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Best states for a psychology research assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for psychology research assistants in the United States. Psychology research assistant 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 psychology research assistants.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for psychology research assistants. We found that Massachusetts is the best state in the nation for psychology research assistants, and people in Berkeley earn the most in the field.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for psychology research assistants. Massachusetts is the best state for psychology research assistants, where the median salary is $72,993.We found that Massachusetts is the best state for psychology research assistant jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for psychology research assistants in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 1,025 Average annual salary: $72,993 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
2. New Jersey
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 832 Average annual salary: $76,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Rhode Island
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $60,876 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
4. Delaware
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $64,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
5. Illinois
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 1,022 Average annual salary: $61,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Oregon
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 574 Average annual salary: $60,139 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
7. North Carolina
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 730 Average annual salary: $63,358 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. New Hampshire
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $58,690 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
9. Minnesota
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 656 Average annual salary: $58,249 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
10. West Virginia
Total psychology research assistant jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $59,152 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
Psychology research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a psychology research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a psychology research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $72,993 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,025 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,144 | $48,000 | 9,005,644 | 832 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,876 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 145 |
| 4 | Delaware | $64,595 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 101 |
| 5 | Illinois | $61,567 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,022 |
| 6 | Oregon | $60,139 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 574 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $63,358 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 730 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $58,690 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 175 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $58,249 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 656 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $59,152 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 116 |
| 11 | Ohio | $57,945 | $36,000 | 11,658,609 | 816 |
| 12 | Washington | $66,628 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 422 |
| 13 | Arizona | $57,180 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 486 |
| 14 | Michigan | $54,232 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 736 |
| 15 | Missouri | $55,221 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 518 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $56,654 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 283 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $64,205 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 121 |
| 18 | Idaho | $57,302 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 112 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $53,685 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 51 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $56,696 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 181 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $55,630 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 122 |
| 22 | Kansas | $54,976 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 183 |
| 23 | California | $54,057 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,817 |
| 24 | Alaska | $57,834 | $49,000 | 739,795 | 64 |
| 25 | Nevada | $55,516 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 109 |
| 26 | Indiana | $53,829 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 478 |
| 27 | Maryland | $59,375 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 249 |
| 28 | Georgia | $54,428 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 714 |
| 29 | Iowa | $53,608 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 197 |
| 30 | Utah | $51,605 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 263 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,349 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 168 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,912 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 91 |
| 33 | Maine | $50,638 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 116 |
| 34 | Colorado | $50,009 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 616 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $49,973 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 182 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $52,660 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 393 |
| 37 | Florida | $52,786 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,248 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $51,306 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $52,861 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 115 |
| 40 | Virginia | $52,336 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 745 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $48,870 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 87 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $49,377 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 184 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $43,984 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,295 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,653 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 87 |
| 45 | New York | $53,183 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 641 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $51,100 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 169 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $41,423 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 496 |
| 48 | Texas | $42,238 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,500 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $38,609 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 62 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $38,781 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 203 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,789 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 149 |
Highest paying states for psychology research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Psychology Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $72,993 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,144 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,876 |
| 4 | Delaware | $64,595 |
| 5 | Illinois | $61,567 |
| 6 | Oregon | $60,139 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $63,358 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $58,690 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $58,249 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $59,152 |
| 11 | Ohio | $57,945 |
| 12 | Washington | $66,628 |
| 13 | Arizona | $57,180 |
| 14 | Michigan | $54,232 |
| 15 | Missouri | $55,221 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $56,654 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $64,205 |
| 18 | Idaho | $57,302 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $53,685 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $56,696 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $55,630 |
| 22 | Kansas | $54,976 |
| 23 | California | $54,057 |
| 24 | Alaska | $57,834 |
| 25 | Nevada | $55,516 |
| 26 | Indiana | $53,829 |
| 27 | Maryland | $59,375 |
| 28 | Georgia | $54,428 |
| 29 | Iowa | $53,608 |
| 30 | Utah | $51,605 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,349 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,912 |
| 33 | Maine | $50,638 |
| 34 | Colorado | $50,009 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $49,973 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $52,660 |
| 37 | Florida | $52,786 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $51,306 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $52,861 |
| 40 | Virginia | $52,336 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $48,870 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $49,377 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $43,984 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,653 |
| 45 | New York | $53,183 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $51,100 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $41,423 |
| 48 | Texas | $42,238 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $38,609 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $38,781 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,789 |
Expert opinions on the best states for psychology research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for psychology research assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
Chair, Associate Professor, Christian Brothers University
The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
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Updated January 8, 2025