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Best states for a principal scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Principal scientist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for principal scientists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for principal scientists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for principal scientists. We found that Montana is the best state in the nation for principal scientists, and people in Pacifica earn the most in the field.
Montana is the best state for jobs for principal scientists, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in Montana is $124,270, while the median pay in Louisiana is $69,745.We found that the Midwest is best for principal scientists, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for principal scientist jobs, where as Montana is the best state in the country.
10 best states for principal scientists in 2025
1. Montana
Total principal scientist jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $124,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
2. Connecticut
Total principal scientist jobs: 470 Average annual salary: $122,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. California
Total principal scientist jobs: 2,867 Average annual salary: $147,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
4. Delaware
Total principal scientist jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $119,819 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. Maine
Total principal scientist jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $138,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
6. New Jersey
Total principal scientist jobs: 1,005 Average annual salary: $124,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. Nevada
Total principal scientist jobs: 250 Average annual salary: $117,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
8. Arizona
Total principal scientist jobs: 762 Average annual salary: $117,137 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. Tennessee
Total principal scientist jobs: 402 Average annual salary: $141,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location Quotient: 0.58
10. Oregon
Total principal scientist jobs: 739 Average annual salary: $111,708 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
Principal scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $124,270 | $85,000 | 1,050,493 | 211 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $122,082 | $88,000 | 3,588,184 | 470 |
| 3 | California | $147,782 | $101,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,867 |
| 4 | Delaware | $119,819 | $85,000 | 961,939 | 176 |
| 5 | Maine | $138,422 | $101,000 | 1,335,907 | 118 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $124,466 | $89,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,005 |
| 7 | Nevada | $117,092 | $78,000 | 2,998,039 | 250 |
| 8 | Arizona | $117,137 | $77,000 | 7,016,270 | 762 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $141,492 | $99,000 | 6,715,984 | 402 |
| 10 | Oregon | $111,708 | $75,000 | 4,142,776 | 739 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $113,165 | $81,000 | 5,576,606 | 905 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $109,129 | $79,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,571 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $120,600 | $87,000 | 1,059,639 | 88 |
| 14 | Washington | $114,719 | $77,000 | 7,405,743 | 749 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $104,263 | $71,000 | 579,315 | 79 |
| 16 | Alaska | $113,167 | $79,000 | 739,795 | 75 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $110,139 | $78,000 | 693,972 | 326 |
| 18 | New York | $107,142 | $76,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,267 |
| 19 | Virginia | $101,786 | $72,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,032 |
| 20 | Indiana | $109,670 | $77,000 | 6,666,818 | 460 |
| 21 | Illinois | $100,621 | $71,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,713 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $95,702 | $68,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,809 |
| 23 | Florida | $104,935 | $69,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,672 |
| 24 | Maryland | $100,388 | $71,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,264 |
| 25 | Idaho | $94,924 | $64,000 | 1,716,943 | 241 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $104,799 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 108 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $94,142 | $68,000 | 1,342,795 | 293 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $91,807 | $64,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,475 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $92,579 | $61,000 | 2,088,070 | 289 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $93,184 | $66,000 | 5,795,483 | 626 |
| 31 | Vermont | $100,217 | $73,000 | 623,657 | 61 |
| 32 | Ohio | $91,115 | $64,000 | 11,658,609 | 999 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $100,434 | $73,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 34 | Michigan | $93,933 | $67,000 | 9,962,311 | 538 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $91,437 | $62,000 | 3,004,279 | 216 |
| 36 | Texas | $89,711 | $59,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,247 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $88,213 | $61,000 | 1,920,076 | 243 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $89,255 | $63,000 | 4,454,189 | 266 |
| 39 | Iowa | $89,860 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 201 |
| 40 | Kansas | $85,477 | $58,000 | 2,913,123 | 312 |
| 41 | Colorado | $83,700 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 827 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $81,791 | $57,000 | 869,666 | 122 |
| 43 | Alabama | $87,701 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 270 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $81,794 | $58,000 | 755,393 | 101 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $82,445 | $58,000 | 1,815,857 | 112 |
| 46 | Missouri | $76,306 | $53,000 | 6,113,532 | 589 |
| 47 | Utah | $82,142 | $55,000 | 3,101,833 | 202 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $81,346 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 77 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $67,083 | $46,000 | 5,024,369 | 386 |
| 50 | Georgia | $68,817 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 816 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $69,745 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 153 |
Highest paying states for principal scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $124,270 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $122,082 |
| 3 | California | $147,782 |
| 4 | Delaware | $119,819 |
| 5 | Maine | $138,422 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $124,466 |
| 7 | Nevada | $117,092 |
| 8 | Arizona | $117,137 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $141,492 |
| 10 | Oregon | $111,708 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $113,165 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $109,129 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $120,600 |
| 14 | Washington | $114,719 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $104,263 |
| 16 | Alaska | $113,167 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $110,139 |
| 18 | New York | $107,142 |
| 19 | Virginia | $101,786 |
| 20 | Indiana | $109,670 |
| 21 | Illinois | $100,621 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $95,702 |
| 23 | Florida | $104,935 |
| 24 | Maryland | $100,388 |
| 25 | Idaho | $94,924 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $104,799 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $94,142 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $91,807 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $92,579 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $93,184 |
| 31 | Vermont | $100,217 |
| 32 | Ohio | $91,115 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $100,434 |
| 34 | Michigan | $93,933 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $91,437 |
| 36 | Texas | $89,711 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $88,213 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $89,255 |
| 39 | Iowa | $89,860 |
| 40 | Kansas | $85,477 |
| 41 | Colorado | $83,700 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $81,791 |
| 43 | Alabama | $87,701 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $81,794 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $82,445 |
| 46 | Missouri | $76,306 |
| 47 | Utah | $82,142 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $81,346 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $67,083 |
| 50 | Georgia | $68,817 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $69,745 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal 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