Best states for a postdoctoral research associate

Q: What is the best state for postdoctoral research associates?

The best state to be a postdoctoral research associate is California based on postdoctoral research associate salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for postdoctoral research associates?

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

Q: What is the worst state for postdoctoral research associates?

The worst state for postdoctoral research associates is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Don Snyder

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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for postdoctoral research associates? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for postdoctoral research associate jobs.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for postdoctoral research associates in America. The best city in America for postdoctoral research associates with the highest pay is Memphis, TN.

The median salary for postdoctoral research associates in California is $67,490. Compare that to the median salary in South Carolina of $38,016, which ranked worst for postdoctoral research associates, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for postdoctoral research associate jobs, whereas South Carolina is the worst.

10 best states for postdoctoral research associates in 2025

1. California
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 5,491
Average annual salary: $67,490
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.65
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in California
2. Tennessee
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 585
Average annual salary: $67,413
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Tennessee
3. Rhode Island
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 141
Average annual salary: $57,744
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Rhode Island
4. New Jersey
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 1,245
Average annual salary: $58,193
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
1.37
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in New Jersey
5. Maine
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 130
Average annual salary: $60,758
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Maine
6. Minnesota
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 788
Average annual salary: $56,746
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Minnesota
7. Hawaii
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $76,271
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Hawaii
8. Arizona
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 547
Average annual salary: $59,239
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
0.82
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Arizona
9. Connecticut
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 369
Average annual salary: $57,226
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Connecticut
10. Maryland
Total postdoctoral research associate jobs: 727
Average annual salary: $56,680
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
1
Postdoctoral research associate jobs in Maryland

Postdoctoral research associate jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a postdoctoral research associate

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

Detailed list of the best states for a postdoctoral research associate

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$67,490	$47,000	39,536,653	5,491
2	Tennessee	$67,413	$47,000	6,715,984	585
3	Rhode Island	$57,744	$39,000	1,059,639	141
4	New Jersey	$58,193	$39,000	9,005,644	1,245
5	Maine	$60,758	$41,000	1,335,907	130
6	Minnesota	$56,746	$40,000	5,576,606	788
7	Hawaii	$76,271	$58,000	1,427,538	67
8	Arizona	$59,239	$41,000	7,016,270	547
9	Connecticut	$57,226	$39,000	3,588,184	369
10	Maryland	$56,680	$39,000	6,052,177	727
11	Washington	$53,066	$37,000	7,405,743	909
12	Pennsylvania	$51,290	$35,000	12,805,537	1,371
13	Oregon	$51,478	$36,000	4,142,776	696
14	Indiana	$54,732	$38,000	6,666,818	541
15	Delaware	$52,580	$36,000	961,939	131
16	Nevada	$57,029	$39,000	2,998,039	110
17	Wyoming	$51,402	$36,000	579,315	57
18	Colorado	$51,160	$36,000	5,607,154	846
19	New Hampshire	$50,815	$34,000	1,342,795	182
20	Montana	$52,466	$37,000	1,050,493	107
21	Massachusetts	$50,165	$34,000	6,859,819	2,598
22	Alaska	$52,731	$42,000	739,795	72
23	Wisconsin	$50,344	$35,000	5,795,483	475
24	Oklahoma	$51,685	$36,000	3,930,864	207
25	Illinois	$48,760	$34,000	12,802,023	1,289
26	New York	$48,247	$33,000	19,849,399	1,698
27	North Carolina	$46,076	$32,000	10,273,419	968
28	Arkansas	$48,923	$34,000	3,004,279	124
29	District of Columbia	$46,931	$32,000	693,972	229
30	Michigan	$44,324	$31,000	9,962,311	813
31	Nebraska	$45,192	$32,000	1,920,076	221
32	New Mexico	$44,096	$31,000	2,088,070	230
33	Idaho	$46,797	$33,000	1,716,943	130
34	Utah	$45,198	$32,000	3,101,833	302
35	Ohio	$44,457	$31,000	11,658,609	805
36	Florida	$45,972	$31,000	20,984,400	1,459
37	Kansas	$45,281	$32,000	2,913,123	213
38	Vermont	$42,784	$29,000	623,657	97
39	Virginia	$45,571	$31,000	8,470,020	918
40	South Dakota	$43,995	$31,000	869,666	87
41	Kentucky	$43,857	$30,000	4,454,189	235
42	Missouri	$39,928	$28,000	6,113,532	627
43	Iowa	$42,890	$30,000	3,145,711	280
44	Texas	$41,607	$29,000	28,304,596	1,735
45	Alabama	$43,422	$30,000	4,874,747	181
46	West Virginia	$39,613	$27,000	1,815,857	138
47	North Dakota	$40,358	$29,000	755,393	70
48	Georgia	$41,286	$28,000	10,429,379	815
49	Mississippi	$39,699	$28,000	2,984,100	137
50	Louisiana	$39,026	$27,000	4,684,333	222
51	South Carolina	$38,016	$26,000	5,024,369	171

