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Best states for a physical scientist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to physical scientist 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. Our research shows that Rhode Island is the best state in the country for physical scientists.
We figured that the best places for physical 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.Rhode Island is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for physical scientists.
10 best states for physical scientists in 2025
1. Rhode Island
Total physical scientist jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $79,831 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
2. Nevada
Total physical scientist jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $88,861 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
3. Connecticut
Total physical scientist jobs: 546 Average annual salary: $80,910 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
4. Oregon
Total physical scientist jobs: 446 Average annual salary: $83,230 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Pennsylvania
Total physical scientist jobs: 1,433 Average annual salary: $79,717 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. New Jersey
Total physical scientist jobs: 1,284 Average annual salary: $80,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
7. West Virginia
Total physical scientist jobs: 257 Average annual salary: $75,383 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
8. Delaware
Total physical scientist jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $79,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
9. New York
Total physical scientist jobs: 1,684 Average annual salary: $81,029 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
10. Maryland
Total physical scientist jobs: 1,227 Average annual salary: $78,051 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
Physical scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a physical scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a physical scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,831 | $43,000 | 1,059,639 | 204 |
| 2 | Nevada | $88,861 | $46,000 | 2,998,039 | 221 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $80,910 | $44,000 | 3,588,184 | 546 |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,230 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 446 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $79,717 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,433 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $80,894 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,284 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $75,383 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 257 |
| 8 | Delaware | $79,265 | $42,000 | 961,939 | 203 |
| 9 | New York | $81,029 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,684 |
| 10 | Maryland | $78,051 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,227 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $71,527 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 332 |
| 12 | Idaho | $75,840 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 207 |
| 13 | Arizona | $78,284 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 642 |
| 14 | California | $89,690 | $46,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,203 |
| 15 | Michigan | $76,754 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 762 |
| 16 | Virginia | $75,417 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,487 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $74,846 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 558 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $77,783 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,082 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $69,982 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 202 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $71,468 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 138 |
| 21 | Washington | $80,690 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 581 |
| 22 | Ohio | $75,775 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 871 |
| 23 | Indiana | $73,178 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 693 |
| 24 | Vermont | $70,112 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 176 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $68,872 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 120 |
| 26 | Utah | $74,674 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 261 |
| 27 | Montana | $71,389 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 151 |
| 28 | Alaska | $70,370 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 130 |
| 29 | Illinois | $73,547 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,385 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,898 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 136 |
| 31 | Iowa | $70,882 | $39,000 | 3,145,711 | 367 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $69,972 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 347 |
| 33 | Maine | $66,991 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 215 |
| 34 | Missouri | $66,518 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 777 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $64,480 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,263 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $73,485 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 512 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $68,507 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 261 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $77,599 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 93 |
| 39 | Kansas | $64,826 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 358 |
| 40 | Colorado | $67,628 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 594 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $52,674 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 125 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $51,277 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 579 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $60,083 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 531 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $59,263 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 242 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $57,327 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 207 |
| 46 | Texas | $50,614 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,993 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,550 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 389 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $48,129 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 226 |
| 49 | Georgia | $49,811 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 928 |
| 50 | Alabama | $48,518 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 378 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,511 | $11,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,651 |
Highest paying states for physical scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Physical Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,831 |
| 2 | Nevada | $88,861 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $80,910 |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,230 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $79,717 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $80,894 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $75,383 |
| 8 | Delaware | $79,265 |
| 9 | New York | $81,029 |
| 10 | Maryland | $78,051 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $71,527 |
| 12 | Idaho | $75,840 |
| 13 | Arizona | $78,284 |
| 14 | California | $89,690 |
| 15 | Michigan | $76,754 |
| 16 | Virginia | $75,417 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $74,846 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $77,783 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $69,982 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $71,468 |
| 21 | Washington | $80,690 |
| 22 | Ohio | $75,775 |
| 23 | Indiana | $73,178 |
| 24 | Vermont | $70,112 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $68,872 |
| 26 | Utah | $74,674 |
| 27 | Montana | $71,389 |
| 28 | Alaska | $70,370 |
| 29 | Illinois | $73,547 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,898 |
| 31 | Iowa | $70,882 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $69,972 |
| 33 | Maine | $66,991 |
| 34 | Missouri | $66,518 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $64,480 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $73,485 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $68,507 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $77,599 |
| 39 | Kansas | $64,826 |
| 40 | Colorado | $67,628 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $52,674 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $51,277 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $60,083 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $59,263 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $57,327 |
| 46 | Texas | $50,614 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,550 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $48,129 |
| 49 | Georgia | $49,811 |
| 50 | Alabama | $48,518 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,511 |
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Updated January 8, 2025