Best cities for a senior research associate
The best cities for senior research associates are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior research associates vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior research associates in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior research associate or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior research associates to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior research associates. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior research associate. While the absolute best city for senior research associates is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior research associates in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior research associate job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior research associates in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total senior research associate jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $99,279 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 4.27 2. Seattle, WA
Total senior research associate jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $92,835 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 3.63 3. New York, NY
Total senior research associate jobs: 125 Average annual salary: $85,870 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 5.17 4. Cleveland, OH
Total senior research associate jobs: 197 Average annual salary: $67,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 55.11 5. Fremont, CA
Total senior research associate jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $98,623 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 2.21 6. Boston, MA
Total senior research associate jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $80,541 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 9.50 7. Newark, NJ
Total senior research associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $85,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.91 8. Columbus, OH
Total senior research associate jobs: 123 Average annual salary: $66,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 12.27 9. Toledo, OH
Total senior research associate jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $66,490 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 4.99 10. Oakland, CA
Total senior research associate jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $98,976 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.93
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Best cities for senior research associates
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- New York, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Fremont, CA
- Boston, MA
- Newark, NJ
- Columbus, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Oakland, CA
- (96 senior research associate jobs)
- (69 senior research associate jobs)
- (125 senior research associate jobs)
- (197 senior research associate jobs)
- (10 senior research associate jobs)
- (153 senior research associate jobs)
- (5 senior research associate jobs)
- (123 senior research associate jobs)
- (5 senior research associate jobs)
- (2 senior research associate jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior research associate
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,279 | $60,000 | 870,887 | 96 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $92,835 | $56,000 | 704,352 | 69 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $85,870 | $59,000 | 8,537,673 | 125 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $67,065 | $45,000 | 385,809 | 197 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $98,623 | $60,000 | 233,136 | 10 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $80,541 | $56,000 | 673,184 | 153 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $85,800 | $59,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $66,075 | $44,000 | 860,090 | 123 |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $66,490 | $44,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $98,976 | $60,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $74,327 | $45,000 | 639,863 | 171 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $77,468 | $50,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 13 | Lexington, KY | $62,680 | $41,000 | 318,449 | 32 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $63,830 | $43,000 | 263,016 | 177 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,802 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,514 | $43,000 | 298,800 | 22 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $84,265 | $57,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 18 | San Diego, CA | $81,313 | $51,000 | 1,406,630 | 53 |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $98,454 | $60,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $95,327 | $58,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $71,637 | $46,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 22 | North Las Vegas, NV | $88,464 | $55,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 23 | Stockton, CA | $97,613 | $59,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 24 | Henderson, NV | $88,155 | $55,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $85,954 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 69 |
| 26 | Sacramento, CA | $97,524 | $59,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 27 | Chicago, IL | $71,594 | $47,000 | 2,704,958 | 108 |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $59,844 | $38,000 | 252,506 | 42 |
| 29 | Riverside, CA | $84,346 | $53,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $62,039 | $41,000 | 597,337 | 18 |
| 31 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,835 | $59,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $74,834 | $48,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 33 | Milwaukee, WI | $73,875 | $48,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 34 | Brookhaven, NY | $86,283 | $59,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $95,031 | $58,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $86,164 | $59,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Oyster Bay, NY | $86,072 | $59,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,665 | $45,000 | 1,567,872 | 16 |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $65,640 | $43,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $73,300 | $47,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 41 | Hempstead, NY | $85,987 | $59,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 42 | Fort Wayne, IN | $69,477 | $46,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 43 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,794 | $48,000 | 413,651 | 6 |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $79,789 | $52,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 45 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,443 | $44,000 | 303,625 | 14 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $61,839 | $40,000 | 683,080 | 6 |
| 47 | Winston-Salem, NC | $63,183 | $42,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $91,235 | $56,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $58,424 | $38,000 | 1,317,929 | 192 |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $84,034 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 7 |
Highest paying cities for senior research associates
| Rank | City | Avg. senior research associate salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,279 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $92,835 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $85,870 |
| 4 | Framingham, MA | $80,575 |
| 5 | Bethesda, MD | $76,504 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $74,327 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $72,738 |
| 8 | North Chicago, IL | $71,825 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $69,001 |
| 10 | Providence, RI | $68,951 |
| 11 | West Lafayette, IN | $68,011 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $67,065 |
| 13 | Boulder, CO | $65,504 |
| 14 | East Lansing, MI | $65,258 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $63,830 |
| 16 | Columbus, MS | $62,941 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $62,727 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $60,000 |
| 19 | Lubbock, TX | $59,844 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $56,876 |
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Updated January 8, 2025