Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a junior scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for junior scientists in the United States. Junior scientist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for junior scientists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for junior scientists. We found that California is the best state in the nation for junior scientists, and people in Windsor earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for junior scientist 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.California is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for junior scientists.
10 best states for junior scientists in 2026
1. California
Total junior scientist jobs: 4,236 Average annual salary: $89,767 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
2. New Jersey
Total junior scientist jobs: 1,038 Average annual salary: $76,450 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
3. Massachusetts
Total junior scientist jobs: 1,816 Average annual salary: $72,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 2.07
4. Connecticut
Total junior scientist jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $74,593 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Illinois
Total junior scientist jobs: 1,193 Average annual salary: $71,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
6. Maryland
Total junior scientist jobs: 1,193 Average annual salary: $70,285 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.97
7. Delaware
Total junior scientist jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $68,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
8. New York
Total junior scientist jobs: 1,600 Average annual salary: $69,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
9. Montana
Total junior scientist jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $68,158 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
10. Indiana
Total junior scientist jobs: 400 Average annual salary: $72,008 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
Junior scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $89,767 | $58,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,236 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,450 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,038 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $72,967 | $50,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,816 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $74,593 | $51,000 | 3,588,184 | 372 |
| 5 | Illinois | $71,256 | $49,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,193 |
| 6 | Maryland | $70,285 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,193 |
| 7 | Delaware | $68,930 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 182 |
| 8 | New York | $69,989 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,600 |
| 9 | Montana | $68,158 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 113 |
| 10 | Indiana | $72,008 | $49,000 | 6,666,818 | 400 |
| 11 | Arizona | $70,015 | $46,000 | 7,016,270 | 394 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $68,335 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 252 |
| 13 | Nevada | $70,868 | $46,000 | 2,998,039 | 125 |
| 14 | Virginia | $63,132 | $42,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,360 |
| 15 | Maine | $66,029 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 97 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $63,289 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,102 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $68,885 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 301 |
| 18 | Washington | $62,216 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 873 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $63,517 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 458 |
| 20 | Oregon | $63,125 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 385 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $60,404 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 114 |
| 22 | Colorado | $61,060 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 508 |
| 23 | Ohio | $61,159 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 620 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $54,954 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 60 |
| 25 | Utah | $53,443 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 369 |
| 26 | Vermont | $56,261 | $39,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $54,008 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 907 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $54,056 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 183 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $57,716 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 76 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $54,951 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 139 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $58,545 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $50,207 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 115 |
| 33 | Alaska | $56,494 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 69 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $54,806 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 118 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $50,729 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 201 |
| 36 | Missouri | $52,090 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 429 |
| 37 | Alabama | $51,831 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 281 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $52,999 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 440 |
| 39 | Texas | $51,290 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,334 |
| 40 | Florida | $51,399 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,116 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $52,034 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 166 |
| 42 | Idaho | $48,597 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 149 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $50,413 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 181 |
| 44 | Kansas | $49,665 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 199 |
| 45 | Michigan | $50,297 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 447 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $43,871 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 90 |
| 47 | Georgia | $46,952 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 634 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $45,356 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 290 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $47,066 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 72 |
| 50 | Iowa | $38,943 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 239 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $43,956 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 117 |
Highest paying states for junior scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $89,767 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,450 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $72,967 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $74,593 |
| 5 | Illinois | $71,256 |
| 6 | Maryland | $70,285 |
| 7 | Delaware | $68,930 |
| 8 | New York | $69,989 |
| 9 | Montana | $68,158 |
| 10 | Indiana | $72,008 |
| 11 | Arizona | $70,015 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $68,335 |
| 13 | Nevada | $70,868 |
| 14 | Virginia | $63,132 |
| 15 | Maine | $66,029 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $63,289 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $68,885 |
| 18 | Washington | $62,216 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $63,517 |
| 20 | Oregon | $63,125 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $60,404 |
| 22 | Colorado | $61,060 |
| 23 | Ohio | $61,159 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $54,954 |
| 25 | Utah | $53,443 |
| 26 | Vermont | $56,261 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $54,008 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $54,056 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $57,716 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $54,951 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $58,545 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $50,207 |
| 33 | Alaska | $56,494 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $54,806 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $50,729 |
| 36 | Missouri | $52,090 |
| 37 | Alabama | $51,831 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $52,999 |
| 39 | Texas | $51,290 |
| 40 | Florida | $51,399 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $52,034 |
| 42 | Idaho | $48,597 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $50,413 |
| 44 | Kansas | $49,665 |
| 45 | Michigan | $50,297 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $43,871 |
| 47 | Georgia | $46,952 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $45,356 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $47,066 |
| 50 | Iowa | $38,943 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $43,956 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior scientists to find work opportunities?
Don Snyder
Associate Director, Industry Advising: STEM, William and Mary
Strong tech markets in the U.S. include Austin, Raleigh, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Columbus. Some markets are established in tech, while other markets are more up-and-coming. Smaller cities that may be "off the radar" include Huntsville and Tucson. Graduates need to look at different factors when exploring cities, including the cost of living. The dollar will go a lot further in Raleigh than in San Francisco. And some cities that were once more affordable may have a higher cost of living now due to the recent influx of residents.
Junior scientist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for junior scientist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025