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Best states for a doctoral research assistant
Quoted expert
Bart Elmore
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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It seems like doctoral research assistants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for doctoral research assistants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As doctoral research assistants are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for doctoral research assistants. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a doctoral research assistant, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Massachusetts is the best state for jobs for doctoral research assistants, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Massachusetts is $79,156, while the median pay in Alabama is $42,679.We found that Massachusetts is the best state for doctoral research assistant jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for doctoral research assistants in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 2,455 Average annual salary: $79,156 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 2.56
2. New Mexico
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $69,521 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. Oregon
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 706 Average annual salary: $66,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
4. New Jersey
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 1,073 Average annual salary: $65,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
5. Illinois
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 1,117 Average annual salary: $68,736 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
6. Connecticut
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 300 Average annual salary: $65,017 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. Arizona
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 481 Average annual salary: $68,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
8. California
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 4,285 Average annual salary: $66,402 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
9. Utah
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 293 Average annual salary: $61,834 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Alaska
Total doctoral research assistant jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $60,628 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Doctoral research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a doctoral research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a doctoral research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $79,156 | $55,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,455 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $69,521 | $51,000 | 2,088,070 | 209 |
| 3 | Oregon | $66,828 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 706 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $65,169 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,073 |
| 5 | Illinois | $68,736 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,117 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $65,017 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 300 |
| 7 | Arizona | $68,174 | $50,000 | 7,016,270 | 481 |
| 8 | California | $66,402 | $48,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,285 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,834 | $45,000 | 3,101,833 | 293 |
| 10 | Alaska | $60,628 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 88 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $56,275 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 156 |
| 12 | Idaho | $60,645 | $45,000 | 1,716,943 | 120 |
| 13 | Delaware | $60,764 | $42,000 | 961,939 | 104 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,432 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 211 |
| 15 | Georgia | $60,772 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 721 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $53,701 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,541 |
| 17 | Washington | $56,982 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 892 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $54,910 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 179 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $54,152 | $40,000 | 1,920,076 | 218 |
| 20 | Colorado | $55,949 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 750 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $55,360 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 715 |
| 22 | Maryland | $60,451 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 543 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,801 | $40,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,336 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $54,314 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 867 |
| 25 | New York | $54,464 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,649 |
| 26 | Nevada | $56,717 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 108 |
| 27 | Virginia | $55,722 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 902 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $53,854 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 194 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $53,814 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 127 |
| 30 | Ohio | $51,718 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 863 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,166 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 206 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $51,548 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $54,420 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 189 |
| 34 | Kansas | $52,609 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 191 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $49,709 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 53 |
| 36 | Michigan | $48,815 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 729 |
| 37 | Indiana | $51,809 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 476 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $51,950 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 123 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,926 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 61 |
| 40 | Maine | $50,553 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 119 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,744 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 601 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,842 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 98 |
| 43 | Missouri | $48,836 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 533 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $45,330 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 97 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $48,122 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 420 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $48,242 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 47 | Texas | $45,986 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,781 |
| 48 | Montana | $44,158 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 98 |
| 49 | Iowa | $43,760 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 246 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,219 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 206 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,679 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 163 |
Highest paying states for doctoral research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Doctoral Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $79,156 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $69,521 |
| 3 | Oregon | $66,828 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $65,169 |
| 5 | Illinois | $68,736 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $65,017 |
| 7 | Arizona | $68,174 |
| 8 | California | $66,402 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,834 |
| 10 | Alaska | $60,628 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $56,275 |
| 12 | Idaho | $60,645 |
| 13 | Delaware | $60,764 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,432 |
| 15 | Georgia | $60,772 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $53,701 |
| 17 | Washington | $56,982 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $54,910 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $54,152 |
| 20 | Colorado | $55,949 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $55,360 |
| 22 | Maryland | $60,451 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,801 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $54,314 |
| 25 | New York | $54,464 |
| 26 | Nevada | $56,717 |
| 27 | Virginia | $55,722 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $53,854 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $53,814 |
| 30 | Ohio | $51,718 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,166 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $51,548 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $54,420 |
| 34 | Kansas | $52,609 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $49,709 |
| 36 | Michigan | $48,815 |
| 37 | Indiana | $51,809 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $51,950 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,926 |
| 40 | Maine | $50,553 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,744 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,842 |
| 43 | Missouri | $48,836 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $45,330 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $48,122 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $48,242 |
| 47 | Texas | $45,986 |
| 48 | Montana | $44,158 |
| 49 | Iowa | $43,760 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,219 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,679 |
Expert opinions on the best states for doctoral research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for doctoral research assistants 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025