Best states for a chief scientist

Q: What is the best state for chief scientists?

The best state to be a chief scientist is Delaware based on chief scientist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for chief scientists?

The highest paying state for chief scientists is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for chief scientists?

The worst state for chief scientists is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for chief scientists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for chief scientist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for chief scientists. We found that Delaware is the best state in the nation for chief scientists, and people in Englewood earn the most in the field.

Delaware is the best state for jobs for chief scientists, and Nebraska is the worst. The most common pay in Delaware is $117,846, while the median pay in Nebraska is $61,743.We found that Delaware is the best state for chief scientist jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.

10 best states for chief scientists in 2026

1. Delaware
Total chief scientist jobs: 165
Average annual salary: $117,846
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Chief scientist jobs in Delaware
2. New Jersey
Total chief scientist jobs: 855
Average annual salary: $122,870
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Chief scientist jobs in New Jersey
3. California
Total chief scientist jobs: 3,434
Average annual salary: $122,776
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000
Location Quotient:
1.46
Chief scientist jobs in California
4. Connecticut
Total chief scientist jobs: 346
Average annual salary: $116,219
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000
Location Quotient:
1.3
Chief scientist jobs in Connecticut
5. Maine
Total chief scientist jobs: 97
Average annual salary: $109,937
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Chief scientist jobs in Maine
6. Massachusetts
Total chief scientist jobs: 1,535
Average annual salary: $97,099
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000
Location Quotient:
2.08
Chief scientist jobs in Massachusetts
7. Nevada
Total chief scientist jobs: 126
Average annual salary: $102,119
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Chief scientist jobs in Nevada
8. Montana
Total chief scientist jobs: 97
Average annual salary: $95,828
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Chief scientist jobs in Montana
9. Pennsylvania
Total chief scientist jobs: 910
Average annual salary: $96,813
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Chief scientist jobs in Pennsylvania
10. Maryland
Total chief scientist jobs: 864
Average annual salary: $95,107
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Location Quotient:
1.7
Chief scientist jobs in Maryland

Chief scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a chief scientist

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

Detailed list of the best states for a chief scientist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Delaware	$117,846	$72,000	961,939	165
2	New Jersey	$122,870	$77,000	9,005,644	855
3	California	$122,776	$75,000	39,536,653	3,434
4	Connecticut	$116,219	$72,000	3,588,184	346
5	Maine	$109,937	$68,000	1,335,907	97
6	Massachusetts	$97,099	$60,000	6,859,819	1,535
7	Nevada	$102,119	$60,000	2,998,039	126
8	Montana	$95,828	$55,000	1,050,493	97
9	Pennsylvania	$96,813	$58,000	12,805,537	910
10	Maryland	$95,107	$57,000	6,052,177	864
11	Oregon	$98,203	$56,000	4,142,776	330
12	Rhode Island	$95,490	$59,000	1,059,639	89
13	New York	$92,135	$56,000	19,849,399	1,480
14	Vermont	$90,710	$55,000	623,657	71
15	Tennessee	$96,780	$55,000	6,715,984	276
16	Arizona	$95,101	$55,000	7,016,270	395
17	Washington	$89,400	$50,000	7,405,743	789
18	District of Columbia	$93,219	$55,000	693,972	260
19	Indiana	$96,734	$56,000	6,666,818	300
20	North Carolina	$87,131	$49,000	10,273,419	827
21	Virginia	$88,207	$52,000	8,470,020	1,135
22	New Hampshire	$88,479	$54,000	1,342,795	145
23	New Mexico	$82,101	$46,000	2,088,070	175
24	Michigan	$89,431	$53,000	9,962,311	381
25	Alaska	$82,962	$49,000	739,795	74
26	Minnesota	$86,008	$50,000	5,576,606	374
27	Ohio	$84,619	$49,000	11,658,609	491
28	Wyoming	$75,571	$42,000	579,315	58
29	Illinois	$79,740	$46,000	12,802,023	882
30	Oklahoma	$81,804	$45,000	3,930,864	84
31	Arkansas	$79,548	$44,000	3,004,279	93
32	West Virginia	$76,925	$45,000	1,815,857	78
33	South Dakota	$71,037	$40,000	869,666	105
34	Colorado	$78,574	$43,000	5,607,154	427
35	Texas	$77,429	$43,000	28,304,596	1,200
36	Idaho	$76,297	$42,000	1,716,943	112
37	Alabama	$76,197	$42,000	4,874,747	199
38	Wisconsin	$72,216	$42,000	5,795,483	405
39	Missouri	$75,116	$42,000	6,113,532	372
40	Iowa	$75,237	$42,000	3,145,711	175
41	Kentucky	$75,237	$42,000	4,454,189	118
42	Hawaii	$55,257	$39,000	1,427,538	76
43	North Dakota	$63,902	$37,000	755,393	77
44	Kansas	$70,615	$39,000	2,913,123	167
45	Utah	$65,406	$36,000	3,101,833	221
46	Florida	$67,681	$36,000	20,984,400	929
47	South Carolina	$63,613	$35,000	5,024,369	285
48	Louisiana	$67,453	$37,000	4,684,333	143
49	Georgia	$60,101	$33,000	10,429,379	546
50	Mississippi	$63,983	$35,000	2,984,100	55
51	Nebraska	$61,743	$34,000	1,920,076	101

Highest paying states for chief scientists

Rank	State	Avg. Chief Scientist Salary
1	Delaware	$117,846
2	New Jersey	$122,870
3	California	$122,776
4	Connecticut	$116,219
5	Maine	$109,937
6	Massachusetts	$97,099
7	Nevada	$102,119
8	Montana	$95,828
9	Pennsylvania	$96,813
10	Maryland	$95,107
11	Oregon	$98,203
12	Rhode Island	$95,490
13	New York	$92,135
14	Vermont	$90,710
15	Tennessee	$96,780
16	Arizona	$95,101
17	Washington	$89,400
18	District of Columbia	$93,219
19	Indiana	$96,734
20	North Carolina	$87,131
21	Virginia	$88,207
22	New Hampshire	$88,479
23	New Mexico	$82,101
24	Michigan	$89,431
25	Alaska	$82,962
26	Minnesota	$86,008
27	Ohio	$84,619
28	Wyoming	$75,571
29	Illinois	$79,740
30	Oklahoma	$81,804
31	Arkansas	$79,548
32	West Virginia	$76,925
33	South Dakota	$71,037
34	Colorado	$78,574
35	Texas	$77,429
36	Idaho	$76,297
37	Alabama	$76,197
38	Wisconsin	$72,216
39	Missouri	$75,116
40	Iowa	$75,237
41	Kentucky	$75,237
42	Hawaii	$55,257
43	North Dakota	$63,902
44	Kansas	$70,615
45	Utah	$65,406
46	Florida	$67,681
47	South Carolina	$63,613
48	Louisiana	$67,453
49	Georgia	$60,101
50	Mississippi	$63,983
51	Nebraska	$61,743

Chief scientist best states FAQs

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What is the worst state for chief scientists?

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Best states for Chief Scientists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total chief scientist jobs:	165
Average annual salary:	$117,846
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$72,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$190,000
Location Quotient:	1.64

Best states for a chief scientist

10 best states for chief scientists in 2026

1. Delaware

2. New Jersey

3. California

4. Connecticut

5. Maine

6. Massachusetts

7. Nevada

8. Montana

9. Pennsylvania

10. Maryland