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Best states for an associate staff scientist
Quoted expert
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to associate staff scientist jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of associate staff scientists in America is $126,000.
The median salary for associate staff scientists in Rhode Island is $104,096. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $49,867, which ranked worst for associate staff scientists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for associate staff scientists, and the Northeast is the worst. San Carlos, CA is the best city in the country for associate staff scientist jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.
10 best states for associate staff scientists in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $104,096 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
2. California
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 6,124 Average annual salary: $102,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. New Jersey
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 1,633 Average annual salary: $97,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
4. Connecticut
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 486 Average annual salary: $102,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Maine
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 219 Average annual salary: $92,176 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. Massachusetts
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 2,286 Average annual salary: $85,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
7. Nevada
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 305 Average annual salary: $90,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Delaware
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 186 Average annual salary: $86,882 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
9. New York
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 2,398 Average annual salary: $82,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
10. Illinois
Total associate staff scientist jobs: 1,928 Average annual salary: $79,729 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
Associate staff scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate staff scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an associate staff scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $104,096 | $73,000 | 1,059,639 | 215 |
| 2 | California | $102,743 | $68,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,124 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $97,043 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,633 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $102,750 | $72,000 | 3,588,184 | 486 |
| 5 | Maine | $92,176 | $65,000 | 1,335,907 | 219 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $85,129 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,286 |
| 7 | Nevada | $90,735 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 305 |
| 8 | Delaware | $86,882 | $60,000 | 961,939 | 186 |
| 9 | New York | $82,700 | $57,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,398 |
| 10 | Illinois | $79,729 | $53,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,928 |
| 11 | Montana | $82,337 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 161 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $91,164 | $73,000 | 1,427,538 | 129 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $74,754 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,409 |
| 14 | Vermont | $77,209 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 126 |
| 15 | Oregon | $77,540 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 662 |
| 16 | Arizona | $81,778 | $54,000 | 7,016,270 | 687 |
| 17 | Maryland | $76,881 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,297 |
| 18 | Indiana | $79,307 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 715 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $73,446 | $48,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,376 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $75,025 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 239 |
| 21 | Michigan | $78,087 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 811 |
| 22 | Washington | $71,671 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,275 |
| 23 | Ohio | $75,325 | $51,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,231 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $75,508 | $49,000 | 6,715,984 | 629 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $74,269 | $49,000 | 5,576,606 | 835 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $70,174 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 667 |
| 27 | Virginia | $64,123 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,605 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $65,254 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 77 |
| 29 | Idaho | $67,790 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 198 |
| 30 | Missouri | $63,553 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 763 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $62,123 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 272 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $70,246 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 229 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $62,445 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 257 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $62,408 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 324 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $57,521 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 122 |
| 36 | Alaska | $62,829 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 85 |
| 37 | Colorado | $59,070 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 742 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $59,095 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 147 |
| 39 | Kansas | $56,065 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 355 |
| 40 | Texas | $55,366 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,655 |
| 41 | Alabama | $55,888 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 501 |
| 42 | Georgia | $57,862 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,137 |
| 43 | Florida | $58,355 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,746 |
| 44 | Utah | $48,890 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 469 |
| 45 | Iowa | $56,182 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 346 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $55,624 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 230 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $54,493 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 97 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $52,658 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 481 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $46,584 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 374 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $52,326 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 228 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $49,867 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 135 |
Highest paying states for associate staff scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Associate Staff Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $104,096 |
| 2 | California | $102,743 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $97,043 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $102,750 |
| 5 | Maine | $92,176 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $85,129 |
| 7 | Nevada | $90,735 |
| 8 | Delaware | $86,882 |
| 9 | New York | $82,700 |
| 10 | Illinois | $79,729 |
| 11 | Montana | $82,337 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $91,164 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $74,754 |
| 14 | Vermont | $77,209 |
| 15 | Oregon | $77,540 |
| 16 | Arizona | $81,778 |
| 17 | Maryland | $76,881 |
| 18 | Indiana | $79,307 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $73,446 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $75,025 |
| 21 | Michigan | $78,087 |
| 22 | Washington | $71,671 |
| 23 | Ohio | $75,325 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $75,508 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $74,269 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $70,174 |
| 27 | Virginia | $64,123 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $65,254 |
| 29 | Idaho | $67,790 |
| 30 | Missouri | $63,553 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $62,123 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $70,246 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $62,445 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $62,408 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $57,521 |
| 36 | Alaska | $62,829 |
| 37 | Colorado | $59,070 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $59,095 |
| 39 | Kansas | $56,065 |
| 40 | Texas | $55,366 |
| 41 | Alabama | $55,888 |
| 42 | Georgia | $57,862 |
| 43 | Florida | $58,355 |
| 44 | Utah | $48,890 |
| 45 | Iowa | $56,182 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $55,624 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $54,493 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $52,658 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $46,584 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $52,326 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $49,867 |
Expert opinions on the best states for associate staff scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for associate staff 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.
Associate staff scientist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025