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Best states for a laboratory assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Rainer Glaser
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to laboratory assistant jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state for laboratory assistants in America. The best city in America for laboratory assistants with the highest pay is Boston, MA.
We figured that the best places for laboratory assistant 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.If you are currently seeking employment as a laboratory assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for laboratory assistants in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 1,798 Average annual salary: $43,536 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Vermont
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $37,699 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Maine
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 316 Average annual salary: $36,793 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
4. Pennsylvania
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 2,164 Average annual salary: $36,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
5. Connecticut
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 538 Average annual salary: $41,912 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6. New Jersey
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 1,563 Average annual salary: $38,426 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
7. Alaska
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $39,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
8. Rhode Island
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $37,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Kentucky
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 581 Average annual salary: $36,559 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
10. New Hampshire
Total laboratory assistant jobs: 378 Average annual salary: $34,226 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
Laboratory assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,536 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,798 |
| 2 | Vermont | $37,699 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 168 |
| 3 | Maine | $36,793 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 316 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $36,313 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,164 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $41,912 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 538 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $38,426 | $28,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,563 |
| 7 | Alaska | $39,817 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 145 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $37,214 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 204 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $36,559 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 581 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $34,226 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 378 |
| 11 | Michigan | $33,402 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,689 |
| 12 | New York | $35,792 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,079 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $34,208 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 163 |
| 14 | Iowa | $33,619 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 657 |
| 15 | Ohio | $33,484 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,832 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $35,069 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,079 |
| 17 | Delaware | $37,374 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 171 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $33,318 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 936 |
| 19 | Washington | $35,184 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,158 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $32,142 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 198 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $39,630 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 122 |
| 22 | Oregon | $34,737 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 615 |
| 23 | California | $37,358 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,989 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $31,388 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 278 |
| 25 | Montana | $33,368 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 180 |
| 26 | Indiana | $31,427 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,152 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $31,560 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,610 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $32,696 | $25,000 | 2,088,070 | 281 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $37,061 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 119 |
| 30 | Illinois | $33,288 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,812 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $29,265 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,098 |
| 32 | Virginia | $34,744 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,267 |
| 33 | Maryland | $33,521 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 968 |
| 34 | Kansas | $30,192 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 483 |
| 35 | Arizona | $29,289 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,137 |
| 36 | Idaho | $30,874 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 259 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $28,733 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 830 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,002 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 39 | Colorado | $31,978 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 837 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $30,397 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 78 |
| 41 | Missouri | $30,232 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 818 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $27,916 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 545 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $30,076 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 273 |
| 44 | Florida | $25,228 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,402 |
| 45 | Utah | $29,018 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 411 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $26,727 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 323 |
| 47 | Georgia | $27,990 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,491 |
| 48 | Texas | $26,921 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,119 |
| 49 | Alabama | $26,545 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 623 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $25,704 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 368 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $25,720 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 439 |
Highest paying states for laboratory assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,536 |
| 2 | Vermont | $37,699 |
| 3 | Maine | $36,793 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $36,313 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $41,912 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $38,426 |
| 7 | Alaska | $39,817 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $37,214 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $36,559 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $34,226 |
| 11 | Michigan | $33,402 |
| 12 | New York | $35,792 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $34,208 |
| 14 | Iowa | $33,619 |
| 15 | Ohio | $33,484 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $35,069 |
| 17 | Delaware | $37,374 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $33,318 |
| 19 | Washington | $35,184 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $32,142 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $39,630 |
| 22 | Oregon | $34,737 |
| 23 | California | $37,358 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $31,388 |
| 25 | Montana | $33,368 |
| 26 | Indiana | $31,427 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $31,560 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $32,696 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $37,061 |
| 30 | Illinois | $33,288 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $29,265 |
| 32 | Virginia | $34,744 |
| 33 | Maryland | $33,521 |
| 34 | Kansas | $30,192 |
| 35 | Arizona | $29,289 |
| 36 | Idaho | $30,874 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $28,733 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,002 |
| 39 | Colorado | $31,978 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $30,397 |
| 41 | Missouri | $30,232 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $27,916 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $30,076 |
| 44 | Florida | $25,228 |
| 45 | Utah | $29,018 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $26,727 |
| 47 | Georgia | $27,990 |
| 48 | Texas | $26,921 |
| 49 | Alabama | $26,545 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $25,704 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $25,720 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rainer Glaser
Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology
There are a few classic hubs of "big commodities chemistry" and "big pharma", for example. Interestingly, the chemistry enterprise constantly spawns new specializations and keeps getting more de-centralized with excellent employment opportunities in every state.
Laboratory assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025