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Best states for a biology research assistant
Quoted expert
Mark Chee Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a biology research assistant and really want to work at Rutgers University Foundation? Turns out, your chances to become a biology research assistant are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for biology research assistants, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for biology research assistant jobs.
The median salary for biology research assistants in Massachusetts is $71,227. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $38,153, which ranked worst for biology research assistants, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Massachusetts is the best state, and Long Branch is the city with the highest pay for biology research assistants.
10 best states for biology research assistants in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total biology research assistant jobs: 1,829 Average annual salary: $71,227 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 2.4
2. New Jersey
Total biology research assistant jobs: 766 Average annual salary: $72,297 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Rhode Island
Total biology research assistant jobs: 134 Average annual salary: $58,312 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
4. Delaware
Total biology research assistant jobs: 106 Average annual salary: $60,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. Pennsylvania
Total biology research assistant jobs: 1,124 Average annual salary: $56,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. New Hampshire
Total biology research assistant jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $57,039 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
7. Washington
Total biology research assistant jobs: 593 Average annual salary: $63,317 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Illinois
Total biology research assistant jobs: 987 Average annual salary: $57,571 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. West Virginia
Total biology research assistant jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $54,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Alaska
Total biology research assistant jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $59,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
Biology research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a biology research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a biology research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $71,227 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,829 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $72,297 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 766 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $58,312 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 134 |
| 4 | Delaware | $60,817 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 106 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $56,236 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,124 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $57,039 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 152 |
| 7 | Washington | $63,317 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 593 |
| 8 | Illinois | $57,571 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 987 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $54,282 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 10 | Alaska | $59,873 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 102 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $58,763 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 638 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,652 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 551 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $59,786 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 158 |
| 14 | Arizona | $56,254 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 480 |
| 15 | Maryland | $55,461 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 823 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $54,111 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 293 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $50,898 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 55 |
| 18 | Idaho | $54,538 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 109 |
| 19 | California | $59,490 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,859 |
| 20 | Nevada | $54,769 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 104 |
| 21 | New York | $50,762 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,673 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $52,432 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 126 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,682 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 162 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $52,576 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 172 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,162 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,314 |
| 26 | Utah | $49,677 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 272 |
| 27 | Missouri | $51,936 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 450 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,087 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 101 |
| 29 | Georgia | $51,963 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 676 |
| 30 | Oregon | $49,070 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 525 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $52,168 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 156 |
| 32 | Iowa | $50,449 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 192 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $49,734 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 406 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $50,632 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 110 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,725 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 168 |
| 36 | Montana | $49,296 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 77 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $49,526 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 53 |
| 38 | Indiana | $49,831 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 340 |
| 39 | Colorado | $47,316 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 719 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $47,323 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 481 |
| 41 | Virginia | $48,666 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 780 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $46,376 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 82 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $46,799 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 177 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,122 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 94 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $43,522 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 65 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,232 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 155 |
| 47 | Ohio | $43,228 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 751 |
| 48 | Michigan | $38,257 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 641 |
| 49 | Texas | $35,792 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,467 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,287 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 201 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,153 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 150 |
Highest paying states for biology research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Biology Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $71,227 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $72,297 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $58,312 |
| 4 | Delaware | $60,817 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $56,236 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $57,039 |
| 7 | Washington | $63,317 |
| 8 | Illinois | $57,571 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $54,282 |
| 10 | Alaska | $59,873 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $58,763 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,652 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $59,786 |
| 14 | Arizona | $56,254 |
| 15 | Maryland | $55,461 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $54,111 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $50,898 |
| 18 | Idaho | $54,538 |
| 19 | California | $59,490 |
| 20 | Nevada | $54,769 |
| 21 | New York | $50,762 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $52,432 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,682 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $52,576 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,162 |
| 26 | Utah | $49,677 |
| 27 | Missouri | $51,936 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,087 |
| 29 | Georgia | $51,963 |
| 30 | Oregon | $49,070 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $52,168 |
| 32 | Iowa | $50,449 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $49,734 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $50,632 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,725 |
| 36 | Montana | $49,296 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $49,526 |
| 38 | Indiana | $49,831 |
| 39 | Colorado | $47,316 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $47,323 |
| 41 | Virginia | $48,666 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $46,376 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $46,799 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,122 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $43,522 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,232 |
| 47 | Ohio | $43,228 |
| 48 | Michigan | $38,257 |
| 49 | Texas | $35,792 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,287 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,153 |
Expert opinions on the best states for biology research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for biology research assistants to find work opportunities?
Mark Chee Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology, Martin Methodist College
Cities that have high concentrations of industries, universities, and government agencies that offer employment opportunities in biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology include:
-Boston, MA
-San Francisco, CA
-San Diego, CA
-New Jersey, NJ
-Research Triangle Park, NC
-Washington, DC
-Bethesda, MD
Smaller cities such as Huntsville, AL, may also offer opportunities, although fewer in number. Those that host large research universities are usually a good bet.
Biology research assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025