Best states for a fellow

Q: What is the best state for fellows?

The best state to be a fellow is Rhode Island based on fellow salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for fellows?

The highest paying state for fellows is North Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for fellows?

The worst state for fellows is Louisiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

It seems like fellows are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for fellows aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. 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 fellow jobs.

The median salary for fellows in Rhode Island is $78,492. Compare that to the median salary in Louisiana of $45,551, which ranked worst for fellows, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Rhode Island is the best state, and Clarksville is the city with the highest pay for fellows.

10 best states for fellows in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total fellow jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $78,492
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Fellow jobs in Rhode Island
2. Maine
Total fellow jobs: 21
Average annual salary: $77,590
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Fellow jobs in Maine
3. Massachusetts
Total fellow jobs: 635
Average annual salary: $71,549
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
3.54
Fellow jobs in Massachusetts
4. Tennessee
Total fellow jobs: 65
Average annual salary: $94,634
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Fellow jobs in Tennessee
5. Connecticut
Total fellow jobs: 50
Average annual salary: $81,389
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Fellow jobs in Connecticut
6. Arizona
Total fellow jobs: 104
Average annual salary: $74,523
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Fellow jobs in Arizona
7. Idaho
Total fellow jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $74,239
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Fellow jobs in Idaho
8. California
Total fellow jobs: 520
Average annual salary: $79,879
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Fellow jobs in California
9. Delaware
Total fellow jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $72,044
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Fellow jobs in Delaware
10. Minnesota
Total fellow jobs: 186
Average annual salary: $68,140
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Fellow jobs in Minnesota

Fellow jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a fellow

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

Detailed list of the best states for a fellow

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$78,492	$56,000	1,059,639	25
2	Maine	$77,590	$56,000	1,335,907	21
3	Massachusetts	$71,549	$51,000	6,859,819	635
4	Tennessee	$94,634	$62,000	6,715,984	65
5	Connecticut	$81,389	$58,000	3,588,184	50
6	Arizona	$74,523	$49,000	7,016,270	104
7	Idaho	$74,239	$51,000	1,716,943	26
8	California	$79,879	$53,000	39,536,653	520
9	Delaware	$72,044	$50,000	961,939	25
10	Minnesota	$68,140	$48,000	5,576,606	186
11	New York	$70,101	$49,000	19,849,399	544
12	Pennsylvania	$68,438	$47,000	12,805,537	261
13	New Jersey	$77,138	$54,000	9,005,644	104
14	Illinois	$69,389	$48,000	12,802,023	196
15	Wisconsin	$68,188	$48,000	5,795,483	86
16	Oregon	$65,977	$45,000	4,142,776	161
17	New Hampshire	$66,874	$48,000	1,342,795	34
18	Indiana	$73,104	$50,000	6,666,818	49
19	Maryland	$67,381	$46,000	6,052,177	162
20	Washington	$66,266	$46,000	7,405,743	186
21	West Virginia	$61,093	$41,000	1,815,857	38
22	District of Columbia	$66,595	$45,000	693,972	95
23	Hawaii	$74,084	$59,000	1,427,538	11
24	Kentucky	$60,987	$41,000	4,454,189	59
25	Colorado	$61,043	$41,000	5,607,154	177
26	Michigan	$61,628	$43,000	9,962,311	117
27	Oklahoma	$60,395	$39,000	3,930,864	47
28	Ohio	$61,476	$42,000	11,658,609	111
29	Iowa	$57,314	$40,000	3,145,711	93
30	Vermont	$57,857	$42,000	623,657	26
31	Wyoming	$57,848	$39,000	579,315	15
32	Montana	$63,420	$44,000	1,050,493	14
33	Virginia	$61,082	$41,000	8,470,020	187
34	Alaska	$58,787	$45,000	739,795	22
35	South Dakota	$59,653	$42,000	869,666	12
36	North Carolina	$60,483	$39,000	10,273,419	94
37	Arkansas	$59,574	$39,000	3,004,279	22
38	Nebraska	$58,567	$40,000	1,920,076	29
39	Kansas	$54,926	$37,000	2,913,123	56
40	New Mexico	$55,058	$36,000	2,088,070	31
41	Florida	$57,890	$36,000	20,984,400	159
42	Georgia	$52,141	$33,000	10,429,379	245
43	Nevada	$57,623	$38,000	2,998,039	15
44	Alabama	$55,669	$36,000	4,874,747	40
45	Missouri	$57,476	$38,000	6,113,532	40
46	Texas	$54,543	$35,000	28,304,596	202
47	South Carolina	$51,229	$33,000	5,024,369	59
48	North Dakota	$44,690	$32,000	755,393	15
49	Mississippi	$51,954	$33,000	2,984,100	22
50	Utah	$49,175	$33,000	3,101,833	36
51	Louisiana	$45,551	$29,000	4,684,333	40

Highest paying states for fellows

Rank	State	Avg. Fellow Salary
1	Rhode Island	$78,492
2	Maine	$77,590
3	Massachusetts	$71,549
4	Tennessee	$94,634
5	Connecticut	$81,389
6	Arizona	$74,523
7	Idaho	$74,239
8	California	$79,879
9	Delaware	$72,044
10	Minnesota	$68,140
11	New York	$70,101
12	Pennsylvania	$68,438
13	New Jersey	$77,138
14	Illinois	$69,389
15	Wisconsin	$68,188
16	Oregon	$65,977
17	New Hampshire	$66,874
18	Indiana	$73,104
19	Maryland	$67,381
20	Washington	$66,266
21	West Virginia	$61,093
22	District of Columbia	$66,595
23	Hawaii	$74,084
24	Kentucky	$60,987
25	Colorado	$61,043
26	Michigan	$61,628
27	Oklahoma	$60,395
28	Ohio	$61,476
29	Iowa	$57,314
30	Vermont	$57,857
31	Wyoming	$57,848
32	Montana	$63,420
33	Virginia	$61,082
34	Alaska	$58,787
35	South Dakota	$59,653
36	North Carolina	$60,483
37	Arkansas	$59,574
38	Nebraska	$58,567
39	Kansas	$54,926
40	New Mexico	$55,058
41	Florida	$57,890
42	Georgia	$52,141
43	Nevada	$57,623
44	Alabama	$55,669
45	Missouri	$57,476
46	Texas	$54,543
47	South Carolina	$51,229
48	North Dakota	$44,690
49	Mississippi	$51,954
50	Utah	$49,175
51	Louisiana	$45,551

Fellow best states FAQs

What is the best state for fellows?

What is the highest paying state for fellows?

What is the worst state for fellows?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Best states for Fellows

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total fellow jobs:	25
Average annual salary:	$78,492
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$109,000
Location Quotient:	1.05

Best states for a fellow

10 best states for fellows in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. Maine

3. Massachusetts

4. Tennessee

5. Connecticut

6. Arizona

7. Idaho

8. California

9. Delaware

10. Minnesota