Best states for a naturalist

Q: What is the best state for naturalists?

The best state to be a naturalist is Rhode Island based on naturalist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for naturalists?

The highest paying state for naturalists is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for naturalists?

The worst state for naturalists is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Job opportunities vary from state to state, and life, physical, and social science careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to naturalist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for naturalists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for naturalists. We found that Rhode Island is the best state in the nation for naturalists, and people in South Kingstown earn the most in the field.

We figured that the best places for naturalist 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 naturalists, and the Northeast is the worst. Las Vegas, NV is the best city in the country for naturalist jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.

10 best states for naturalists in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total naturalist jobs: 19
Average annual salary: $63,779
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Naturalist jobs in Rhode Island
2. Alaska
Total naturalist jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $52,437
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
3.38
Naturalist jobs in Alaska
3. District of Columbia
Total naturalist jobs: 33
Average annual salary: $60,314
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.73
Naturalist jobs in District of Columbia
4. Nevada
Total naturalist jobs: 27
Average annual salary: $54,539
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Naturalist jobs in Nevada
5. Connecticut
Total naturalist jobs: 88
Average annual salary: $47,662
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
2.34
Naturalist jobs in Connecticut
6. West Virginia
Total naturalist jobs: 35
Average annual salary: $43,494
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
2.02
Naturalist jobs in West Virginia
7. North Dakota
Total naturalist jobs: 45
Average annual salary: $42,951
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
4.27
Naturalist jobs in North Dakota
8. New Mexico
Total naturalist jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $46,004
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Naturalist jobs in New Mexico
9. Indiana
Total naturalist jobs: 111
Average annual salary: $43,518
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Naturalist jobs in Indiana
10. Delaware
Total naturalist jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $63,308
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
0.42
Naturalist jobs in Delaware

Naturalist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a naturalist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a naturalist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$63,779	$38,000	1,059,639	19
2	Alaska	$52,437	$30,000	739,795	32
3	District of Columbia	$60,314	$36,000	693,972	33
4	Nevada	$54,539	$31,000	2,998,039	27
5	Connecticut	$47,662	$28,000	3,588,184	88
6	West Virginia	$43,494	$27,000	1,815,857	35
7	North Dakota	$42,951	$29,000	755,393	45
8	New Mexico	$46,004	$28,000	2,088,070	25
9	Indiana	$43,518	$28,000	6,666,818	111
10	Delaware	$63,308	$37,000	961,939	6
11	California	$48,712	$28,000	39,536,653	428
12	New York	$56,946	$33,000	19,849,399	59
13	Vermont	$43,030	$27,000	623,657	14
14	Ohio	$44,192	$27,000	11,658,609	109
15	Pennsylvania	$42,971	$25,000	12,805,537	128
16	New Hampshire	$44,757	$27,000	1,342,795	15
17	New Jersey	$48,720	$28,000	9,005,644	42
18	Arizona	$43,804	$25,000	7,016,270	58
19	Washington	$41,043	$24,000	7,405,743	135
20	Massachusetts	$45,884	$27,000	6,859,819	62
21	Michigan	$43,418	$27,000	9,962,311	53
22	Maine	$37,478	$24,000	1,335,907	62
23	Wisconsin	$39,981	$26,000	5,795,483	65
24	Kentucky	$38,945	$25,000	4,454,189	53
25	Nebraska	$36,496	$24,000	1,920,076	40
26	Texas	$38,635	$24,000	28,304,596	189
27	Arkansas	$36,143	$23,000	3,004,279	38
28	Virginia	$40,824	$24,000	8,470,020	104
29	Idaho	$37,517	$22,000	1,716,943	25
30	Maryland	$44,384	$26,000	6,052,177	41
31	South Dakota	$35,533	$23,000	869,666	13
32	Minnesota	$38,210	$26,000	5,576,606	61
33	North Carolina	$36,457	$23,000	10,273,419	96
34	Oklahoma	$34,643	$22,000	3,930,864	49
35	Wyoming	$33,069	$21,000	579,315	14
36	Tennessee	$34,925	$22,000	6,715,984	51
37	Montana	$33,235	$21,000	1,050,493	24
38	Oregon	$38,285	$22,000	4,142,776	34
39	Mississippi	$35,443	$23,000	2,984,100	15
40	Missouri	$35,896	$23,000	6,113,532	49
41	Utah	$37,288	$22,000	3,101,833	13
42	Hawaii	$34,706	$24,000	1,427,538	9
43	Florida	$32,671	$21,000	20,984,400	271
44	Iowa	$32,535	$21,000	3,145,711	52
45	Illinois	$33,943	$22,000	12,802,023	117
46	Colorado	$34,920	$22,000	5,607,154	48
47	Georgia	$34,242	$22,000	10,429,379	68
48	South Carolina	$29,681	$19,000	5,024,369	48
49	Louisiana	$30,903	$19,000	4,684,333	22
50	Kansas	$29,744	$19,000	2,913,123	25
51	Alabama	$30,700	$20,000	4,874,747	18

Highest paying states for naturalists

Rank	State	Avg. Naturalist Salary
1	Rhode Island	$63,779
2	Alaska	$52,437
3	District of Columbia	$60,314
4	Nevada	$54,539
5	Connecticut	$47,662
6	West Virginia	$43,494
7	North Dakota	$42,951
8	New Mexico	$46,004
9	Indiana	$43,518
10	Delaware	$63,308
11	California	$48,712
12	New York	$56,946
13	Vermont	$43,030
14	Ohio	$44,192
15	Pennsylvania	$42,971
16	New Hampshire	$44,757
17	New Jersey	$48,720
18	Arizona	$43,804
19	Washington	$41,043
20	Massachusetts	$45,884
21	Michigan	$43,418
22	Maine	$37,478
23	Wisconsin	$39,981
24	Kentucky	$38,945
25	Nebraska	$36,496
26	Texas	$38,635
27	Arkansas	$36,143
28	Virginia	$40,824
29	Idaho	$37,517
30	Maryland	$44,384
31	South Dakota	$35,533
32	Minnesota	$38,210
33	North Carolina	$36,457
34	Oklahoma	$34,643
35	Wyoming	$33,069
36	Tennessee	$34,925
37	Montana	$33,235
38	Oregon	$38,285
39	Mississippi	$35,443
40	Missouri	$35,896
41	Utah	$37,288
42	Hawaii	$34,706
43	Florida	$32,671
44	Iowa	$32,535
45	Illinois	$33,943
46	Colorado	$34,920
47	Georgia	$34,242
48	South Carolina	$29,681
49	Louisiana	$30,903
50	Kansas	$29,744
51	Alabama	$30,700

Naturalist best states FAQs

What is the best state for naturalists?

What is the highest paying state for naturalists?

What is the worst state for naturalists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

Search for naturalist jobs

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Naturalist
Best states for Naturalists

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs

Total naturalist jobs:	19
Average annual salary:	$63,779
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$106,000
Location Quotient:	1.38

Best states for a naturalist

10 best states for naturalists in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. Alaska

3. District of Columbia

4. Nevada

5. Connecticut

6. West Virginia

7. North Dakota

8. New Mexico

9. Indiana

10. Delaware