Best states for an application scientist

Q: What is the best state for application scientists?

The best state to be an application scientist is California based on application scientist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for application scientists?

The highest paying state for application scientists is Iowa based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for application scientists?

The worst state for application scientists is Iowa, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Sami Mejri Ph.D.

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Application scientist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for application scientists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for application scientists.As application scientists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for application scientists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an application scientist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

The median salary for application scientists in California is $100,887. Compare that to the median salary in Iowa of $45,300, which ranked worst for application scientists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as an application scientist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for application scientists in 2026

1. California
Total application scientist jobs: 4,435
Average annual salary: $100,887
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
Application scientist jobs in California
2. New Jersey
Total application scientist jobs: 1,240
Average annual salary: $90,703
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000
Location Quotient:
1.58
Application scientist jobs in New Jersey
3. Connecticut
Total application scientist jobs: 378
Average annual salary: $93,262
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Application scientist jobs in Connecticut
4. Delaware
Total application scientist jobs: 183
Average annual salary: $83,275
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Application scientist jobs in Delaware
5. Massachusetts
Total application scientist jobs: 1,965
Average annual salary: $82,252
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
2.16
Application scientist jobs in Massachusetts
6. Tennessee
Total application scientist jobs: 421
Average annual salary: $96,880
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Application scientist jobs in Tennessee
7. Oregon
Total application scientist jobs: 461
Average annual salary: $83,970
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Application scientist jobs in Oregon
8. Maine
Total application scientist jobs: 103
Average annual salary: $90,683
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Application scientist jobs in Maine
9. Arizona
Total application scientist jobs: 434
Average annual salary: $85,301
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Application scientist jobs in Arizona
10. Nevada
Total application scientist jobs: 120
Average annual salary: $91,397
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
0.58
Application scientist jobs in Nevada

Application scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an application scientist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an application scientist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$100,887	$62,000	39,536,653	4,435
2	New Jersey	$90,703	$58,000	9,005,644	1,240
3	Connecticut	$93,262	$60,000	3,588,184	378
4	Delaware	$83,275	$53,000	961,939	183
5	Massachusetts	$82,252	$53,000	6,859,819	1,965
6	Tennessee	$96,880	$62,000	6,715,984	421
7	Oregon	$83,970	$50,000	4,142,776	461
8	Maine	$90,683	$59,000	1,335,907	103
9	Arizona	$85,301	$53,000	7,016,270	434
10	Nevada	$91,397	$55,000	2,998,039	120
11	Pennsylvania	$78,529	$50,000	12,805,537	1,112
12	New York	$76,784	$49,000	19,849,399	1,736
13	Washington	$75,787	$45,000	7,405,743	926
14	Virginia	$75,253	$48,000	8,470,020	1,288
15	Montana	$75,718	$48,000	1,050,493	114
16	Indiana	$85,553	$56,000	6,666,818	364
17	Vermont	$75,282	$49,000	623,657	89
18	Rhode Island	$76,731	$50,000	1,059,639	116
19	Maryland	$76,228	$49,000	6,052,177	959
20	District of Columbia	$80,149	$51,000	693,972	224
21	New Hampshire	$71,310	$46,000	1,342,795	162
22	Hawaii	$82,378	$58,000	1,427,538	68
23	West Virginia	$69,347	$45,000	1,815,857	100
24	Alaska	$68,425	$40,000	739,795	80
25	Ohio	$67,865	$44,000	11,658,609	670
26	North Carolina	$62,627	$40,000	10,273,419	1,100
27	Utah	$65,478	$39,000	3,101,833	290
28	Wyoming	$62,160	$39,000	579,315	59
29	Florida	$67,568	$41,000	20,984,400	1,064
30	New Mexico	$63,132	$39,000	2,088,070	191
31	Illinois	$65,136	$42,000	12,802,023	1,100
32	Texas	$62,867	$39,000	28,304,596	1,607
33	Arkansas	$62,193	$39,000	3,004,279	132
34	Oklahoma	$63,216	$40,000	3,930,864	84
35	Michigan	$61,540	$40,000	9,962,311	452
36	Minnesota	$62,510	$41,000	5,576,606	492
37	South Dakota	$57,274	$37,000	869,666	124
38	Louisiana	$63,626	$39,000	4,684,333	138
39	Colorado	$59,559	$38,000	5,607,154	582
40	Missouri	$59,234	$38,000	6,113,532	515
41	Alabama	$60,203	$38,000	4,874,747	201
42	Wisconsin	$57,085	$37,000	5,795,483	492
43	Idaho	$58,696	$35,000	1,716,943	127
44	Kentucky	$58,668	$38,000	4,454,189	189
45	North Dakota	$50,906	$34,000	755,393	90
46	Nebraska	$57,845	$37,000	1,920,076	133
47	Kansas	$56,058	$36,000	2,913,123	181
48	Georgia	$54,008	$34,000	10,429,379	618
49	Mississippi	$55,592	$34,000	2,984,100	66
50	South Carolina	$52,247	$33,000	5,024,369	288
51	Iowa	$45,300	$29,000	3,145,711	205

Highest paying states for application scientists

Rank	State	Avg. Application Scientist Salary
1	California	$100,887
2	New Jersey	$90,703
3	Connecticut	$93,262
4	Delaware	$83,275
5	Massachusetts	$82,252
6	Tennessee	$96,880
7	Oregon	$83,970
8	Maine	$90,683
9	Arizona	$85,301
10	Nevada	$91,397
11	Pennsylvania	$78,529
12	New York	$76,784
13	Washington	$75,787
14	Virginia	$75,253
15	Montana	$75,718
16	Indiana	$85,553
17	Vermont	$75,282
18	Rhode Island	$76,731
19	Maryland	$76,228
20	District of Columbia	$80,149
21	New Hampshire	$71,310
22	Hawaii	$82,378
23	West Virginia	$69,347
24	Alaska	$68,425
25	Ohio	$67,865
26	North Carolina	$62,627
27	Utah	$65,478
28	Wyoming	$62,160
29	Florida	$67,568
30	New Mexico	$63,132
31	Illinois	$65,136
32	Texas	$62,867
33	Arkansas	$62,193
34	Oklahoma	$63,216
35	Michigan	$61,540
36	Minnesota	$62,510
37	South Dakota	$57,274
38	Louisiana	$63,626
39	Colorado	$59,559
40	Missouri	$59,234
41	Alabama	$60,203
42	Wisconsin	$57,085
43	Idaho	$58,696
44	Kentucky	$58,668
45	North Dakota	$50,906
46	Nebraska	$57,845
47	Kansas	$56,058
48	Georgia	$54,008
49	Mississippi	$55,592
50	South Carolina	$52,247
51	Iowa	$45,300

Expert opinions on the best states for application scientists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for application scientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, Tiffin University
With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.

Application scientist best states FAQs

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Best states for Application Scientists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total application scientist jobs:	4,435
Average annual salary:	$100,887
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$62,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$163,000
Location Quotient:	1.53

Best states for an application scientist

10 best states for application scientists in 2026

1. California

2. New Jersey

3. Connecticut

4. Delaware

5. Massachusetts

6. Tennessee

7. Oregon

8. Maine

9. Arizona

10. Nevada