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Best states for a neuroscientist
Quoted expert
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for neuroscientists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for neuroscientist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for neuroscientist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for neuroscientists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.California is the best state, and Eureka is the city with the highest pay for neuroscientists.
10 best states for neuroscientists in 2025
1. California
Total neuroscientist jobs: 2,450 Average annual salary: $105,037 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
2. Rhode Island
Total neuroscientist jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $95,242 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Connecticut
Total neuroscientist jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $95,565 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
4. New Jersey
Total neuroscientist jobs: 580 Average annual salary: $91,127 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
5. Alaska
Total neuroscientist jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $88,766 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. Maryland
Total neuroscientist jobs: 532 Average annual salary: $79,263 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
7. Delaware
Total neuroscientist jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $82,603 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
8. Massachusetts
Total neuroscientist jobs: 2,075 Average annual salary: $74,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 4.63
9. Michigan
Total neuroscientist jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $74,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
10. New York
Total neuroscientist jobs: 853 Average annual salary: $76,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
Neuroscientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a neuroscientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a neuroscientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,037 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,450 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $95,242 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 69 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $95,565 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 160 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $91,127 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 580 |
| 5 | Alaska | $88,766 | $49,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 6 | Maryland | $79,263 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 532 |
| 7 | Delaware | $82,603 | $47,000 | 961,939 | 44 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $74,596 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,075 |
| 9 | Michigan | $74,004 | $42,000 | 9,962,311 | 372 |
| 10 | New York | $76,188 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 853 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $76,391 | $43,000 | 6,715,984 | 168 |
| 12 | Nevada | $82,259 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 42 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $70,900 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 675 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $73,531 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 303 |
| 15 | Maine | $76,562 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 33 |
| 16 | Illinois | $74,631 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 372 |
| 17 | Ohio | $71,898 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 305 |
| 18 | Indiana | $74,351 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 138 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $68,332 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 326 |
| 20 | Oregon | $69,333 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 195 |
| 21 | Arizona | $75,200 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 111 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $65,626 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 201 |
| 23 | Washington | $64,526 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 721 |
| 24 | Vermont | $65,472 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 34 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $67,439 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 121 |
| 26 | Montana | $66,992 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 30 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $65,358 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 52 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $67,388 | $38,000 | 3,930,864 | 55 |
| 29 | Texas | $62,913 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 693 |
| 30 | Virginia | $62,630 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 359 |
| 31 | Florida | $64,513 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 338 |
| 32 | Utah | $55,779 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 146 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $56,964 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 42 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $60,736 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 47 |
| 35 | Georgia | $57,143 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 312 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $60,857 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 27 |
| 37 | Colorado | $54,617 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 200 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $56,786 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 24 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $58,663 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 37 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $53,128 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 15 |
| 41 | Idaho | $55,810 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 30 |
| 42 | Alabama | $56,439 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 28 |
| 43 | Kansas | $50,310 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 77 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $52,378 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 50 |
| 45 | Missouri | $43,840 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 231 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $51,532 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 23 |
| 47 | Iowa | $50,339 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 68 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $49,672 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 63 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $49,451 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 14 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,706 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 55 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $48,644 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 12 |
Highest paying states for neuroscientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Neuroscientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,037 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $95,242 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $95,565 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $91,127 |
| 5 | Alaska | $88,766 |
| 6 | Maryland | $79,263 |
| 7 | Delaware | $82,603 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $74,596 |
| 9 | Michigan | $74,004 |
| 10 | New York | $76,188 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $76,391 |
| 12 | Nevada | $82,259 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $70,900 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $73,531 |
| 15 | Maine | $76,562 |
| 16 | Illinois | $74,631 |
| 17 | Ohio | $71,898 |
| 18 | Indiana | $74,351 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $68,332 |
| 20 | Oregon | $69,333 |
| 21 | Arizona | $75,200 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $65,626 |
| 23 | Washington | $64,526 |
| 24 | Vermont | $65,472 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $67,439 |
| 26 | Montana | $66,992 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $65,358 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $67,388 |
| 29 | Texas | $62,913 |
| 30 | Virginia | $62,630 |
| 31 | Florida | $64,513 |
| 32 | Utah | $55,779 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $56,964 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $60,736 |
| 35 | Georgia | $57,143 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $60,857 |
| 37 | Colorado | $54,617 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $56,786 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $58,663 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $53,128 |
| 41 | Idaho | $55,810 |
| 42 | Alabama | $56,439 |
| 43 | Kansas | $50,310 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $52,378 |
| 45 | Missouri | $43,840 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $51,532 |
| 47 | Iowa | $50,339 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $49,672 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $49,451 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,706 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $48,644 |
Expert opinions on the best states for neuroscientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for neuroscientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, Tiffin University
With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.
Neuroscientist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025