Best states for a graduate fellow

Q: What is the best state for graduate fellows?

The best state to be a graduate fellow is Washington based on graduate fellow salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for graduate fellows?

The highest paying state for graduate fellows is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for graduate fellows?

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

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It seems like graduate fellows are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for graduate fellows aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for graduate fellows.

In order to get you the best states for graduate fellows, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for graduate fellows, and the Northeast is the worst. Germantown, MD is the best city in the country for graduate fellow jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for graduate fellows in 2026

1. Washington
Total graduate fellow jobs: 136
Average annual salary: $67,977
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Graduate fellow jobs in Washington
2. Maryland
Total graduate fellow jobs: 153
Average annual salary: $67,323
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
1.46
Graduate fellow jobs in Maryland
3. Oregon
Total graduate fellow jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $65,499
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Graduate fellow jobs in Oregon
4. Idaho
Total graduate fellow jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $67,052
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0.67
Graduate fellow jobs in Idaho
5. Alaska
Total graduate fellow jobs: 51
Average annual salary: $64,078
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
3.71
Graduate fellow jobs in Alaska
6. Maine
Total graduate fellow jobs: 13
Average annual salary: $67,595
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.6
Graduate fellow jobs in Maine
7. Pennsylvania
Total graduate fellow jobs: 124
Average annual salary: $65,820
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
0.65
Graduate fellow jobs in Pennsylvania
8. Illinois
Total graduate fellow jobs: 119
Average annual salary: $66,799
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Graduate fellow jobs in Illinois
9. Indiana
Total graduate fellow jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $67,024
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.35
Graduate fellow jobs in Indiana
10. New Mexico
Total graduate fellow jobs: 12
Average annual salary: $67,580
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
0.37
Graduate fellow jobs in New Mexico

Graduate fellow jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a graduate fellow

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

Detailed list of the best states for a graduate fellow

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$67,977	$50,000	7,405,743	136
2	Maryland	$67,323	$46,000	6,052,177	153
3	Oregon	$65,499	$48,000	4,142,776	76
4	Idaho	$67,052	$48,000	1,716,943	18
5	Alaska	$64,078	$53,000	739,795	51
6	Maine	$67,595	$47,000	1,335,907	13
7	Pennsylvania	$65,820	$45,000	12,805,537	124
8	Illinois	$66,799	$46,000	12,802,023	119
9	Indiana	$67,024	$46,000	6,666,818	38
10	New Mexico	$67,580	$45,000	2,088,070	12
11	New Jersey	$63,910	$44,000	9,005,644	98
12	Arizona	$57,565	$39,000	7,016,270	98
13	Michigan	$56,047	$39,000	9,962,311	104
14	District of Columbia	$59,806	$40,000	693,972	71
15	Alabama	$58,911	$37,000	4,874,747	36
16	Massachusetts	$55,681	$39,000	6,859,819	634
17	Texas	$57,114	$36,000	28,304,596	226
18	Mississippi	$59,522	$38,000	2,984,100	13
19	New York	$56,578	$39,000	19,849,399	504
20	Wyoming	$54,335	$38,000	579,315	10
21	California	$58,152	$40,000	39,536,653	530
22	New Hampshire	$55,761	$38,000	1,342,795	24
23	South Dakota	$55,697	$40,000	869,666	7
24	Rhode Island	$53,922	$37,000	1,059,639	27
25	Louisiana	$55,964	$35,000	4,684,333	34
26	Utah	$55,655	$39,000	3,101,833	33
27	Connecticut	$56,599	$39,000	3,588,184	37
28	Minnesota	$53,554	$39,000	5,576,606	136
29	West Virginia	$50,615	$34,000	1,815,857	45
30	North Carolina	$56,316	$36,000	10,273,419	57
31	Vermont	$52,760	$36,000	623,657	17
32	Georgia	$51,305	$32,000	10,429,379	230
33	Tennessee	$52,060	$34,000	6,715,984	58
34	Oklahoma	$51,657	$34,000	3,930,864	39
35	Montana	$55,222	$40,000	1,050,493	6
36	North Dakota	$49,381	$36,000	755,393	17
37	Delaware	$52,591	$36,000	961,939	14
38	Ohio	$50,610	$35,000	11,658,609	81
39	Wisconsin	$49,303	$35,000	5,795,483	81
40	Virginia	$51,024	$34,000	8,470,020	155
41	Colorado	$48,804	$34,000	5,607,154	215
42	Nevada	$52,927	$37,000	2,998,039	9
43	South Carolina	$51,488	$32,000	5,024,369	28
44	Nebraska	$48,426	$34,000	1,920,076	35
45	Hawaii	$53,181	$42,000	1,427,538	7
46	Kansas	$48,384	$33,000	2,913,123	42
47	Florida	$49,733	$29,000	20,984,400	116
48	Arkansas	$48,063	$32,000	3,004,279	18
49	Kentucky	$49,230	$33,000	4,454,189	18
50	Iowa	$48,623	$34,000	3,145,711	17
51	Missouri	$48,587	$33,000	6,113,532	37

Highest paying states for graduate fellows

Rank	State	Avg. Graduate Fellow Salary
1	Washington	$67,977
2	Maryland	$67,323
3	Oregon	$65,499
4	Idaho	$67,052
5	Alaska	$64,078
6	Maine	$67,595
7	Pennsylvania	$65,820
8	Illinois	$66,799
9	Indiana	$67,024
10	New Mexico	$67,580
11	New Jersey	$63,910
12	Arizona	$57,565
13	Michigan	$56,047
14	District of Columbia	$59,806
15	Alabama	$58,911
16	Massachusetts	$55,681
17	Texas	$57,114
18	Mississippi	$59,522
19	New York	$56,578
20	Wyoming	$54,335
21	California	$58,152
22	New Hampshire	$55,761
23	South Dakota	$55,697
24	Rhode Island	$53,922
25	Louisiana	$55,964
26	Utah	$55,655
27	Connecticut	$56,599
28	Minnesota	$53,554
29	West Virginia	$50,615
30	North Carolina	$56,316
31	Vermont	$52,760
32	Georgia	$51,305
33	Tennessee	$52,060
34	Oklahoma	$51,657
35	Montana	$55,222
36	North Dakota	$49,381
37	Delaware	$52,591
38	Ohio	$50,610
39	Wisconsin	$49,303
40	Virginia	$51,024
41	Colorado	$48,804
42	Nevada	$52,927
43	South Carolina	$51,488
44	Nebraska	$48,426
45	Hawaii	$53,181
46	Kansas	$48,384
47	Florida	$49,733
48	Arkansas	$48,063
49	Kentucky	$49,230
50	Iowa	$48,623
51	Missouri	$48,587

Graduate fellow best states FAQs

What is the best state for graduate fellows?

What is the highest paying state for graduate fellows?

What is the worst state for graduate fellows?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

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Best states for Graduate Fellows

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total graduate fellow jobs:	136
Average annual salary:	$67,977
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$50,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$91,000
Location Quotient:	1.13

Best states for a graduate fellow

10 best states for graduate fellows in 2026

1. Washington

2. Maryland

3. Oregon

4. Idaho

5. Alaska

6. Maine

7. Pennsylvania

8. Illinois

9. Indiana

10. New Mexico