Highest paying states for postdoctoral research associates

Rank	State	Avg. Postdoctoral Research Associate Salary
1	California	$67,490
2	Tennessee	$67,413
3	Rhode Island	$57,744
4	New Jersey	$58,193
5	Maine	$60,758
6	Minnesota	$56,746
7	Hawaii	$76,271
8	Arizona	$59,239
9	Connecticut	$57,226
10	Maryland	$56,680
11	Washington	$53,066
12	Pennsylvania	$51,290
13	Oregon	$51,478
14	Indiana	$54,732
15	Delaware	$52,580
16	Nevada	$57,029
17	Wyoming	$51,402
18	Colorado	$51,160
19	New Hampshire	$50,815
20	Montana	$52,466
21	Massachusetts	$50,165
22	Alaska	$52,731
23	Wisconsin	$50,344
24	Oklahoma	$51,685
25	Illinois	$48,760
26	New York	$48,247
27	North Carolina	$46,076
28	Arkansas	$48,923
29	District of Columbia	$46,931
30	Michigan	$44,324
31	Nebraska	$45,192
32	New Mexico	$44,096
33	Idaho	$46,797
34	Utah	$45,198
35	Ohio	$44,457
36	Florida	$45,972
37	Kansas	$45,281
38	Vermont	$42,784
39	Virginia	$45,571
40	South Dakota	$43,995
41	Kentucky	$43,857
42	Missouri	$39,928
43	Iowa	$42,890
44	Texas	$41,607
45	Alabama	$43,422
46	West Virginia	$39,613
47	North Dakota	$40,358
48	Georgia	$41,286
49	Mississippi	$39,699
50	Louisiana	$39,026
51	South Carolina	$38,016

Expert opinions on the best states for postdoctoral research associates

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for postdoctoral research associates to find work opportunities?
Don Snyder
Associate Director, Industry Advising: STEM, William and Mary
Strong tech markets in the U.S. include Austin, Raleigh, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Columbus. Some markets are established in tech, while other markets are more up-and-coming. Smaller cities that may be "off the radar" include Huntsville and Tucson. Graduates need to look at different factors when exploring cities, including the cost of living. The dollar will go a lot further in Raleigh than in San Francisco. And some cities that were once more affordable may have a higher cost of living now due to the recent influx of residents.

Postdoctoral research associate best states FAQs

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Postdoctoral Research Associate
Best states for Postdoctoral Research Associates

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total postdoctoral research associate jobs:	5,491
Average annual salary:	$67,490
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$47,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$96,000
Location Quotient:	1.65

Best states for a postdoctoral research associate

10 best states for postdoctoral research associates in 2025

1. California

2. Tennessee

3. Rhode Island

4. New Jersey

5. Maine

6. Minnesota

7. Hawaii

8. Arizona

9. Connecticut

10. Maryland