Best states for an economist research assistant

Q: What is the best state for economist research assistants?

The best state to be an economist research assistant is Vermont based on economist research assistant salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for economist research assistants?

The highest paying state for economist research assistants is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for economist research assistants?

The worst state for economist research assistants is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

David Bunting Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for economist research assistants in the United States. Economist research assistant positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for economist research assistants.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for economist research assistants. We found that Vermont is the best state in the nation for economist research assistants, and people in Troy earn the most in the field.

We figured that the best places for economist research assistant 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.We found that the West is best for economist research assistants, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for economist research assistant jobs, where as Vermont is the best state in the country.

10 best states for economist research assistants in 2025

1. Vermont
Total economist research assistant jobs: 89
Average annual salary: $130,487
Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Economist research assistant jobs in Vermont
2. Montana
Total economist research assistant jobs: 89
Average annual salary: $131,446
Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Economist research assistant jobs in Montana
3. Virginia
Total economist research assistant jobs: 742
Average annual salary: $136,423
Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Economist research assistant jobs in Virginia
4. South Dakota
Total economist research assistant jobs: 78
Average annual salary: $131,915
Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Economist research assistant jobs in South Dakota
5. Maine
Total economist research assistant jobs: 113
Average annual salary: $123,422
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Economist research assistant jobs in Maine
6. Minnesota
Total economist research assistant jobs: 659
Average annual salary: $121,980
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Economist research assistant jobs in Minnesota
7. Oklahoma
Total economist research assistant jobs: 197
Average annual salary: $132,316
Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Economist research assistant jobs in Oklahoma
8. Illinois
Total economist research assistant jobs: 1,018
Average annual salary: $122,168
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Economist research assistant jobs in Illinois
9. Ohio
Total economist research assistant jobs: 715
Average annual salary: $121,483
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Economist research assistant jobs in Ohio
10. Georgia
Total economist research assistant jobs: 702
Average annual salary: $126,362
Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Economist research assistant jobs in Georgia

Economist research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an economist research assistant

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an economist research assistant

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Vermont	$130,487	$83,000	623,657	89
2	Montana	$131,446	$85,000	1,050,493	89
3	Virginia	$136,423	$90,000	8,470,020	742
4	South Dakota	$131,915	$85,000	869,666	78
5	Maine	$123,422	$78,000	1,335,907	113
6	Minnesota	$121,980	$78,000	5,576,606	659
7	Oklahoma	$132,316	$85,000	3,930,864	197
8	Illinois	$122,168	$78,000	12,802,023	1,018
9	Ohio	$121,483	$78,000	11,658,609	715
10	Georgia	$126,362	$82,000	10,429,379	702
11	New York	$140,561	$92,000	19,849,399	360
12	Missouri	$116,891	$74,000	6,113,532	521
13	District of Columbia	$137,571	$90,000	693,972	108
14	Iowa	$121,550	$78,000	3,145,711	191
15	Utah	$116,760	$74,000	3,101,833	264
16	Rhode Island	$113,515	$73,000	1,059,639	128
17	California	$117,862	$75,000	39,536,653	3,862
18	West Virginia	$113,747	$73,000	1,815,857	112
19	Kansas	$118,917	$76,000	2,913,123	182
20	Colorado	$113,550	$72,000	5,607,154	687
21	Delaware	$113,634	$73,000	961,939	103
22	New Hampshire	$110,210	$70,000	1,342,795	168
23	North Dakota	$114,481	$73,000	755,393	61
24	Maryland	$126,407	$82,000	6,052,177	165
25	Washington	$118,377	$76,000	7,405,743	376
26	New Mexico	$103,998	$65,000	2,088,070	183
27	Michigan	$99,448	$63,000	9,962,311	723
28	Oregon	$100,032	$63,000	4,142,776	520
29	Connecticut	$110,012	$70,000	3,588,184	279
30	Texas	$110,256	$70,000	28,304,596	1,391
31	Kentucky	$111,204	$71,000	4,454,189	176
32	South Carolina	$112,835	$73,000	5,024,369	148
33	Nevada	$111,277	$70,000	2,998,039	100
34	Pennsylvania	$96,098	$61,000	12,805,537	1,068
35	Mississippi	$104,984	$66,000	2,984,100	113
36	New Jersey	$94,522	$60,000	9,005,644	814
37	Massachusetts	$99,021	$63,000	6,859,819	763
38	North Carolina	$98,378	$63,000	10,273,419	715
39	Alaska	$97,879	$66,000	739,795	59
40	Arkansas	$98,871	$62,000	3,004,279	117
41	Indiana	$90,748	$57,000	6,666,818	465
42	Wyoming	$71,757	$45,000	579,315	54
43	Arizona	$75,286	$47,000	7,016,270	471
44	Louisiana	$94,215	$59,000	4,684,333	169
45	Tennessee	$72,620	$46,000	6,715,984	466
46	Nebraska	$71,868	$45,000	1,920,076	178
47	Florida	$71,623	$45,000	20,984,400	1,247
48	Wisconsin	$72,795	$46,000	5,795,483	381
49	Hawaii	$64,441	$52,000	1,427,538	63
50	Idaho	$73,984	$46,000	1,716,943	113
51	Alabama	$86,117	$55,000	4,874,747	144

Highest paying states for economist research assistants

Rank	State	Avg. Economist Research Assistant Salary
1	Vermont	$130,487
2	Montana	$131,446
3	Virginia	$136,423
4	South Dakota	$131,915
5	Maine	$123,422
6	Minnesota	$121,980
7	Oklahoma	$132,316
8	Illinois	$122,168
9	Ohio	$121,483
10	Georgia	$126,362
11	New York	$140,561
12	Missouri	$116,891
13	District of Columbia	$137,571
14	Iowa	$121,550
15	Utah	$116,760
16	Rhode Island	$113,515
17	California	$117,862
18	West Virginia	$113,747
19	Kansas	$118,917
20	Colorado	$113,550
21	Delaware	$113,634
22	New Hampshire	$110,210
23	North Dakota	$114,481
24	Maryland	$126,407
25	Washington	$118,377
26	New Mexico	$103,998
27	Michigan	$99,448
28	Oregon	$100,032
29	Connecticut	$110,012
30	Texas	$110,256
31	Kentucky	$111,204
32	South Carolina	$112,835
33	Nevada	$111,277
34	Pennsylvania	$96,098
35	Mississippi	$104,984
36	New Jersey	$94,522
37	Massachusetts	$99,021
38	North Carolina	$98,378
39	Alaska	$97,879
40	Arkansas	$98,871
41	Indiana	$90,748
42	Wyoming	$71,757
43	Arizona	$75,286
44	Louisiana	$94,215
45	Tennessee	$72,620
46	Nebraska	$71,868
47	Florida	$71,623
48	Wisconsin	$72,795
49	Hawaii	$64,441
50	Idaho	$73,984
51	Alabama	$86,117

Expert opinions on the best states for economist research assistants

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for economist research assistants to find work opportunities?
David Bunting Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, Eastern Washington University
Go where the jobs are; move to larger cities because of more employers.

Economist research assistant best states FAQs

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What is the worst state for economist research assistants?

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Economist Research Assistant
Best states for Economist Research Assistants

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total economist research assistant jobs:	89
Average annual salary:	$130,487
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$83,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$203,000
Location Quotient:	1.47

Best states for an economist research assistant

10 best states for economist research assistants in 2025

1. Vermont

2. Montana

3. Virginia

4. South Dakota

5. Maine

6. Minnesota

7. Oklahoma

8. Illinois

9. Ohio

10. Georgia