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Best states for a laboratory research assistant
Quoted expert
Crystal Sehlke
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a laboratory research assistant at The University of Maryland Foundation, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for laboratory research assistants that you can check out, before you begin your journey. As laboratory research assistants are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for laboratory research assistants. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a laboratory research assistant, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
The median salary for laboratory research assistants in Massachusetts is $60,323. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $27,309, which ranked worst for laboratory research assistants, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for laboratory research assistants, and the Northeast is the worst. Boston, MA is the best city in the country for laboratory research assistant jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for laboratory research assistants in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 2,280 Average annual salary: $60,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
2. Alaska
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $58,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. New Jersey
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 1,259 Average annual salary: $49,789 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. Connecticut
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 472 Average annual salary: $49,998 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. Oregon
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 804 Average annual salary: $44,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
6. New Mexico
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 290 Average annual salary: $43,690 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. Illinois
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 1,526 Average annual salary: $49,498 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
8. New Hampshire
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 294 Average annual salary: $41,959 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
9. Minnesota
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 979 Average annual salary: $43,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Rhode Island
Total laboratory research assistant jobs: 172 Average annual salary: $42,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Laboratory research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $60,323 | $39,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,280 |
| 2 | Alaska | $58,941 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 139 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $49,789 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,259 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $49,998 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 472 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,835 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 804 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $43,690 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 290 |
| 7 | Illinois | $49,498 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,526 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $41,959 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 294 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $43,174 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 979 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $42,847 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 172 |
| 11 | Washington | $43,147 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,102 |
| 12 | Delaware | $45,393 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 157 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $39,534 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,842 |
| 14 | Idaho | $42,619 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 208 |
| 15 | Maryland | $40,903 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,153 |
| 16 | New York | $39,621 | $24,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,588 |
| 17 | Arizona | $37,402 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 897 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $39,043 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 124 |
| 19 | Michigan | $38,200 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,049 |
| 20 | Maine | $38,709 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 181 |
| 21 | Vermont | $36,091 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 159 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $35,897 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 218 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $44,983 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 200 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $36,596 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 771 |
| 25 | Colorado | $36,963 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,013 |
| 26 | Georgia | $39,523 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 969 |
| 27 | California | $40,029 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,973 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $34,261 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 92 |
| 29 | Virginia | $38,482 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,177 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $33,202 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 207 |
| 31 | Utah | $34,673 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 458 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $36,278 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 340 |
| 33 | Nevada | $35,995 | $23,000 | 2,998,039 | 202 |
| 34 | Ohio | $34,544 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,234 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $35,426 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,090 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $33,701 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 306 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,545 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 341 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $34,755 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 323 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $35,140 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 107 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $33,508 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 312 |
| 41 | Montana | $33,845 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 150 |
| 42 | Indiana | $34,258 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 627 |
| 43 | Florida | $32,762 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,126 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $30,641 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 799 |
| 45 | Missouri | $32,728 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 703 |
| 46 | Iowa | $30,844 | $20,000 | 3,145,711 | 485 |
| 47 | Kansas | $31,688 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 328 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $31,599 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 210 |
| 49 | Texas | $27,833 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,430 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $27,680 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 337 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,309 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 394 |
Highest paying states for laboratory research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $60,323 |
| 2 | Alaska | $58,941 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $49,789 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $49,998 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,835 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $43,690 |
| 7 | Illinois | $49,498 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $41,959 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $43,174 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $42,847 |
| 11 | Washington | $43,147 |
| 12 | Delaware | $45,393 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $39,534 |
| 14 | Idaho | $42,619 |
| 15 | Maryland | $40,903 |
| 16 | New York | $39,621 |
| 17 | Arizona | $37,402 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $39,043 |
| 19 | Michigan | $38,200 |
| 20 | Maine | $38,709 |
| 21 | Vermont | $36,091 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $35,897 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $44,983 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $36,596 |
| 25 | Colorado | $36,963 |
| 26 | Georgia | $39,523 |
| 27 | California | $40,029 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $34,261 |
| 29 | Virginia | $38,482 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $33,202 |
| 31 | Utah | $34,673 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $36,278 |
| 33 | Nevada | $35,995 |
| 34 | Ohio | $34,544 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $35,426 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $33,701 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,545 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $34,755 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $35,140 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $33,508 |
| 41 | Montana | $33,845 |
| 42 | Indiana | $34,258 |
| 43 | Florida | $32,762 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $30,641 |
| 45 | Missouri | $32,728 |
| 46 | Iowa | $30,844 |
| 47 | Kansas | $31,688 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $31,599 |
| 49 | Texas | $27,833 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $27,680 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,309 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory research assistants to find work opportunities?
Crystal Sehlke
Program Director,, University of Maryland
Some sectors are growing: E-commerce, online services, almost anything related to the delivery of goods. Technology skills will remain in demand, and there is an expanding need for data analytics and people who can extract key messages from masses of data. Another area of rapid expansion is human-focused services that can be delivered remotely, such as telehealth and tele-counseling. The popularity of "remote work" in the job and internship market has exploded out of necessity, and some of our current students have benefited from it by applying for remote internships at jobs and organizations that might have posed a geographic challenge prior to COVID-19.
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Updated January 8, 2025