TX
Total research specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $55,854 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 6.35 6. Fort Wayne, IN
Total research specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $54,376 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 2.83 7. Toledo, OH
Total research specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $58,174 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 2.22 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total research specialist jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $50,758 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 45.25 9. Corpus Christi, TX
Total research specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $53,924 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 10.09 10. Aurora, CO
Total research specialist jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $61,558 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 3.77
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Best cities for research specialists
- Saint Paul, MN
- Newark, NJ
- Columbus, OH
- Minneapolis, MN
- El Paso, TX
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Toledo, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Aurora, CO
- (33 research specialist jobs)
- (148 research specialist jobs)
- (39 research specialist jobs)
- (31 research specialist jobs)
- (11 research specialist jobs)
- (5 research specialist jobs)
- (3 research specialist jobs)
- (153 research specialist jobs)
- (7 research specialist jobs)
- (16 research specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a research specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul, MN | $61,409 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 33 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $65,360 | $42,000 | 281,764 | 148 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $55,878 | $35,000 | 860,090 | 39 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,440 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 31 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $55,854 | $37,000 | 683,080 | 11 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,376 | $34,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $58,174 | $37,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,758 | $32,000 | 1,567,872 | 153 |
| 9 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,924 | $36,000 | 325,733 | 7 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $61,558 | $39,000 | 361,710 | 16 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $68,352 | $44,000 | 8,537,673 | 241 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $58,783 | $37,000 | 672,795 | 9 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,222 | $34,000 | 298,800 | 10 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $48,242 | $31,000 | 652,717 | 42 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $83,399 | $51,000 | 704,352 | 30 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $59,904 | $39,000 | 673,184 | 112 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $54,676 | $35,000 | 854,113 | 12 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $52,790 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 28 |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,495 | $31,000 | 303,625 | 118 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $50,466 | $32,000 | 280,364 | 21 |
| 21 | Portland, OR | $68,752 | $43,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $52,559 | $33,000 | 2,704,958 | 32 |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $52,865 | $34,000 | 263,016 | 12 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $58,802 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $54,561 | $35,000 | 1,317,929 | 34 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $53,975 | $35,000 | 2,303,482 | 76 |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $47,051 | $29,000 | 252,551 | 139 |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $54,360 | $36,000 | 947,890 | 45 |
| 29 | Riverside, CA | $57,439 | $38,000 | 324,722 | 14 |
| 30 | Anchorage, AK | $68,837 | $53,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 31 | Buffalo, NY | $68,967 | $44,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 32 | Indianapolis, IN | $52,264 | $33,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $68,703 | $44,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Islip, NY | $68,562 | $44,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 35 | Denver, CO | $61,665 | $39,000 | 693,060 | 14 |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $68,547 | $44,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $68,408 | $44,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $54,335 | $36,000 | 1,492,510 | 11 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $52,647 | $34,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,681 | $38,000 | 3,976,322 | 106 |
| 41 | Jersey City, NJ | $65,366 | $42,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $60,673 | $38,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 43 | Baltimore, MD | $53,080 | $34,000 | 614,664 | 225 |
| 44 | San Francisco, CA | $63,304 | $40,000 | 870,887 | 58 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $62,597 | $40,000 | 681,170 | 55 |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $55,721 | $36,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $54,564 | $35,000 | 286,057 | 2 |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $56,586 | $38,000 | 1,406,630 | 68 |
| 49 | Arlington, TX | $54,620 | $35,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 50 | Irving, TX | $54,605 | $35,000 | 238,289 | 1 |
Highest paying cities for research specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. research specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $83,399 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $68,352 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $65,360 |
| 4 | Berkeley, CA | $63,449 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $62,597 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,440 |
| 7 | New Haven, CT | $59,918 |
| 8 | Waltham, MA | $59,915 |
| 9 | East Lansing, MI | $58,762 |
| 10 | Ashburn, VA | $55,937 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $55,878 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $54,561 |
| 13 | Iowa City, IA | $53,328 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $53,080 |
| 15 | Chapel Hill, NC | $52,766 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $52,559 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,758 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $48,242 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $47,051 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $46,776 |
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Updated January 8, 2025