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Best states for a research and development manager
- 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 research and development managers in the United States. Research and development manager 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 and development managers.Our research found that California is the best state for research and development managers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $138,991 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for research and development managers.
We figured that the best places for research and development manager jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a research and development manager, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for research and development managers in 2026
1. California
Total research and development manager jobs: 7,842 Average annual salary: $138,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
2. Oregon
Total research and development manager jobs: 986 Average annual salary: $130,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
3. Washington
Total research and development manager jobs: 1,393 Average annual salary: $144,483 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
4. Pennsylvania
Total research and development manager jobs: 2,961 Average annual salary: $113,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
5. Rhode Island
Total research and development manager jobs: 256 Average annual salary: $117,395 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
6. New Hampshire
Total research and development manager jobs: 283 Average annual salary: $134,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
7. Alaska
Total research and development manager jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $130,345 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
8. Michigan
Total research and development manager jobs: 1,716 Average annual salary: $110,050 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
9. New Jersey
Total research and development manager jobs: 1,564 Average annual salary: $121,699 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Montana
Total research and development manager jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $108,871 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
Research and development manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research and development manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research and development manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $138,991 | $90,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,842 |
| 2 | Oregon | $130,098 | $84,000 | 4,142,776 | 986 |
| 3 | Washington | $144,483 | $95,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,393 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $113,818 | $77,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,961 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $117,395 | $80,000 | 1,059,639 | 256 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $134,339 | $93,000 | 1,342,795 | 283 |
| 7 | Alaska | $130,345 | $87,000 | 739,795 | 139 |
| 8 | Michigan | $110,050 | $74,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,716 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $121,699 | $83,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,564 |
| 10 | Montana | $108,871 | $70,000 | 1,050,493 | 289 |
| 11 | Indiana | $112,879 | $75,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,199 |
| 12 | Arizona | $110,605 | $69,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,389 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $125,434 | $86,000 | 3,588,184 | 501 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $122,145 | $84,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,455 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $117,260 | $75,000 | 4,684,333 | 415 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $109,709 | $73,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,421 |
| 17 | Ohio | $102,911 | $69,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,972 |
| 18 | Georgia | $105,257 | $69,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,008 |
| 19 | Nevada | $105,889 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 381 |
| 20 | Maine | $111,150 | $77,000 | 1,335,907 | 162 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $100,702 | $66,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,195 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $100,748 | $67,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,745 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $104,002 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 563 |
| 24 | Vermont | $102,376 | $70,000 | 623,657 | 149 |
| 25 | New York | $113,253 | $77,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,621 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $98,315 | $66,000 | 755,393 | 194 |
| 27 | Illinois | $104,227 | $69,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,002 |
| 28 | Virginia | $104,881 | $71,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,744 |
| 29 | Texas | $93,983 | $59,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,974 |
| 30 | Delaware | $104,901 | $71,000 | 961,939 | 178 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $94,518 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 427 |
| 32 | Utah | $97,543 | $61,000 | 3,101,833 | 559 |
| 33 | Idaho | $101,961 | $64,000 | 1,716,943 | 231 |
| 34 | Maryland | $110,776 | $75,000 | 6,052,177 | 647 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $96,403 | $64,000 | 1,815,857 | 277 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $107,223 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 281 |
| 37 | Missouri | $96,121 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,183 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $92,269 | $60,000 | 1,920,076 | 471 |
| 39 | Alabama | $99,424 | $64,000 | 4,874,747 | 563 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $93,887 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,039 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $82,810 | $53,000 | 579,315 | 165 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $86,039 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 236 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $96,136 | $64,000 | 5,024,369 | 581 |
| 44 | Colorado | $95,502 | $61,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,010 |
| 45 | Florida | $83,949 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,304 |
| 46 | Kansas | $83,933 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 563 |
| 47 | Iowa | $90,057 | $59,000 | 3,145,711 | 510 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $69,649 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 175 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $82,141 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 474 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $84,979 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 293 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $82,229 | $53,000 | 3,930,864 | 470 |
Highest paying states for research and development managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Research And Development Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $138,991 |
| 2 | Oregon | $130,098 |
| 3 | Washington | $144,483 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $113,818 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $117,395 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $134,339 |
| 7 | Alaska | $130,345 |
| 8 | Michigan | $110,050 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $121,699 |
| 10 | Montana | $108,871 |
| 11 | Indiana | $112,879 |
| 12 | Arizona | $110,605 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $125,434 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $122,145 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $117,260 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $109,709 |
| 17 | Ohio | $102,911 |
| 18 | Georgia | $105,257 |
| 19 | Nevada | $105,889 |
| 20 | Maine | $111,150 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $100,702 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $100,748 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $104,002 |
| 24 | Vermont | $102,376 |
| 25 | New York | $113,253 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $98,315 |
| 27 | Illinois | $104,227 |
| 28 | Virginia | $104,881 |
| 29 | Texas | $93,983 |
| 30 | Delaware | $104,901 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $94,518 |
| 32 | Utah | $97,543 |
| 33 | Idaho | $101,961 |
| 34 | Maryland | $110,776 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $96,403 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $107,223 |
| 37 | Missouri | $96,121 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $92,269 |
| 39 | Alabama | $99,424 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $93,887 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $82,810 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $86,039 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $96,136 |
| 44 | Colorado | $95,502 |
| 45 | Florida | $83,949 |
| 46 | Kansas | $83,933 |
| 47 | Iowa | $90,057 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $69,649 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $82,141 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $84,979 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $82,229 |
Research and development manager best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025