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Best states for a clinical researcher
Quoted expert
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
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It seems like clinical researchers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for clinical researchers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for clinical researchers in America. The best city in America for clinical researchers with the highest pay is Santa Rosa, CA.
California is the best state for jobs for clinical researchers, and Iowa is the worst. The most common pay in California is $73,183, while the median pay in Iowa is $42,852.If you are currently seeking employment as a clinical researcher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for clinical researchers in 2026
1. California
Total clinical researcher jobs: 4,448 Average annual salary: $73,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
2. Washington
Total clinical researcher jobs: 1,013 Average annual salary: $68,147 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
3. Arizona
Total clinical researcher jobs: 625 Average annual salary: $66,689 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. Massachusetts
Total clinical researcher jobs: 1,237 Average annual salary: $63,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. New Mexico
Total clinical researcher jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $63,979 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
6. New Jersey
Total clinical researcher jobs: 879 Average annual salary: $62,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
7. Oregon
Total clinical researcher jobs: 498 Average annual salary: $58,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
8. District of Columbia
Total clinical researcher jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $62,577 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
9. Minnesota
Total clinical researcher jobs: 628 Average annual salary: $57,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Maine
Total clinical researcher jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $55,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
Clinical researcher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical researcher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a clinical researcher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $73,183 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,448 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,147 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,013 |
| 3 | Arizona | $66,689 | $46,000 | 7,016,270 | 625 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,032 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,237 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $63,979 | $44,000 | 2,088,070 | 168 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $62,497 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 879 |
| 7 | Oregon | $58,901 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 498 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $62,577 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 232 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $57,976 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 628 |
| 10 | Maine | $55,456 | $37,000 | 1,335,907 | 188 |
| 11 | New York | $59,574 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,566 |
| 12 | Vermont | $61,235 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 63 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $65,942 | $44,000 | 1,342,795 | 51 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $55,436 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 151 |
| 15 | Illinois | $58,111 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,066 |
| 16 | Nevada | $57,294 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 149 |
| 17 | Texas | $55,544 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,733 |
| 18 | Maryland | $57,056 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 752 |
| 19 | Georgia | $56,586 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 811 |
| 20 | Idaho | $56,408 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 109 |
| 21 | Montana | $52,361 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 129 |
| 22 | Delaware | $57,375 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 88 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $56,504 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 92 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $50,519 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 101 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,119 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,839 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $51,004 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,066 |
| 27 | Michigan | $50,460 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 674 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $51,708 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 387 |
| 29 | Missouri | $51,314 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 505 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $50,049 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 900 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $49,084 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 358 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $52,059 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 33 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $51,150 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 176 |
| 34 | Kansas | $48,866 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 280 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,689 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 500 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $51,400 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 112 |
| 37 | Virginia | $53,484 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 685 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $47,811 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 95 |
| 39 | Utah | $47,539 | $32,000 | 3,101,833 | 276 |
| 40 | Ohio | $47,491 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 730 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $48,227 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 156 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $46,277 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 128 |
| 43 | Colorado | $47,483 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 544 |
| 44 | Alaska | $49,539 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 35 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $44,046 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 496 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $45,127 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 284 |
| 47 | Alabama | $45,831 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 192 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $45,943 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 201 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $45,721 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 259 |
| 50 | Indiana | $42,912 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 544 |
| 51 | Iowa | $42,852 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 260 |
Highest paying states for clinical researchers
| Rank | State | Avg. Clinical Researcher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $73,183 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,147 |
| 3 | Arizona | $66,689 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,032 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $63,979 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $62,497 |
| 7 | Oregon | $58,901 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $62,577 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $57,976 |
| 10 | Maine | $55,456 |
| 11 | New York | $59,574 |
| 12 | Vermont | $61,235 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $65,942 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $55,436 |
| 15 | Illinois | $58,111 |
| 16 | Nevada | $57,294 |
| 17 | Texas | $55,544 |
| 18 | Maryland | $57,056 |
| 19 | Georgia | $56,586 |
| 20 | Idaho | $56,408 |
| 21 | Montana | $52,361 |
| 22 | Delaware | $57,375 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $56,504 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $50,519 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,119 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $51,004 |
| 27 | Michigan | $50,460 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $51,708 |
| 29 | Missouri | $51,314 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $50,049 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $49,084 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $52,059 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $51,150 |
| 34 | Kansas | $48,866 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,689 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $51,400 |
| 37 | Virginia | $53,484 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $47,811 |
| 39 | Utah | $47,539 |
| 40 | Ohio | $47,491 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $48,227 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $46,277 |
| 43 | Colorado | $47,483 |
| 44 | Alaska | $49,539 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $44,046 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $45,127 |
| 47 | Alabama | $45,831 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $45,943 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $45,721 |
| 50 | Indiana | $42,912 |
| 51 | Iowa | $42,852 |
Expert opinions on the best states for clinical researchers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
Chair, Associate Professor, Christian Brothers University
The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
Clinical researcher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025