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Best states for an ecologist
Quoted expert
Dr. Ashley Mattison
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for ecologists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for ecologist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for ecologist jobs.
We figured that the best places for ecologist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as an ecologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for ecologists in 2025
1. Alaska
Total ecologist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $65,960 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 7.34
2. Maine
Total ecologist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $60,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 3.08
3. West Virginia
Total ecologist jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $59,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 4.02
4. Maryland
Total ecologist jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $62,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 2.51
5. Oregon
Total ecologist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $63,748 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
6. Ohio
Total ecologist jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $59,620 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
7. Nebraska
Total ecologist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $57,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 2.2
8. California
Total ecologist jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $61,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
9. Washington
Total ecologist jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $60,568 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. Missouri
Total ecologist jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $57,061 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.88
Ecologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an ecologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an ecologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $65,960 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 15 |
| 2 | Maine | $60,422 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 10 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $59,267 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 15 |
| 4 | Maryland | $62,966 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 39 |
| 5 | Oregon | $63,748 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 10 |
| 6 | Ohio | $59,620 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 27 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $57,385 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 12 |
| 8 | California | $61,936 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 136 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,568 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 18 |
| 10 | Missouri | $57,061 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 27 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $57,962 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 3 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $55,565 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 13 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,537 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 23 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $58,388 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 3 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $58,305 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 22 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $57,820 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 13 |
| 17 | Utah | $57,196 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 4 |
| 18 | Vermont | $57,724 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 1 |
| 19 | Montana | $54,273 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 4 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $57,238 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 6 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,460 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 6 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $53,900 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 2 |
| 23 | Idaho | $51,961 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 10 |
| 24 | Virginia | $54,587 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 25 |
| 25 | Colorado | $53,835 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 18 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $52,396 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 11 |
| 27 | Indiana | $51,017 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 17 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $57,857 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 5 |
| 29 | New York | $58,187 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 0 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,134 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 9 |
| 31 | Nevada | $49,814 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 8 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $51,363 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 7 |
| 33 | Delaware | $54,460 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 1 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $52,405 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 5 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $46,250 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 36 | Texas | $48,865 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 29 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $47,235 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 17 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $34,142 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $47,858 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 8 |
| 40 | Illinois | $47,697 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 15 |
| 41 | Arizona | $45,987 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 7 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $44,718 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 3 |
| 43 | Iowa | $45,828 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 2 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $31,944 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 12 |
| 45 | Alabama | $43,605 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 5 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,842 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 10 |
| 47 | Kansas | $44,582 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 2 |
| 48 | Michigan | $42,014 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 8 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,117 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 15 |
| 50 | Florida | $30,999 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 26 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $35,434 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 2 |
Highest paying states for ecologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Ecologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $65,960 |
| 2 | Maine | $60,422 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $59,267 |
| 4 | Maryland | $62,966 |
| 5 | Oregon | $63,748 |
| 6 | Ohio | $59,620 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $57,385 |
| 8 | California | $61,936 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,568 |
| 10 | Missouri | $57,061 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $57,962 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $55,565 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,537 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $58,388 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $58,305 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $57,820 |
| 17 | Utah | $57,196 |
| 18 | Vermont | $57,724 |
| 19 | Montana | $54,273 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $57,238 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,460 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $53,900 |
| 23 | Idaho | $51,961 |
| 24 | Virginia | $54,587 |
| 25 | Colorado | $53,835 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $52,396 |
| 27 | Indiana | $51,017 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $57,857 |
| 29 | New York | $58,187 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $50,134 |
| 31 | Nevada | $49,814 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $51,363 |
| 33 | Delaware | $54,460 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $52,405 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $46,250 |
| 36 | Texas | $48,865 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $47,235 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $34,142 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $47,858 |
| 40 | Illinois | $47,697 |
| 41 | Arizona | $45,987 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $44,718 |
| 43 | Iowa | $45,828 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $31,944 |
| 45 | Alabama | $43,605 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,842 |
| 47 | Kansas | $44,582 |
| 48 | Michigan | $42,014 |
| 49 | Georgia | $35,117 |
| 50 | Florida | $30,999 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $35,434 |
Expert opinions on the best states for ecologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for ecologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ashley Mattison
Lead Biology Instructor, OSU-Oklahoma City
Most urban areas have a demand for students with a background in biology. These students provide support for healthcare, agriculture, and general research. Graduates are always needed to research cures for new and enduring diseases and research the next pandemic. Particular industries, such as forestry, are now hiring biology graduates to assess environmental impacts and assist in rehabilitation efforts. More financial decisions are being made with an ecological focus, impacting many fields, especially biological science. Politically, environmental policies are now more seriously considered and will require the input of physical science graduates.
Ecologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025