Best states for a cell biologist

Q: What is the best state for cell biologists?

The best state to be a cell biologist is Alaska based on cell biologist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for cell biologists?

The highest paying state for cell biologists is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for cell biologists?

The worst state for cell biologists is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Ashley Mattison

Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like cell biologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for cell biologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As cell biologists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for cell biologists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a cell biologist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for cell biologists.If you are currently seeking employment as a cell biologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for cell biologists in 2025

1. Alaska
Total cell biologist jobs: 21
Average annual salary: $88,160
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
5.23
Cell biologist jobs in Alaska
2. Massachusetts
Total cell biologist jobs: 115
Average annual salary: $85,510
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
2.6
Cell biologist jobs in Massachusetts
3. New Hampshire
Total cell biologist jobs: 11
Average annual salary: $78,019
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Cell biologist jobs in New Hampshire
4. Pennsylvania
Total cell biologist jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $81,408
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Cell biologist jobs in Pennsylvania
5. Nevada
Total cell biologist jobs: 8
Average annual salary: $78,472
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Cell biologist jobs in Nevada
6. Utah
Total cell biologist jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $81,375
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
0.46
Cell biologist jobs in Utah
7. Connecticut
Total cell biologist jobs: 16
Average annual salary: $77,564
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1
Cell biologist jobs in Connecticut
8. North Dakota
Total cell biologist jobs: 4
Average annual salary: $73,582
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Cell biologist jobs in North Dakota
9. Montana
Total cell biologist jobs: 8
Average annual salary: $71,743
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Cell biologist jobs in Montana
10. Maine
Total cell biologist jobs: 27
Average annual salary: $70,323
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
4.23
Cell biologist jobs in Maine

Cell biologist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a cell biologist

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

Detailed list of the best states for a cell biologist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$88,160	$54,000	739,795	21
2	Massachusetts	$85,510	$58,000	6,859,819	115
3	New Hampshire	$78,019	$53,000	1,342,795	11
4	Pennsylvania	$81,408	$54,000	12,805,537	38
5	Nevada	$78,472	$49,000	2,998,039	8
6	Utah	$81,375	$52,000	3,101,833	7
7	Connecticut	$77,564	$52,000	3,588,184	16
8	North Dakota	$73,582	$48,000	755,393	4
9	Montana	$71,743	$46,000	1,050,493	8
10	Maine	$70,323	$48,000	1,335,907	27
11	Washington	$75,877	$47,000	7,405,743	34
12	Oregon	$76,486	$47,000	4,142,776	14
13	West Virginia	$66,273	$43,000	1,815,857	15
14	Rhode Island	$78,206	$53,000	1,059,639	1
15	California	$72,685	$45,000	39,536,653	349
16	Indiana	$68,549	$45,000	6,666,818	28
17	Delaware	$75,533	$50,000	961,939	3
18	Idaho	$68,063	$43,000	1,716,943	9
19	Hawaii	$73,720	$52,000	1,427,538	11
20	District of Columbia	$80,893	$53,000	693,972	4
21	South Dakota	$69,252	$45,000	869,666	3
22	New Jersey	$77,115	$51,000	9,005,644	14
23	Arizona	$66,429	$42,000	7,016,270	48
24	Vermont	$73,970	$50,000	623,657	1
25	New York	$76,268	$51,000	19,849,399	17
26	Oklahoma	$71,300	$46,000	3,930,864	2
27	Nebraska	$64,925	$42,000	1,920,076	12
28	Virginia	$68,497	$45,000	8,470,020	37
29	Michigan	$65,180	$43,000	9,962,311	25
30	Illinois	$65,025	$43,000	12,802,023	57
31	Maryland	$65,476	$43,000	6,052,177	50
32	Wyoming	$64,366	$42,000	579,315	2
33	Kentucky	$61,577	$40,000	4,454,189	19
34	Georgia	$68,179	$43,000	10,429,379	11
35	Minnesota	$65,957	$43,000	5,576,606	17
36	Mississippi	$62,408	$39,000	2,984,100	7
37	Wisconsin	$58,131	$38,000	5,795,483	39
38	Ohio	$59,299	$39,000	11,658,609	37
39	Iowa	$62,076	$41,000	3,145,711	8
40	Alabama	$58,895	$37,000	4,874,747	15
41	New Mexico	$56,544	$36,000	2,088,070	12
42	Texas	$60,228	$37,000	28,304,596	59
43	Tennessee	$54,975	$35,000	6,715,984	31
44	Colorado	$62,053	$40,000	5,607,154	15
45	Missouri	$54,343	$35,000	6,113,532	33
46	North Carolina	$60,142	$39,000	10,273,419	19
47	Kansas	$60,003	$39,000	2,913,123	4
48	Louisiana	$57,167	$35,000	4,684,333	4
49	Florida	$54,506	$34,000	20,984,400	40
50	South Carolina	$51,581	$33,000	5,024,369	9
51	Arkansas	$51,630	$33,000	3,004,279	4

