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Best states for a junior research associate
Quoted expert
Katina Lillios
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Do you want to become a junior research associate at Goldman Sachs, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for junior research associates that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that Maryland is the best state for junior research associates in America. The best city in America for junior research associates with the highest pay is Annapolis, MD.
We figured that the best places for junior research associate 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 South is best for junior research associates, and the Northeast is the worst. Annapolis, MD is the best city in the country for junior research associate jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.
10 best states for junior research associates in 2025
1. Maryland
Total junior research associate jobs: 1,084 Average annual salary: $120,974 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.91
2. New York
Total junior research associate jobs: 1,866 Average annual salary: $109,181 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
3. Maine
Total junior research associate jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $116,250 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
4. Idaho
Total junior research associate jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $119,325 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
5. West Virginia
Total junior research associate jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $111,106 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. New Jersey
Total junior research associate jobs: 903 Average annual salary: $106,348 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
7. Colorado
Total junior research associate jobs: 708 Average annual salary: $104,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
8. Ohio
Total junior research associate jobs: 821 Average annual salary: $110,394 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. District of Columbia
Total junior research associate jobs: 172 Average annual salary: $108,062 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Washington
Total junior research associate jobs: 299 Average annual salary: $129,545 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
Junior research associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior research associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior research associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $120,974 | $83,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,084 |
| 2 | New York | $109,181 | $75,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,866 |
| 3 | Maine | $116,250 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 115 |
| 4 | Idaho | $119,325 | $79,000 | 1,716,943 | 136 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $111,106 | $75,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $106,348 | $73,000 | 9,005,644 | 903 |
| 7 | Colorado | $104,270 | $71,000 | 5,607,154 | 708 |
| 8 | Ohio | $110,394 | $75,000 | 11,658,609 | 821 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $108,062 | $74,000 | 693,972 | 172 |
| 10 | Washington | $129,545 | $86,000 | 7,405,743 | 299 |
| 11 | Virginia | $98,531 | $67,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,138 |
| 12 | Utah | $89,637 | $60,000 | 3,101,833 | 394 |
| 13 | Arizona | $101,364 | $68,000 | 7,016,270 | 538 |
| 14 | Illinois | $96,732 | $67,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,076 |
| 15 | Indiana | $105,377 | $72,000 | 6,666,818 | 376 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $105,673 | $72,000 | 4,454,189 | 202 |
| 17 | Alaska | $107,263 | $76,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $105,643 | $70,000 | 5,024,369 | 180 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $81,270 | $56,000 | 1,920,076 | 215 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $79,524 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 142 |
| 21 | Oregon | $81,496 | $54,000 | 4,142,776 | 579 |
| 22 | Missouri | $82,000 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 475 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $84,054 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 68 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $79,381 | $55,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,151 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $78,890 | $54,000 | 1,342,795 | 174 |
| 26 | Montana | $81,349 | $55,000 | 1,050,493 | 90 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $97,417 | $70,000 | 1,427,538 | 65 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $83,999 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 128 |
| 29 | Vermont | $77,253 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 101 |
| 30 | Nevada | $82,103 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 119 |
| 31 | California | $89,725 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,035 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $79,180 | $54,000 | 3,588,184 | 329 |
| 33 | Delaware | $77,751 | $53,000 | 961,939 | 128 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $76,561 | $51,000 | 2,088,070 | 186 |
| 35 | Michigan | $74,623 | $51,000 | 9,962,311 | 726 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $74,877 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 87 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $78,017 | $51,000 | 4,684,333 | 199 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $76,593 | $53,000 | 5,795,483 | 424 |
| 39 | Texas | $74,034 | $48,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,711 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $70,539 | $47,000 | 6,715,984 | 515 |
| 41 | Kansas | $75,454 | $51,000 | 2,913,123 | 183 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $73,720 | $49,000 | 3,930,864 | 249 |
| 43 | Iowa | $74,834 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 201 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $63,207 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,178 |
| 45 | Georgia | $73,055 | $48,000 | 10,429,379 | 805 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $56,654 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 61 |
| 47 | Florida | $61,150 | $39,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,333 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $70,365 | $47,000 | 3,004,279 | 150 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $56,221 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 603 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $58,721 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 760 |
| 51 | Alabama | $56,412 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 270 |
Highest paying states for junior research associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Research Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $120,974 |
| 2 | New York | $109,181 |
| 3 | Maine | $116,250 |
| 4 | Idaho | $119,325 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $111,106 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $106,348 |
| 7 | Colorado | $104,270 |
| 8 | Ohio | $110,394 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $108,062 |
| 10 | Washington | $129,545 |
| 11 | Virginia | $98,531 |
| 12 | Utah | $89,637 |
| 13 | Arizona | $101,364 |
| 14 | Illinois | $96,732 |
| 15 | Indiana | $105,377 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $105,673 |
| 17 | Alaska | $107,263 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $105,643 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $81,270 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $79,524 |
| 21 | Oregon | $81,496 |
| 22 | Missouri | $82,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $84,054 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $79,381 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $78,890 |
| 26 | Montana | $81,349 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $97,417 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $83,999 |
| 29 | Vermont | $77,253 |
| 30 | Nevada | $82,103 |
| 31 | California | $89,725 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $79,180 |
| 33 | Delaware | $77,751 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $76,561 |
| 35 | Michigan | $74,623 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $74,877 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $78,017 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $76,593 |
| 39 | Texas | $74,034 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $70,539 |
| 41 | Kansas | $75,454 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $73,720 |
| 43 | Iowa | $74,834 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $63,207 |
| 45 | Georgia | $73,055 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $56,654 |
| 47 | Florida | $61,150 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $70,365 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $56,221 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $58,721 |
| 51 | Alabama | $56,412 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior research associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior research associates to find work opportunities?
Katina Lillios
Professor, Department Chair, The University of Iowa
With an Anthropology degree in hand, it is easier to find employment in high population density areas, where colleges/universities, museums, libraries, and hospitals are located.
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Updated January 8, 2025