Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a clinical research specialist
Quoted expert
Shelly Wells Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a clinical research specialist and really want to work at Medtronic? Turns out, your chances to become a clinical research specialist are better in some states than others.Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for clinical research specialists.
In order to get you the best states for clinical research specialists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.California is the best state, and Eureka is the city with the highest pay for clinical research specialists.
10 best states for clinical research specialists in 2025
1. California
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 8,899 Average annual salary: $79,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
2. New Jersey
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 2,162 Average annual salary: $76,843 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. New York
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 2,990 Average annual salary: $75,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
4. Arizona
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 1,283 Average annual salary: $73,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Oregon
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 1,190 Average annual salary: $68,891 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Florida
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 3,755 Average annual salary: $69,139 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
7. New Mexico
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 453 Average annual salary: $70,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. Massachusetts
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 2,285 Average annual salary: $69,406 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
9. New Hampshire
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 339 Average annual salary: $71,965 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Vermont
Total clinical research specialist jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $65,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
Clinical research specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical research specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a clinical research specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $79,595 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,899 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,843 | $51,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,162 |
| 3 | New York | $75,701 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,990 |
| 4 | Arizona | $73,204 | $49,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,283 |
| 5 | Oregon | $68,891 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,190 |
| 6 | Florida | $69,139 | $46,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,755 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $70,129 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 453 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $69,406 | $47,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,285 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $71,965 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 339 |
| 10 | Vermont | $65,640 | $44,000 | 623,657 | 189 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $73,748 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 394 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $66,471 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,451 |
| 13 | Illinois | $66,344 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,426 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $61,379 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 339 |
| 15 | Delaware | $66,534 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 264 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $58,970 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,028 |
| 17 | Washington | $67,761 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,408 |
| 18 | Idaho | $65,058 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 285 |
| 19 | Nevada | $63,724 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 397 |
| 20 | Montana | $60,226 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 269 |
| 21 | Maine | $58,663 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 359 |
| 22 | Michigan | $59,499 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,673 |
| 23 | Georgia | $63,486 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,967 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $58,443 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,262 |
| 25 | Virginia | $63,053 | $42,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,902 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $56,580 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 232 |
| 27 | Ohio | $58,121 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,920 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $57,953 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 796 |
| 29 | Colorado | $59,108 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,284 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $59,295 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 196 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $55,500 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 211 |
| 32 | Maryland | $62,710 | $41,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,212 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $57,845 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 100 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $56,525 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 435 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $54,512 | $36,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,245 |
| 36 | Utah | $55,318 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 715 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,908 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,173 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $54,992 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 294 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,232 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 275 |
| 40 | Alaska | $60,616 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 75 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $55,027 | $36,000 | 4,684,333 | 635 |
| 42 | Kansas | $54,162 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 577 |
| 43 | Texas | $51,394 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,137 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $53,237 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 399 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $51,631 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 578 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $52,116 | $35,000 | 5,024,369 | 639 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $50,790 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 559 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $50,687 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,022 |
| 49 | Alabama | $51,230 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 489 |
| 50 | Indiana | $49,175 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,180 |
| 51 | Iowa | $47,946 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 580 |
Highest paying states for clinical research specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Clinical Research Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $79,595 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,843 |
| 3 | New York | $75,701 |
| 4 | Arizona | $73,204 |
| 5 | Oregon | $68,891 |
| 6 | Florida | $69,139 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $70,129 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $69,406 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $71,965 |
| 10 | Vermont | $65,640 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $73,748 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $66,471 |
| 13 | Illinois | $66,344 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $61,379 |
| 15 | Delaware | $66,534 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $58,970 |
| 17 | Washington | $67,761 |
| 18 | Idaho | $65,058 |
| 19 | Nevada | $63,724 |
| 20 | Montana | $60,226 |
| 21 | Maine | $58,663 |
| 22 | Michigan | $59,499 |
| 23 | Georgia | $63,486 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $58,443 |
| 25 | Virginia | $63,053 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $56,580 |
| 27 | Ohio | $58,121 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $57,953 |
| 29 | Colorado | $59,108 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $59,295 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $55,500 |
| 32 | Maryland | $62,710 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $57,845 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $56,525 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $54,512 |
| 36 | Utah | $55,318 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,908 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $54,992 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,232 |
| 40 | Alaska | $60,616 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $55,027 |
| 42 | Kansas | $54,162 |
| 43 | Texas | $51,394 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $53,237 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $51,631 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $52,116 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $50,790 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $50,687 |
| 49 | Alabama | $51,230 |
| 50 | Indiana | $49,175 |
| 51 | Iowa | $47,946 |
Expert opinions on the best states for clinical research specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical research specialists to find work opportunities?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Nursing, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Nurses continue to be in high demand throughout the nation. While new graduate nurses may not be able to find their dream "no weekends, day shift position in their favorite specialty" right out of school, there are opportunities abound for the new nurse to build their skills to prepare for that dream position. The demand for nurses in community-based agencies is increasing. Nurses who have completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree find expanded leadership opportunities, public health, and non-traditional nursing positions. One does not have to live in or near a large city to find a chance to work as a registered nurse as there are countless positions in rural America waiting for the right graduate nurses.
Clinical research specialist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for clinical research specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025