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Best states for a clinical research associate
Quoted expert
Bart Elmore
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a clinical research associate and really want to work at Pharmaceutical Product Development? Turns out, your chances to become a clinical research associate are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant clinical research associate jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Oregon is the best state in the country for clinical research associate jobs.
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 clinical research associates.If you are currently seeking employment as a clinical research associate, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for clinical research associates in 2025
1. Oregon
Total clinical research associate jobs: 938 Average annual salary: $83,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. California
Total clinical research associate jobs: 7,351 Average annual salary: $84,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
3. Arizona
Total clinical research associate jobs: 939 Average annual salary: $76,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
4. Rhode Island
Total clinical research associate jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $71,995 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
5. Michigan
Total clinical research associate jobs: 1,268 Average annual salary: $73,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
6. Connecticut
Total clinical research associate jobs: 603 Average annual salary: $75,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. New Mexico
Total clinical research associate jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $71,706 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. Utah
Total clinical research associate jobs: 484 Average annual salary: $74,264 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
9. Nevada
Total clinical research associate jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $83,710 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. Pennsylvania
Total clinical research associate jobs: 2,137 Average annual salary: $70,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
Clinical research associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical research associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a clinical research associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $83,211 | $53,000 | 4,142,776 | 938 |
| 2 | California | $84,270 | $54,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,351 |
| 3 | Arizona | $76,267 | $50,000 | 7,016,270 | 939 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $71,995 | $48,000 | 1,059,639 | 254 |
| 5 | Michigan | $73,372 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,268 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $75,590 | $50,000 | 3,588,184 | 603 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $71,706 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 348 |
| 8 | Utah | $74,264 | $47,000 | 3,101,833 | 484 |
| 9 | Nevada | $83,710 | $53,000 | 2,998,039 | 268 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $70,167 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,137 |
| 11 | Delaware | $79,165 | $51,000 | 961,939 | 173 |
| 12 | Washington | $82,020 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 984 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $74,879 | $50,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,465 |
| 14 | Vermont | $70,240 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 135 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $68,382 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 155 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $66,993 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,680 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $68,155 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,131 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $66,644 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,796 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $70,119 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 219 |
| 20 | Indiana | $66,813 | $43,000 | 6,666,818 | 868 |
| 21 | Maine | $62,970 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 284 |
| 22 | Montana | $64,066 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 207 |
| 23 | Virginia | $70,310 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,302 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $66,008 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 78 |
| 25 | Maryland | $71,530 | $46,000 | 6,052,177 | 834 |
| 26 | New York | $66,851 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,051 |
| 27 | Alaska | $70,466 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 33 |
| 28 | Kansas | $63,189 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 419 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $63,487 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 755 |
| 30 | Texas | $63,086 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,768 |
| 31 | Georgia | $64,137 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,408 |
| 32 | Alabama | $63,600 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 296 |
| 33 | Florida | $59,916 | $39,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,634 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $57,260 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 319 |
| 35 | Ohio | $58,596 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,417 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $63,072 | $41,000 | 5,024,369 | 408 |
| 37 | Idaho | $62,851 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 209 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $56,268 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 160 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $60,061 | $39,000 | 3,930,864 | 394 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $50,515 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 149 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $53,829 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 222 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $54,537 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 459 |
| 43 | Illinois | $53,913 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,750 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,177 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,027 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $56,606 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 205 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $51,436 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 813 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $54,358 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 400 |
| 48 | Missouri | $49,618 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 876 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $47,113 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 343 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,224 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 384 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $51,664 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 266 |
Highest paying states for clinical research associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Clinical Research Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $83,211 |
| 2 | California | $84,270 |
| 3 | Arizona | $76,267 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $71,995 |
| 5 | Michigan | $73,372 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $75,590 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $71,706 |
| 8 | Utah | $74,264 |
| 9 | Nevada | $83,710 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $70,167 |
| 11 | Delaware | $79,165 |
| 12 | Washington | $82,020 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $74,879 |
| 14 | Vermont | $70,240 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $68,382 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $66,993 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $68,155 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $66,644 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $70,119 |
| 20 | Indiana | $66,813 |
| 21 | Maine | $62,970 |
| 22 | Montana | $64,066 |
| 23 | Virginia | $70,310 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $66,008 |
| 25 | Maryland | $71,530 |
| 26 | New York | $66,851 |
| 27 | Alaska | $70,466 |
| 28 | Kansas | $63,189 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $63,487 |
| 30 | Texas | $63,086 |
| 31 | Georgia | $64,137 |
| 32 | Alabama | $63,600 |
| 33 | Florida | $59,916 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $57,260 |
| 35 | Ohio | $58,596 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $63,072 |
| 37 | Idaho | $62,851 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $56,268 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $60,061 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $50,515 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $53,829 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $54,537 |
| 43 | Illinois | $53,913 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,177 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $56,606 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $51,436 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $54,358 |
| 48 | Missouri | $49,618 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $47,113 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,224 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $51,664 |
Expert opinions on the best states for clinical research associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical research associates to find work opportunities?
Bart Elmore
Associate Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University
Anywhere. That is the thing about history. Once they learn how to navigate archival repositories and digital databases-core expertise acquired by a history major-and hone writing skills that allow them to broadcast their ideas to the public, history majors can really take on any job. This is really the freeing thing about being a history major. These students are not taught highly technical skills that only apply to one craft or profession. Rather, they are taught rigorous writing and researching techniques that can help them start a business, build a political campaign, or develop strategies to combat climate change. Maybe some people see the history major as limiting, but they should not. It is really liberating.
Clinical research associate best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025