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Best states for a graduate research student
Quoted expert
David Woodward
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a graduate research student and really want to work at University of California Press? Turns out, your chances to become a graduate research student are better in some states than others.We wanted to look at the best states for graduate research students -- where there are plenty of graduate research student jobs to go around and graduate research students get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for graduate research students, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a graduate research student, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for graduate research students in 2025
1. Pennsylvania
Total graduate research student jobs: 1,563 Average annual salary: $48,842 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
2. Massachusetts
Total graduate research student jobs: 1,594 Average annual salary: $46,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
3. New Jersey
Total graduate research student jobs: 1,059 Average annual salary: $43,402 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. Maine
Total graduate research student jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $42,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
5. Connecticut
Total graduate research student jobs: 333 Average annual salary: $43,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Michigan
Total graduate research student jobs: 840 Average annual salary: $39,037 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Indiana
Total graduate research student jobs: 578 Average annual salary: $40,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Wisconsin
Total graduate research student jobs: 449 Average annual salary: $41,548 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
9. Ohio
Total graduate research student jobs: 937 Average annual salary: $38,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Rhode Island
Total graduate research student jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $35,392 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Graduate research student jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a graduate research student
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a graduate research student
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $48,842 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,563 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,911 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,594 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $43,402 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,059 |
| 4 | Maine | $42,775 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 130 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $43,399 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 333 |
| 6 | Michigan | $39,037 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 840 |
| 7 | Indiana | $40,381 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 578 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $41,548 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 449 |
| 9 | Ohio | $38,409 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 937 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,392 | $20,000 | 1,059,639 | 165 |
| 11 | Maryland | $46,087 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 437 |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,825 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,284 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $35,561 | $21,000 | 1,342,795 | 198 |
| 14 | Delaware | $36,299 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 145 |
| 15 | Oregon | $34,589 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 720 |
| 16 | Colorado | $34,839 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 714 |
| 17 | California | $36,092 | $21,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,433 |
| 18 | Vermont | $33,134 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 109 |
| 19 | New York | $39,612 | $22,000 | 19,849,399 | 979 |
| 20 | Texas | $36,927 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,728 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $32,327 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 231 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $33,234 | $21,000 | 5,576,606 | 770 |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,026 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 138 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $37,111 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $32,544 | $18,000 | 1,815,857 | 134 |
| 26 | Alabama | $35,280 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 250 |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,356 | $18,000 | 8,470,020 | 909 |
| 28 | Alaska | $32,030 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 85 |
| 29 | Kansas | $32,662 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 236 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $31,634 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 99 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $35,491 | $19,000 | 693,972 | 159 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $28,639 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $32,627 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 158 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $29,178 | $16,000 | 6,715,984 | 640 |
| 35 | Montana | $29,991 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 114 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $29,759 | $20,000 | 755,393 | 87 |
| 37 | Washington | $32,076 | $22,000 | 7,405,743 | 678 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,129 | $19,000 | 2,998,039 | 140 |
| 39 | Arizona | $29,697 | $17,000 | 7,016,270 | 596 |
| 40 | Missouri | $28,888 | $17,000 | 6,113,532 | 657 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $31,199 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 196 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $29,169 | $16,000 | 10,273,419 | 854 |
| 43 | Iowa | $27,893 | $17,000 | 3,145,711 | 368 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $26,349 | $16,000 | 1,920,076 | 289 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $30,027 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 222 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,363 | $16,000 | 3,930,864 | 253 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $28,236 | $16,000 | 4,454,189 | 266 |
| 48 | Utah | $26,053 | $17,000 | 3,101,833 | 307 |
| 49 | Florida | $27,011 | $14,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,424 |
| 50 | Georgia | $28,036 | $15,000 | 10,429,379 | 794 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,168 | $15,000 | 3,004,279 | 199 |
Highest paying states for graduate research students
| Rank | State | Avg. Graduate Research Student Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $48,842 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,911 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $43,402 |
| 4 | Maine | $42,775 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $43,399 |
| 6 | Michigan | $39,037 |
| 7 | Indiana | $40,381 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $41,548 |
| 9 | Ohio | $38,409 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,392 |
| 11 | Maryland | $46,087 |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,825 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $35,561 |
| 14 | Delaware | $36,299 |
| 15 | Oregon | $34,589 |
| 16 | Colorado | $34,839 |
| 17 | California | $36,092 |
| 18 | Vermont | $33,134 |
| 19 | New York | $39,612 |
| 20 | Texas | $36,927 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $32,327 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $33,234 |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,026 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $37,111 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $32,544 |
| 26 | Alabama | $35,280 |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,356 |
| 28 | Alaska | $32,030 |
| 29 | Kansas | $32,662 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $31,634 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $35,491 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $28,639 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $32,627 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $29,178 |
| 35 | Montana | $29,991 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $29,759 |
| 37 | Washington | $32,076 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,129 |
| 39 | Arizona | $29,697 |
| 40 | Missouri | $28,888 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $31,199 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $29,169 |
| 43 | Iowa | $27,893 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $26,349 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $30,027 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,363 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $28,236 |
| 48 | Utah | $26,053 |
| 49 | Florida | $27,011 |
| 50 | Georgia | $28,036 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,168 |
Expert opinions on the best states for graduate research students
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduate research students to find work opportunities?
David Woodward
Director, Museum Studies Program, University of Minnesota Duluth
While the traditional path to employment in History has been through education licensure (secondary education) or through graduate degrees to become university faculty, most historians and heritage professionals are employed outside of academia. Prior to COVID 19, the field of public History was expanding. Public History covers museums, historic site management, historic preservation and compliance, and heritage interpretation. Many of our graduates over the past couple of years have found positions with local and regional museums and historical societies; others have found employment in historic preservation.
The preservation industry revolves around certain local, state, and federal laws that protect heritage and historic sites. The most comprehensive of these is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. There are also state and local ordinances that also address historic preservation. Federal, state, and local governments, along with private developers, often enlist historians and public History professionals to help comply with these regulations. Most large infrastructure projects (roads, mines, pipelines, energy development) have a historic preservation component.
Graduate research student best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025