Highest paying states for cell biologists

Rank	State	Avg. Cell Biologist Salary
1	Alaska	$88,160
2	Massachusetts	$85,510
3	New Hampshire	$78,019
4	Pennsylvania	$81,408
5	Nevada	$78,472
6	Utah	$81,375
7	Connecticut	$77,564
8	North Dakota	$73,582
9	Montana	$71,743
10	Maine	$70,323
11	Washington	$75,877
12	Oregon	$76,486
13	West Virginia	$66,273
14	Rhode Island	$78,206
15	California	$72,685
16	Indiana	$68,549
17	Delaware	$75,533
18	Idaho	$68,063
19	Hawaii	$73,720
20	District of Columbia	$80,893
21	South Dakota	$69,252
22	New Jersey	$77,115
23	Arizona	$66,429
24	Vermont	$73,970
25	New York	$76,268
26	Oklahoma	$71,300
27	Nebraska	$64,925
28	Virginia	$68,497
29	Michigan	$65,180
30	Illinois	$65,025
31	Maryland	$65,476
32	Wyoming	$64,366
33	Kentucky	$61,577
34	Georgia	$68,179
35	Minnesota	$65,957
36	Mississippi	$62,408
37	Wisconsin	$58,131
38	Ohio	$59,299
39	Iowa	$62,076
40	Alabama	$58,895
41	New Mexico	$56,544
42	Texas	$60,228
43	Tennessee	$54,975
44	Colorado	$62,053
45	Missouri	$54,343
46	North Carolina	$60,142
47	Kansas	$60,003
48	Louisiana	$57,167
49	Florida	$54,506
50	South Carolina	$51,581
51	Arkansas	$51,630

Expert opinions on the best states for cell biologists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for cell biologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ashley Mattison
Lead Biology Instructor, OSU-Oklahoma City
Most urban areas have a demand for students with a background in biology. These students provide support for healthcare, agriculture, and general research. Graduates are always needed to research cures for new and enduring diseases and research the next pandemic. Particular industries, such as forestry, are now hiring biology graduates to assess environmental impacts and assist in rehabilitation efforts. More financial decisions are being made with an ecological focus, impacting many fields, especially biological science. Politically, environmental policies are now more seriously considered and will require the input of physical science graduates.

Cell biologist best states FAQs

What is the best state for cell biologists?

What is the highest paying state for cell biologists?

What is the worst state for cell biologists?

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Cell Biologist
Best states for Cell Biologists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total cell biologist jobs:	21
Average annual salary:	$88,160
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$54,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$141,000
Location Quotient:	5.23

Best states for a cell biologist

10 best states for cell biologists in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Massachusetts

3. New Hampshire

4. Pennsylvania

5. Nevada

6. Utah

7. Connecticut

8. North Dakota

9. Montana

10. Maine