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Best states for an assistant scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become an assistant scientist at University of Wisconsin System, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for assistant scientists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Although there are abundant assistant scientist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. California is the best state in the country for assistant scientist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for assistant scientists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.California is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for assistant scientists.
10 best states for assistant scientists in 2025
1. California
Total assistant scientist jobs: 4,060 Average annual salary: $102,960 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
2. Maryland
Total assistant scientist jobs: 1,053 Average annual salary: $90,666 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
3. Massachusetts
Total assistant scientist jobs: 2,284 Average annual salary: $84,710 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 2.77
4. Delaware
Total assistant scientist jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $82,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
5. Maine
Total assistant scientist jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $94,580 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
6. New Jersey
Total assistant scientist jobs: 1,030 Average annual salary: $83,287 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
7. Hawaii
Total assistant scientist jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $96,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. Montana
Total assistant scientist jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $80,334 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Rhode Island
Total assistant scientist jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $82,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. Washington
Total assistant scientist jobs: 868 Average annual salary: $79,562 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
Assistant scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an assistant scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an assistant scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $102,960 | $64,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,060 |
| 2 | Maryland | $90,666 | $62,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,053 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $84,710 | $59,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,284 |
| 4 | Delaware | $82,625 | $57,000 | 961,939 | 165 |
| 5 | Maine | $94,580 | $66,000 | 1,335,907 | 98 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $83,287 | $57,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,030 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $96,423 | $70,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 8 | Montana | $80,334 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 105 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $82,318 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 105 |
| 10 | Washington | $79,562 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 868 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $96,634 | $64,000 | 6,715,984 | 272 |
| 12 | Illinois | $79,446 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,106 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $79,589 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 352 |
| 14 | Arizona | $83,136 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 338 |
| 15 | Oregon | $78,858 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 349 |
| 16 | Nevada | $81,849 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 96 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,695 | $50,000 | 9,962,311 | 600 |
| 18 | Indiana | $77,223 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 346 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $67,314 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 108 |
| 20 | Virginia | $69,643 | $47,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,081 |
| 21 | Alaska | $73,852 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 65 |
| 22 | Vermont | $68,467 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 71 |
| 23 | New York | $68,974 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,506 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $69,091 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 405 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $65,939 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,049 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $68,632 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 518 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $64,980 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 904 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $64,121 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 47 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $66,477 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 71 |
| 30 | Ohio | $66,724 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 550 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $65,545 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 181 |
| 32 | Idaho | $64,685 | $40,000 | 1,716,943 | 123 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $64,182 | $44,000 | 1,342,795 | 142 |
| 34 | Colorado | $63,654 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 497 |
| 35 | Florida | $63,637 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 904 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $58,835 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 183 |
| 37 | Utah | $58,489 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 273 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $60,912 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 110 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $61,350 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 151 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $53,343 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 79 |
| 41 | Iowa | $56,817 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 214 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $60,022 | $39,000 | 3,930,864 | 85 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $59,103 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 109 |
| 44 | Texas | $58,820 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,134 |
| 45 | Alabama | $58,738 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 161 |
| 46 | Missouri | $51,848 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 452 |
| 47 | Georgia | $56,633 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 534 |
| 48 | Kansas | $51,219 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 195 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $45,846 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 254 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $44,306 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 148 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $48,242 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 52 |
Highest paying states for assistant scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Assistant Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $102,960 |
| 2 | Maryland | $90,666 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $84,710 |
| 4 | Delaware | $82,625 |
| 5 | Maine | $94,580 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $83,287 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $96,423 |
| 8 | Montana | $80,334 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $82,318 |
| 10 | Washington | $79,562 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $96,634 |
| 12 | Illinois | $79,446 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $79,589 |
| 14 | Arizona | $83,136 |
| 15 | Oregon | $78,858 |
| 16 | Nevada | $81,849 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,695 |
| 18 | Indiana | $77,223 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $67,314 |
| 20 | Virginia | $69,643 |
| 21 | Alaska | $73,852 |
| 22 | Vermont | $68,467 |
| 23 | New York | $68,974 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $69,091 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $65,939 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $68,632 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $64,980 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $64,121 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $66,477 |
| 30 | Ohio | $66,724 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $65,545 |
| 32 | Idaho | $64,685 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $64,182 |
| 34 | Colorado | $63,654 |
| 35 | Florida | $63,637 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $58,835 |
| 37 | Utah | $58,489 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $60,912 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $61,350 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $53,343 |
| 41 | Iowa | $56,817 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $60,022 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $59,103 |
| 44 | Texas | $58,820 |
| 45 | Alabama | $58,738 |
| 46 | Missouri | $51,848 |
| 47 | Georgia | $56,633 |
| 48 | Kansas | $51,219 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $45,846 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $44,306 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $48,242 |
Expert opinions on the best states for assistant scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for assistant scientists to find work opportunities?
Don Snyder
Associate Director, Industry Advising: STEM, William and Mary
Strong tech markets in the U.S. include Austin, Raleigh, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Columbus. Some markets are established in tech, while other markets are more up-and-coming. Smaller cities that may be "off the radar" include Huntsville and Tucson. Graduates need to look at different factors when exploring cities, including the cost of living. The dollar will go a lot further in Raleigh than in San Francisco. And some cities that were once more affordable may have a higher cost of living now due to the recent influx of residents.
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Updated January 8, 2025