Best states for a postdoctoral research scientist

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

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

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

The highest paying state for postdoctoral research scientists is Louisiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

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

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

Quoted expert

Don Snyder

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Are you thinking of becoming a postdoctoral research scientist and really want to work at Columbia University in the City of New York? Turns out, your chances to become a postdoctoral research scientist are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for postdoctoral research scientists. We found that California is the best state in the nation for postdoctoral research scientists, and people in Waipahu earn the most in the field.

California is the best state for jobs for postdoctoral research scientists, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in California is $72,631, while the median pay in Louisiana is $34,759.California is the best state, and Waipahu is the city with the highest pay for postdoctoral research scientists.

10 best states for postdoctoral research scientists in 2026

1. California
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 6,693
Average annual salary: $72,631
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.42
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in California
2. Rhode Island
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 232
Average annual salary: $65,686
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Rhode Island
3. New Jersey
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 1,938
Average annual salary: $63,981
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in New Jersey
4. Pennsylvania
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 2,325
Average annual salary: $62,673
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Pennsylvania
5. Delaware
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 236
Average annual salary: $64,428
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Delaware
6. Tennessee
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 841
Average annual salary: $71,470
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Tennessee
7. Massachusetts
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 2,959
Average annual salary: $60,932
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
2
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Massachusetts
8. Hawaii
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 124
Average annual salary: $73,802
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Hawaii
9. Maine
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 192
Average annual salary: $61,534
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Maine
10. Montana
Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs: 188
Average annual salary: $56,452
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Montana

Postdoctoral research scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH

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

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

Detailed list of the best states for a postdoctoral research scientist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$72,631	$51,000	39,536,653	6,693
2	Rhode Island	$65,686	$45,000	1,059,639	232
3	New Jersey	$63,981	$44,000	9,005,644	1,938
4	Pennsylvania	$62,673	$43,000	12,805,537	2,325
5	Delaware	$64,428	$44,000	961,939	236
6	Tennessee	$71,470	$50,000	6,715,984	841
7	Massachusetts	$60,932	$42,000	6,859,819	2,959
8	Hawaii	$73,802	$57,000	1,427,538	124
9	Maine	$61,534	$43,000	1,335,907	192
10	Montana	$56,452	$40,000	1,050,493	188
11	Indiana	$62,977	$44,000	6,666,818	684
12	Connecticut	$56,741	$39,000	3,588,184	544
13	Arizona	$60,104	$42,000	7,016,270	757
14	Oregon	$52,267	$37,000	4,142,776	946
15	Alaska	$61,352	$49,000	739,795	90
16	Colorado	$54,029	$38,000	5,607,154	1,056
17	Vermont	$50,225	$35,000	623,657	160
18	Minnesota	$51,299	$37,000	5,576,606	1,042
19	Washington	$53,403	$38,000	7,405,743	1,081
20	Illinois	$51,099	$36,000	12,802,023	1,903
21	Wyoming	$49,250	$35,000	579,315	100
22	Maryland	$52,233	$36,000	6,052,177	1,177
23	South Dakota	$45,700	$33,000	869,666	201
24	Nevada	$52,725	$37,000	2,998,039	209
25	Wisconsin	$50,496	$36,000	5,795,483	722
26	Ohio	$50,630	$35,000	11,658,609	1,257
27	New York	$49,629	$34,000	19,849,399	2,406
28	New Hampshire	$47,180	$33,000	1,342,795	307
29	Florida	$48,821	$33,000	20,984,400	2,013
30	Utah	$45,176	$32,000	3,101,833	484
31	New Mexico	$43,993	$31,000	2,088,070	355
32	Oklahoma	$47,330	$33,000	3,930,864	270
33	Arkansas	$46,861	$33,000	3,004,279	193
34	Virginia	$44,010	$30,000	8,470,020	1,768
35	District of Columbia	$48,465	$33,000	693,972	226
36	North Carolina	$42,976	$29,000	10,273,419	1,639
37	Iowa	$45,738	$32,000	3,145,711	368
38	Kentucky	$44,446	$31,000	4,454,189	324
39	Idaho	$43,691	$31,000	1,716,943	225
40	Michigan	$42,772	$30,000	9,962,311	1,040
41	Kansas	$43,489	$31,000	2,913,123	344
42	North Dakota	$41,040	$30,000	755,393	138
43	Missouri	$39,417	$28,000	6,113,532	890
44	Alabama	$43,324	$30,000	4,874,747	290
45	Texas	$42,517	$29,000	28,304,596	2,619
46	West Virginia	$40,998	$28,000	1,815,857	187
47	Nebraska	$39,047	$28,000	1,920,076	299
48	Georgia	$35,757	$24,000	10,429,379	1,113
49	Mississippi	$35,921	$25,000	2,984,100	172
50	South Carolina	$35,089	$24,000	5,024,369	421
51	Louisiana	$34,759	$24,000	4,684,333	310

Highest paying states for postdoctoral research scientists

Rank	State	Avg. Postdoctoral Research Scientist Salary
1	California	$72,631
2	Rhode Island	$65,686
3	New Jersey	$63,981
4	Pennsylvania	$62,673
5	Delaware	$64,428
6	Tennessee	$71,470
7	Massachusetts	$60,932
8	Hawaii	$73,802
9	Maine	$61,534
10	Montana	$56,452
11	Indiana	$62,977
12	Connecticut	$56,741
13	Arizona	$60,104
14	Oregon	$52,267
15	Alaska	$61,352
16	Colorado	$54,029
17	Vermont	$50,225
18	Minnesota	$51,299
19	Washington	$53,403
20	Illinois	$51,099
21	Wyoming	$49,250
22	Maryland	$52,233
23	South Dakota	$45,700
24	Nevada	$52,725
25	Wisconsin	$50,496
26	Ohio	$50,630
27	New York	$49,629
28	New Hampshire	$47,180
29	Florida	$48,821
30	Utah	$45,176
31	New Mexico	$43,993
32	Oklahoma	$47,330
33	Arkansas	$46,861
34	Virginia	$44,010
35	District of Columbia	$48,465
36	North Carolina	$42,976
37	Iowa	$45,738
38	Kentucky	$44,446
39	Idaho	$43,691
40	Michigan	$42,772
41	Kansas	$43,489
42	North Dakota	$41,040
43	Missouri	$39,417
44	Alabama	$43,324
45	Texas	$42,517
46	West Virginia	$40,998
47	Nebraska	$39,047
48	Georgia	$35,757
49	Mississippi	$35,921
50	South Carolina	$35,089
51	Louisiana	$34,759

Expert opinions on the best states for postdoctoral research scientists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for postdoctoral research scientists 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 scientist best states FAQs

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Best states for Postdoctoral Research Scientists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total postdoctoral research scientist jobs:	6,693
Average annual salary:	$72,631
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$51,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$102,000
Location Quotient:	1.42

Best states for a postdoctoral research scientist

10 best states for postdoctoral research scientists in 2026

1. California

2. Rhode Island

3. New Jersey

4. Pennsylvania

5. Delaware

6. Tennessee

7. Massachusetts

8. Hawaii

9. Maine

10. Montana