Best cities for a visiting researcher
The best cities for visiting researchers are Memphis, TN, Sacramento, CA, and Nashville, TN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for visiting researchers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for visiting researchers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a visiting researcher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for visiting researchers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for visiting researchers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a visiting researcher. While the absolute best city for visiting researchers is Memphis, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for visiting researchers in 2024.
If you're looking for a visiting researcher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for visiting researchers in 2026
1. Memphis, TN
Total visiting researcher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $81,757 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 5.66 2. Sacramento, CA
Total visiting researcher jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $101,204 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 4.29 3. Nashville, TN
Total visiting researcher jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $79,246 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.85 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total visiting researcher jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $93,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 4.70 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total visiting researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,272 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Reno, NV
Total visiting researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $89,491 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. North Las Vegas, NV
Total visiting researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $82,079 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Francisco, CA
Total visiting researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $102,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Riverside, CA
Total visiting researcher jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $91,677 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 67.39 10. Oakland, CA
Total visiting researcher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $102,177 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for visiting researchers
- Memphis, TN
- Sacramento, CA
- Nashville, TN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Oakland, CA
- (5 visiting researcher jobs)
- (4 visiting researcher jobs)
- (1 visiting researcher jobs)
- (18 visiting researcher jobs)
- (0 visiting researcher jobs)
- (0 visiting researcher jobs)
- (0 visiting researcher jobs)
- (0 visiting researcher jobs)
- (18 visiting researcher jobs)
- (0 visiting researcher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a visiting researcher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $81,757 | $50,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $101,204 | $61,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $79,246 | $48,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $93,094 | $56,000 | 3,976,322 | 18 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $82,272 | $50,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $89,491 | $53,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 7 | North Las Vegas, NV | $82,079 | $50,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $102,503 | $62,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $91,677 | $55,000 | 324,722 | 18 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $102,177 | $62,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | Fremont, CA | $101,652 | $61,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $101,364 | $61,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $83,666 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $81,935 | $49,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 15 | Scottsdale, AZ | $83,426 | $50,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $83,313 | $50,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $100,821 | $61,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $83,767 | $51,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 19 | Gilbert, AZ | $83,203 | $50,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 20 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,682 | $65,000 | 351,792 | 10 |
| 21 | Mesa, AZ | $83,195 | $50,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,527 | $45,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $80,152 | $48,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $81,721 | $49,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $97,802 | $59,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,837 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 27 | Bakersfield, CA | $95,007 | $57,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $92,599 | $56,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,564 | $35,000 | 638,367 | 1 |
| 30 | Fort Wayne, IN | $71,809 | $45,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $92,294 | $56,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $80,745 | $55,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $92,168 | $56,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $91,992 | $56,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $90,685 | $55,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 36 | Lincoln, NE | $54,412 | $35,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 37 | Chula Vista, CA | $90,489 | $55,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 38 | Portland, OR | $78,250 | $47,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $61,049 | $36,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,086 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $56,457 | $35,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 42 | Laredo, TX | $55,470 | $32,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 43 | San Antonio, TX | $55,252 | $32,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 44 | Tulsa, OK | $56,654 | $35,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 45 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,983 | $37,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 46 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,459 | $36,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 47 | Newark, NJ | $66,866 | $37,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 48 | Austin, TX | $54,901 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 49 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,268 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $56,329 | $37,000 | 252,551 | - |
Highest paying cities for visiting researchers
| Rank | City | Avg. visiting researcher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $102,284 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,682 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $81,757 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $80,152 |
| 5 | Bloomington, IN | $72,778 |
| 6 | New Brunswick, NJ | $66,144 |
| 7 | Bozeman, MT | $65,480 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $61,813 |
| 9 | Troy, NY | $59,309 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $58,517 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,837 |
| 12 | East Lansing, MI | $56,345 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $55,973 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $53,360 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $49,617 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $45,656 |
| 17 | Baton Rouge, LA | $41,580 |











