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Best states for a graduate research assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.
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It seems like graduate research assistants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for graduate research assistants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for graduate research assistants.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for graduate research assistants.We found that New York is the best state for graduate research assistant jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for graduate research assistants in 2026
1. New York
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 1,957 Average annual salary: $43,651 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. Massachusetts
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 2,067 Average annual salary: $41,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 2.49
3. Pennsylvania
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 1,226 Average annual salary: $43,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Maryland
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 857 Average annual salary: $41,878 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
5. New Jersey
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 849 Average annual salary: $38,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
6. Colorado
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 825 Average annual salary: $36,587 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
7. Connecticut
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 305 Average annual salary: $38,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Wisconsin
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $39,959 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. Maine
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $38,909 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
10. Michigan
Total graduate research assistant jobs: 647 Average annual salary: $35,736 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
Graduate research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a graduate research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a graduate research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $43,651 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,957 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $41,516 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,067 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $43,852 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,226 |
| 4 | Maryland | $41,878 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 857 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $38,701 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 849 |
| 6 | Colorado | $36,587 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 825 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $38,539 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 305 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $39,959 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 396 |
| 9 | Maine | $38,909 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 100 |
| 10 | Michigan | $35,736 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 647 |
| 11 | Illinois | $35,972 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,024 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,592 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 326 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $42,624 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 58 |
| 14 | Ohio | $35,868 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 753 |
| 15 | Idaho | $37,173 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 118 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $32,617 | $21,000 | 2,088,070 | 188 |
| 17 | Washington | $33,872 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 879 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $33,118 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 588 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $32,845 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 79 |
| 20 | Utah | $32,305 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 270 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,305 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 138 |
| 22 | California | $35,376 | $22,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,374 |
| 23 | Kansas | $33,710 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 166 |
| 24 | Alaska | $32,233 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 99 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $30,629 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 122 |
| 26 | Delaware | $32,719 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 103 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $32,703 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 108 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $31,634 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 149 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $32,423 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 195 |
| 30 | Virginia | $32,186 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 841 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $29,735 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 462 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $30,431 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 33 | Oregon | $30,389 | $22,000 | 4,142,776 | 647 |
| 34 | Vermont | $30,074 | $22,000 | 623,657 | 95 |
| 35 | Montana | $31,977 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 81 |
| 36 | Nevada | $32,050 | $21,000 | 2,998,039 | 92 |
| 37 | Arizona | $29,983 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 457 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $30,893 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 188 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $30,239 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 59 |
| 40 | Missouri | $29,635 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 437 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $27,520 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 214 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,551 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 145 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $28,777 | $17,000 | 10,273,419 | 678 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,949 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 201 |
| 45 | Florida | $26,845 | $15,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,259 |
| 46 | Iowa | $28,522 | $19,000 | 3,145,711 | 229 |
| 47 | Texas | $26,970 | $16,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,588 |
| 48 | Georgia | $28,539 | $17,000 | 10,429,379 | 661 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $28,271 | $18,000 | 4,454,189 | 178 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,593 | $17,000 | 4,874,747 | 166 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,634 | $17,000 | 3,004,279 | 122 |
Highest paying states for graduate research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Graduate Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $43,651 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $41,516 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $43,852 |
| 4 | Maryland | $41,878 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $38,701 |
| 6 | Colorado | $36,587 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $38,539 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $39,959 |
| 9 | Maine | $38,909 |
| 10 | Michigan | $35,736 |
| 11 | Illinois | $35,972 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,592 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $42,624 |
| 14 | Ohio | $35,868 |
| 15 | Idaho | $37,173 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $32,617 |
| 17 | Washington | $33,872 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $33,118 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $32,845 |
| 20 | Utah | $32,305 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,305 |
| 22 | California | $35,376 |
| 23 | Kansas | $33,710 |
| 24 | Alaska | $32,233 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $30,629 |
| 26 | Delaware | $32,719 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $32,703 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $31,634 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $32,423 |
| 30 | Virginia | $32,186 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $29,735 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $30,431 |
| 33 | Oregon | $30,389 |
| 34 | Vermont | $30,074 |
| 35 | Montana | $31,977 |
| 36 | Nevada | $32,050 |
| 37 | Arizona | $29,983 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $30,893 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $30,239 |
| 40 | Missouri | $29,635 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $27,520 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,551 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $28,777 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,949 |
| 45 | Florida | $26,845 |
| 46 | Iowa | $28,522 |
| 47 | Texas | $26,970 |
| 48 | Georgia | $28,539 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $28,271 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,593 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,634 |
Expert opinions on the best states for graduate research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduate research assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jelena Sanchez Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish, North Central College
The pandemic has blurred geographical boundaries. A successful bilingual graduate today will find access to the global employment from their computer at home anywhere in the world.
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Updated January 8, 2025