Best cities for a senior research specialist
The best cities for senior research specialists are Saint Paul, MN, Oakland, CA, and Fort Worth, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior research specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior research specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior research specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior research specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior research specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior research specialist. While the absolute best city for senior 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 senior research specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior research specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior research specialists in 2025
1. Saint Paul, MN
Total senior research specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $90,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 9.62 2. Oakland, CA
Total senior research specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $108,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 3.51 3. Fort Worth, TX
Total senior research specialist jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $76,890 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 48.75 4. Columbus, OH
Total senior research specialist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $74,419 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 4.15 5. San Francisco, CA
Total senior research specialist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $108,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 0.50 6. Anchorage, AK
Total senior research specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $81,026 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 6.63 7. Minneapolis, MN
Total senior research specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $90,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Seattle, WA
Total senior research specialist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $118,869 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 0.20 9. Houston, TX
Total senior research specialist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $79,948 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 2.24 10. Charlotte, NC
Total senior research specialist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $77,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 1.70
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Best cities for senior research specialists
- Saint Paul, MN
- Oakland, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Columbus, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Minneapolis, MN
- Seattle, WA
- Houston, TX
- Charlotte, NC
- (11 senior research specialist jobs)
- (2 senior research specialist jobs)
- (48 senior research specialist jobs)
- (11 senior research specialist jobs)
- (3 senior research specialist jobs)
- (2 senior research specialist jobs)
- (0 senior research specialist jobs)
- (1 senior research specialist jobs)
- (15 senior research specialist jobs)
- (6 senior research specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a senior research specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,672 | $53,000 | 302,398 | 11 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $108,239 | $61,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,890 | $48,000 | 854,113 | 48 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $74,419 | $44,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $108,640 | $61,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $81,026 | $48,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $90,664 | $53,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $118,869 | $67,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $79,948 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 15 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $77,349 | $48,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $107,524 | $61,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $81,173 | $50,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 13 | San Jose, CA | $107,084 | $60,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $81,111 | $50,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $106,938 | $60,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 16 | Stockton, CA | $106,556 | $60,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $102,507 | $58,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $76,956 | $45,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $79,403 | $48,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $75,706 | $44,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $81,059 | $51,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 22 | Greensboro, NC | $80,386 | $49,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 23 | Laredo, TX | $80,851 | $51,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $80,457 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $80,746 | $51,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $79,956 | $50,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $79,891 | $49,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $76,757 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | $94,614 | $58,000 | 681,170 | 14 |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $77,167 | $45,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $76,889 | $48,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | Irving, TX | $76,698 | $48,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 33 | Garland, TX | $76,554 | $48,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 34 | Plano, TX | $76,429 | $48,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | $97,678 | $57,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 36 | Lubbock, TX | $77,740 | $49,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $65,330 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | 130 |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $90,906 | $54,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 39 | Irvine, CA | $87,572 | $53,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,959 | $43,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 41 | New York, NY | $82,662 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,076 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 32 |
| 43 | Norfolk, VA | $71,601 | $44,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 44 | Long Beach, CA | $89,092 | $53,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $88,726 | $53,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $52,233 | $33,000 | 652,717 | 21 |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $88,148 | $53,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $81,669 | $46,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 49 | Islip, NY | $82,901 | $50,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 50 | Reno, NV | $73,319 | $41,000 | 245,255 | - |
Highest paying cities for senior research specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. senior research specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $118,869 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $108,640 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $94,614 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,672 |
| 5 | Troy, NY | $82,997 |
| 6 | Cary, NC | $80,995 |
| 7 | Lake Jackson, TX | $80,334 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $79,403 |
| 9 | Midland, MI | $77,454 |
| 10 | Athens, OH | $74,477 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $71,577 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $65,330 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $63,079 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,870 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,644 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $58,826 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $57,808 |
| 18 | Las Cruces, NM | $57,559 |
| 19 | Morgantown, WV | $56,948 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $55,650 |
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Updated January 8, 2025