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Best states for an associate scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for associate scientists in the United States. Associate scientist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for associate scientists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of associate scientists in America is $109,000.
California is the best state for jobs for associate scientists, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in California is $105,857, while the median pay in Louisiana is $53,984.California is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for associate scientists.
10 best states for associate scientists in 2025
1. California
Total associate scientist jobs: 4,430 Average annual salary: $105,857 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
2. New Jersey
Total associate scientist jobs: 1,465 Average annual salary: $82,031 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
3. Hawaii
Total associate scientist jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $101,669 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
4. Rhode Island
Total associate scientist jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $83,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Maine
Total associate scientist jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $85,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
6. Connecticut
Total associate scientist jobs: 374 Average annual salary: $81,189 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
7. Delaware
Total associate scientist jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $77,635 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
8. Tennessee
Total associate scientist jobs: 350 Average annual salary: $90,709 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.59
9. Washington
Total associate scientist jobs: 945 Average annual salary: $79,319 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
10. Massachusetts
Total associate scientist jobs: 2,378 Average annual salary: $76,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 2.57
Associate scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an associate scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,857 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,430 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $82,031 | $57,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,465 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $101,669 | $74,000 | 1,427,538 | 73 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $83,215 | $58,000 | 1,059,639 | 119 |
| 5 | Maine | $85,901 | $61,000 | 1,335,907 | 109 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $81,189 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 374 |
| 7 | Delaware | $77,635 | $54,000 | 961,939 | 170 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $90,709 | $61,000 | 6,715,984 | 350 |
| 9 | Washington | $79,319 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 945 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $76,454 | $53,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,378 |
| 11 | Nevada | $85,189 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 122 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $80,341 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 525 |
| 13 | Maryland | $77,160 | $53,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,066 |
| 14 | Alaska | $79,305 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 61 |
| 15 | Arizona | $81,077 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 318 |
| 16 | Oregon | $75,898 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 416 |
| 17 | Montana | $72,404 | $48,000 | 1,050,493 | 125 |
| 18 | Indiana | $77,888 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 359 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $72,618 | $51,000 | 1,342,795 | 169 |
| 20 | Illinois | $74,470 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,114 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $70,741 | $49,000 | 5,795,483 | 464 |
| 22 | New York | $71,376 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,975 |
| 23 | Michigan | $70,161 | $48,000 | 9,962,311 | 541 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $67,288 | $46,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,291 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $72,194 | $48,000 | 3,930,864 | 75 |
| 26 | Virginia | $66,888 | $46,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,222 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $67,079 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $64,187 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,116 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $69,257 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 194 |
| 30 | Ohio | $65,484 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 660 |
| 31 | Utah | $62,486 | $40,000 | 3,101,833 | 305 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $66,884 | $44,000 | 3,004,279 | 111 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $60,322 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 115 |
| 34 | Colorado | $66,178 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 490 |
| 35 | Vermont | $61,641 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 36 | Iowa | $62,940 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 231 |
| 37 | Idaho | $61,791 | $40,000 | 1,716,943 | 134 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $62,898 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 165 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $57,080 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 83 |
| 40 | Florida | $61,939 | $40,000 | 20,984,400 | 974 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $61,209 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 132 |
| 42 | Alabama | $60,832 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 168 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $58,341 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 79 |
| 44 | Texas | $56,491 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,439 |
| 45 | Georgia | $60,522 | $40,000 | 10,429,379 | 484 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $50,164 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 199 |
| 47 | Kansas | $53,821 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 213 |
| 48 | Missouri | $48,757 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 546 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $54,211 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 274 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,187 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 72 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $53,984 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 150 |
Highest paying states for associate scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Associate Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,857 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $82,031 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $101,669 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $83,215 |
| 5 | Maine | $85,901 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $81,189 |
| 7 | Delaware | $77,635 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $90,709 |
| 9 | Washington | $79,319 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $76,454 |
| 11 | Nevada | $85,189 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $80,341 |
| 13 | Maryland | $77,160 |
| 14 | Alaska | $79,305 |
| 15 | Arizona | $81,077 |
| 16 | Oregon | $75,898 |
| 17 | Montana | $72,404 |
| 18 | Indiana | $77,888 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $72,618 |
| 20 | Illinois | $74,470 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $70,741 |
| 22 | New York | $71,376 |
| 23 | Michigan | $70,161 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $67,288 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $72,194 |
| 26 | Virginia | $66,888 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $67,079 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $64,187 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $69,257 |
| 30 | Ohio | $65,484 |
| 31 | Utah | $62,486 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $66,884 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $60,322 |
| 34 | Colorado | $66,178 |
| 35 | Vermont | $61,641 |
| 36 | Iowa | $62,940 |
| 37 | Idaho | $61,791 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $62,898 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $57,080 |
| 40 | Florida | $61,939 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $61,209 |
| 42 | Alabama | $60,832 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $58,341 |
| 44 | Texas | $56,491 |
| 45 | Georgia | $60,522 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $50,164 |
| 47 | Kansas | $53,821 |
| 48 | Missouri | $48,757 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $54,211 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,187 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $53,984 |
Expert opinions on the best states for associate scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for associate 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