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Best states for a clinical research nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to clinical research nurse 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. Although there are abundant clinical research nurse jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Washington is the best state in the country for clinical research nurse jobs.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for clinical research nurses. Washington is the best state for clinical research nurses, where the median salary is $80,808.We found that the Midwest is best for clinical research nurses, and the Northeast is the worst. Sacramento, CA is the best city in the country for clinical research nurse jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for clinical research nurses in 2025
1. Washington
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 5,482 Average annual salary: $80,808 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.092. Delaware
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 1,024 Average annual salary: $72,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.193. Maine
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 1,275 Average annual salary: $64,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.44. Connecticut
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 2,726 Average annual salary: $72,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.195. Alaska
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 636 Average annual salary: $75,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.116. Rhode Island
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 732 Average annual salary: $75,769 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.877. Oregon
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 2,733 Average annual salary: $74,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.968. California
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 13,462 Average annual salary: $97,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 0.679. New York
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 9,303 Average annual salary: $73,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.0510. Hawaii
Total clinical research nurse jobs: 436 Average annual salary: $92,036 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Clinical research nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical research nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a clinical research nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $80,808 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,482 |
| 2 | Delaware | $72,992 | $54,000 | 961,939 | 1,024 |
| 3 | Maine | $64,818 | $49,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,275 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $72,100 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,726 |
| 5 | Alaska | $75,098 | $66,000 | 739,795 | 636 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $75,769 | $56,000 | 1,059,639 | 732 |
| 7 | Oregon | $74,944 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,733 |
| 8 | California | $97,750 | $69,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,462 |
| 9 | New York | $73,174 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 9,303 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $92,036 | $78,000 | 1,427,538 | 436 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,888 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,439 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $74,560 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,726 |
| 13 | Nevada | $70,085 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,212 |
| 14 | Florida | $60,920 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 18,683 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $69,228 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,082 |
| 16 | Arizona | $62,310 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,465 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $60,343 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 9,099 |
| 18 | Texas | $60,863 | $46,000 | 28,304,596 | 15,564 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $76,272 | $56,000 | 693,972 | 749 |
| 20 | Michigan | $63,872 | $48,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,589 |
| 21 | Maryland | $67,976 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,374 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $61,253 | $46,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,507 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $56,184 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,276 |
| 24 | Colorado | $60,142 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 4,474 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $63,174 | $49,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,540 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $55,446 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,704 |
| 27 | Vermont | $56,471 | $42,000 | 623,657 | 679 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $54,713 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 745 |
| 29 | Ohio | $56,654 | $42,000 | 11,658,609 | 7,196 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $58,122 | $44,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,986 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $53,805 | $41,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,077 |
| 32 | Idaho | $58,336 | $43,000 | 1,716,943 | 941 |
| 33 | Georgia | $56,289 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 7,296 |
| 34 | Virginia | $57,782 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 6,251 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $52,886 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,639 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $52,488 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 472 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,842 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,431 |
| 38 | Indiana | $52,896 | $40,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,830 |
| 39 | Illinois | $57,764 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 7,056 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $53,695 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,126 |
| 41 | Montana | $52,384 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 973 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $49,006 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 997 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $51,078 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,274 |
| 44 | Alabama | $53,860 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,494 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $51,463 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,288 |
| 46 | Kansas | $50,046 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,966 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $51,056 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,210 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $49,440 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,685 |
| 49 | Iowa | $44,415 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,396 |
| 50 | Utah | $50,492 | $37,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,141 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $48,649 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,255 |
Highest paying states for clinical research nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Clinical Research Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $80,808 |
| 2 | Delaware | $72,992 |
| 3 | Maine | $64,818 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $72,100 |
| 5 | Alaska | $75,098 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $75,769 |
| 7 | Oregon | $74,944 |
| 8 | California | $97,750 |
| 9 | New York | $73,174 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $92,036 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $63,888 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $74,560 |
| 13 | Nevada | $70,085 |
| 14 | Florida | $60,920 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $69,228 |
| 16 | Arizona | $62,310 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $60,343 |
| 18 | Texas | $60,863 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $76,272 |
| 20 | Michigan | $63,872 |
| 21 | Maryland | $67,976 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $61,253 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $56,184 |
| 24 | Colorado | $60,142 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $63,174 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $55,446 |
| 27 | Vermont | $56,471 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $54,713 |
| 29 | Ohio | $56,654 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $58,122 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $53,805 |
| 32 | Idaho | $58,336 |
| 33 | Georgia | $56,289 |
| 34 | Virginia | $57,782 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $52,886 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $52,488 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,842 |
| 38 | Indiana | $52,896 |
| 39 | Illinois | $57,764 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $53,695 |
| 41 | Montana | $52,384 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $49,006 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $51,078 |
| 44 | Alabama | $53,860 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $51,463 |
| 46 | Kansas | $50,046 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $51,056 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $49,440 |
| 49 | Iowa | $44,415 |
| 50 | Utah | $50,492 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $48,649 |
Expert opinions on the best states for clinical research nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical research nurses to find work opportunities?
Vilma Davis
Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Lincoln University
As previously mentioned, there is a need for nurses throughout the United States. Most nursing programs will intermittently have nurse recruiters come on campus, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and get information about the job market. This is one way that graduates can get plugged into where the needs of nurses are. Graduates can also visit the websites of various hospitals and see what openings are available for which they can apply. Doing a simple google search for "nursing jobs" will yield a plethora of available jobs that they can review and make the decision which they would like to pursue.
Clinical research nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025