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Best states for a principal research scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for principal research scientists in the United States. Principal research scientist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for principal research scientists.We wanted to look at the best states for principal research scientists -- where there are plenty of principal research scientist jobs to go around and principal research scientists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Montana is the best state for jobs for principal research scientists, and Iowa is the worst. The most common pay in Montana is $129,825, while the median pay in Iowa is $67,317.We found that Montana is the best state for principal research scientist jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.
10 best states for principal research scientists in 2025
1. Montana
Total principal research scientist jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $129,825 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
2. Oregon
Total principal research scientist jobs: 1,084 Average annual salary: $122,664 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
3. Arizona
Total principal research scientist jobs: 1,222 Average annual salary: $123,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. Washington
Total principal research scientist jobs: 1,750 Average annual salary: $124,066 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
5. New Jersey
Total principal research scientist jobs: 2,095 Average annual salary: $119,084 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
6. California
Total principal research scientist jobs: 4,122 Average annual salary: $157,984 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
7. Connecticut
Total principal research scientist jobs: 732 Average annual salary: $117,856 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
8. Nevada
Total principal research scientist jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $134,286 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
9. Maine
Total principal research scientist jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $125,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. Alaska
Total principal research scientist jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $151,514 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
Principal research scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal research scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal research scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $129,825 | $87,000 | 1,050,493 | 232 |
| 2 | Oregon | $122,664 | $81,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,084 |
| 3 | Arizona | $123,215 | $81,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,222 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,066 | $82,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,750 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $119,084 | $84,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,095 |
| 6 | California | $157,984 | $109,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,122 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $117,856 | $83,000 | 3,588,184 | 732 |
| 8 | Nevada | $134,286 | $90,000 | 2,998,039 | 276 |
| 9 | Maine | $125,563 | $90,000 | 1,335,907 | 191 |
| 10 | Alaska | $151,514 | $105,000 | 739,795 | 91 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $111,592 | $78,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,540 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $111,322 | $79,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,070 |
| 13 | Delaware | $111,557 | $78,000 | 961,939 | 272 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $112,803 | $80,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,238 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $111,348 | $79,000 | 5,795,483 | 964 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $112,638 | $76,000 | 6,715,984 | 779 |
| 17 | Vermont | $103,418 | $74,000 | 623,657 | 239 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $102,275 | $73,000 | 1,059,639 | 362 |
| 19 | Florida | $106,509 | $70,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,839 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $117,397 | $83,000 | 1,427,538 | 128 |
| 21 | Indiana | $112,690 | $78,000 | 6,666,818 | 628 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $101,390 | $70,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,854 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $97,687 | $65,000 | 579,315 | 121 |
| 24 | Virginia | $103,004 | $72,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,435 |
| 25 | Illinois | $101,864 | $71,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,361 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $96,543 | $63,000 | 2,088,070 | 387 |
| 27 | Maryland | $99,340 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,919 |
| 28 | Colorado | $95,994 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,496 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $96,312 | $69,000 | 1,342,795 | 410 |
| 30 | New York | $97,924 | $69,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,429 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $110,991 | $78,000 | 693,972 | 188 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $91,475 | $63,000 | 869,666 | 199 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $94,230 | $66,000 | 1,815,857 | 212 |
| 34 | Texas | $95,041 | $62,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,274 |
| 35 | Utah | $95,019 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 439 |
| 36 | Michigan | $91,674 | $65,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,046 |
| 37 | Idaho | $89,923 | $59,000 | 1,716,943 | 291 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $95,357 | $62,000 | 4,684,333 | 291 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $93,683 | $62,000 | 3,930,864 | 296 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $91,365 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 332 |
| 41 | Ohio | $86,821 | $61,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,446 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $84,347 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 146 |
| 43 | Alabama | $87,968 | $58,000 | 4,874,747 | 413 |
| 44 | Kansas | $83,451 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 387 |
| 45 | Missouri | $80,734 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 894 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $84,720 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 479 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $82,956 | $57,000 | 4,454,189 | 395 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $75,776 | $51,000 | 1,920,076 | 338 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $82,249 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 186 |
| 50 | Georgia | $75,011 | $50,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,317 |
| 51 | Iowa | $67,317 | $46,000 | 3,145,711 | 370 |
Highest paying states for principal research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Research Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $129,825 |
| 2 | Oregon | $122,664 |
| 3 | Arizona | $123,215 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,066 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $119,084 |
| 6 | California | $157,984 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $117,856 |
| 8 | Nevada | $134,286 |
| 9 | Maine | $125,563 |
| 10 | Alaska | $151,514 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $111,592 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $111,322 |
| 13 | Delaware | $111,557 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $112,803 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $111,348 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $112,638 |
| 17 | Vermont | $103,418 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $102,275 |
| 19 | Florida | $106,509 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $117,397 |
| 21 | Indiana | $112,690 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $101,390 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $97,687 |
| 24 | Virginia | $103,004 |
| 25 | Illinois | $101,864 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $96,543 |
| 27 | Maryland | $99,340 |
| 28 | Colorado | $95,994 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $96,312 |
| 30 | New York | $97,924 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $110,991 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $91,475 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $94,230 |
| 34 | Texas | $95,041 |
| 35 | Utah | $95,019 |
| 36 | Michigan | $91,674 |
| 37 | Idaho | $89,923 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $95,357 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $93,683 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $91,365 |
| 41 | Ohio | $86,821 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $84,347 |
| 43 | Alabama | $87,968 |
| 44 | Kansas | $83,451 |
| 45 | Missouri | $80,734 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $84,720 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $82,956 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $75,776 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $82,249 |
| 50 | Georgia | $75,011 |
| 51 | Iowa | $67,317 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal research scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025