Best states for a research analyst

Q: What is the best state for research analysts?

The best state to be a research analyst is Rhode Island based on research analyst salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for research analysts?

The highest paying state for research analysts is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for research analysts?

The worst state for research analysts is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for research analysts in the United States. Research analyst 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 research analysts.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for research analysts. We found that Rhode Island is the best state in the nation for research analysts, and people in Bellingham earn the most in the field.

In order to get you the best states for research analysts, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for research analysts, and the Northeast is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for research analyst jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.

10 best states for research analysts in 2026

1. Rhode Island
Total research analyst jobs: 239
Average annual salary: $74,352
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Research analyst jobs in Rhode Island
2. New York
Total research analyst jobs: 1,957
Average annual salary: $87,822
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Research analyst jobs in New York
3. New Jersey
Total research analyst jobs: 1,338
Average annual salary: $77,931
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Research analyst jobs in New Jersey
4. Delaware
Total research analyst jobs: 212
Average annual salary: $75,650
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Research analyst jobs in Delaware
5. Connecticut
Total research analyst jobs: 482
Average annual salary: $77,546
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1
Research analyst jobs in Connecticut
6. Oregon
Total research analyst jobs: 819
Average annual salary: $67,090
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Research analyst jobs in Oregon
7. Washington
Total research analyst jobs: 899
Average annual salary: $93,681
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Research analyst jobs in Washington
8. Pennsylvania
Total research analyst jobs: 1,951
Average annual salary: $62,617
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Research analyst jobs in Pennsylvania
9. Massachusetts
Total research analyst jobs: 1,363
Average annual salary: $69,318
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Research analyst jobs in Massachusetts
10. New Hampshire
Total research analyst jobs: 266
Average annual salary: $64,298
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Research analyst jobs in New Hampshire

Research analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a research analyst

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

Detailed list of the best states for a research analyst

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$74,352	$48,000	1,059,639	239
2	New York	$87,822	$56,000	19,849,399	1,957
3	New Jersey	$77,931	$49,000	9,005,644	1,338
4	Delaware	$75,650	$47,000	961,939	212
5	Connecticut	$77,546	$49,000	3,588,184	482
6	Oregon	$67,090	$41,000	4,142,776	819
7	Washington	$93,681	$57,000	7,405,743	899
8	Pennsylvania	$62,617	$39,000	12,805,537	1,951
9	Massachusetts	$69,318	$45,000	6,859,819	1,363
10	New Hampshire	$64,298	$42,000	1,342,795	266
11	Illinois	$66,109	$42,000	12,802,023	1,787
12	District of Columbia	$67,231	$42,000	693,972	432
13	California	$66,301	$41,000	39,536,653	5,688
14	Alaska	$75,376	$51,000	739,795	77
15	Virginia	$60,665	$38,000	8,470,020	1,769
16	Minnesota	$60,984	$39,000	5,576,606	997
17	Maine	$67,634	$44,000	1,335,907	170
18	Michigan	$60,071	$38,000	9,962,311	1,110
19	Texas	$58,558	$38,000	28,304,596	2,892
20	Vermont	$55,199	$36,000	623,657	156
21	Colorado	$57,523	$37,000	5,607,154	996
22	Maryland	$60,277	$38,000	6,052,177	885
23	Idaho	$56,853	$35,000	1,716,943	214
24	Ohio	$55,182	$35,000	11,658,609	1,311
25	Georgia	$56,642	$36,000	10,429,379	1,279
26	North Carolina	$53,595	$34,000	10,273,419	1,296
27	Wisconsin	$53,859	$34,000	5,795,483	651
28	Montana	$54,533	$34,000	1,050,493	149
29	Arkansas	$53,889	$35,000	3,004,279	270
30	South Dakota	$50,530	$32,000	869,666	145
31	Arizona	$49,920	$32,000	7,016,270	892
32	Tennessee	$49,725	$32,000	6,715,984	781
33	Iowa	$52,375	$34,000	3,145,711	347
34	New Mexico	$50,018	$32,000	2,088,070	274
35	Florida	$51,510	$33,000	20,984,400	2,064
36	Nevada	$52,332	$33,000	2,998,039	232
37	Utah	$46,966	$30,000	3,101,833	513
38	West Virginia	$48,213	$30,000	1,815,857	178
39	Wyoming	$46,688	$30,000	579,315	86
40	Missouri	$47,516	$31,000	6,113,532	810
41	Kansas	$48,599	$32,000	2,913,123	330
42	Indiana	$47,893	$30,000	6,666,818	751
43	Hawaii	$37,101	$27,000	1,427,538	130
44	Alabama	$47,514	$31,000	4,874,747	336
45	Nebraska	$44,153	$29,000	1,920,076	297
46	North Dakota	$44,656	$28,000	755,393	115
47	South Carolina	$46,992	$30,000	5,024,369	335
48	Oklahoma	$43,198	$28,000	3,930,864	326
49	Louisiana	$43,180	$28,000	4,684,333	270
50	Kentucky	$42,720	$27,000	4,454,189	326
51	Mississippi	$42,145	$27,000	2,984,100	190

Highest paying states for research analysts

Rank	State	Avg. Research Analyst Salary
1	Rhode Island	$74,352
2	New York	$87,822
3	New Jersey	$77,931
4	Delaware	$75,650
5	Connecticut	$77,546
6	Oregon	$67,090
7	Washington	$93,681
8	Pennsylvania	$62,617
9	Massachusetts	$69,318
10	New Hampshire	$64,298
11	Illinois	$66,109
12	District of Columbia	$67,231
13	California	$66,301
14	Alaska	$75,376
15	Virginia	$60,665
16	Minnesota	$60,984
17	Maine	$67,634
18	Michigan	$60,071
19	Texas	$58,558
20	Vermont	$55,199
21	Colorado	$57,523
22	Maryland	$60,277
23	Idaho	$56,853
24	Ohio	$55,182
25	Georgia	$56,642
26	North Carolina	$53,595
27	Wisconsin	$53,859
28	Montana	$54,533
29	Arkansas	$53,889
30	South Dakota	$50,530
31	Arizona	$49,920
32	Tennessee	$49,725
33	Iowa	$52,375
34	New Mexico	$50,018
35	Florida	$51,510
36	Nevada	$52,332
37	Utah	$46,966
38	West Virginia	$48,213
39	Wyoming	$46,688
40	Missouri	$47,516
41	Kansas	$48,599
42	Indiana	$47,893
43	Hawaii	$37,101
44	Alabama	$47,514
45	Nebraska	$44,153
46	North Dakota	$44,656
47	South Carolina	$46,992
48	Oklahoma	$43,198
49	Louisiana	$43,180
50	Kentucky	$42,720
51	Mississippi	$42,145

Expert opinions on the best states for research analysts

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research analysts to find work opportunities?
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.
Liberal Arts Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography Director, Graduate Program in Demography Faculty Director, Graduate Programs in Applied Demography Editor, Spatial Demography Associate Editor, Mathematical Population Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Anywhere and everywhere - academia, government (local to national), NGOs, INGOs, private sector, and applied research - in the US and overseas!

Research analyst best states FAQs

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Search for research analyst jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total research analyst jobs:	239
Average annual salary:	$74,352
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$48,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$114,000
Location Quotient:	1.36

Best states for a research analyst

10 best states for research analysts in 2026

1. Rhode Island

2. New York

3. New Jersey

4. Delaware

5. Connecticut

6. Oregon

7. Washington

8. Pennsylvania

9. Massachusetts

10. New Hampshire