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Best states for a research and development scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for research and development scientists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for research and development scientist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant research and development scientist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Tennessee is the best state in the country for research and development scientist jobs.
The median salary for research and development scientists in Tennessee is $116,118. Compare that to the median salary in Louisiana of $56,972, which ranked worst for research and development scientists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a research and development scientist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for research and development scientists in 2026
1. Tennessee
Total research and development scientist jobs: 1,093 Average annual salary: $116,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
2. Delaware
Total research and development scientist jobs: 242 Average annual salary: $102,889 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Minnesota
Total research and development scientist jobs: 1,539 Average annual salary: $91,677 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. Hawaii
Total research and development scientist jobs: 200 Average annual salary: $98,848 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
5. California
Total research and development scientist jobs: 4,349 Average annual salary: $110,346 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
6. Connecticut
Total research and development scientist jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $99,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
7. Indiana
Total research and development scientist jobs: 1,069 Average annual salary: $95,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. New Jersey
Total research and development scientist jobs: 1,494 Average annual salary: $95,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. Rhode Island
Total research and development scientist jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $95,180 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
10. Alaska
Total research and development scientist jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $89,462 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
Research and development scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research and development scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research and development scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $116,118 | $81,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,093 |
| 2 | Delaware | $102,889 | $74,000 | 961,939 | 242 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $91,677 | $66,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,539 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $98,848 | $75,000 | 1,427,538 | 200 |
| 5 | California | $110,346 | $74,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,349 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $99,004 | $72,000 | 3,588,184 | 553 |
| 7 | Indiana | $95,454 | $68,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,069 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $95,179 | $69,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,494 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $95,180 | $69,000 | 1,059,639 | 202 |
| 10 | Alaska | $89,462 | $67,000 | 739,795 | 174 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $87,410 | $64,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,341 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $80,046 | $57,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,867 |
| 13 | Arizona | $96,752 | $65,000 | 7,016,270 | 723 |
| 14 | Maine | $94,862 | $70,000 | 1,335,907 | 164 |
| 15 | Montana | $94,127 | $65,000 | 1,050,493 | 152 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $79,663 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,271 |
| 17 | Nevada | $87,063 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 339 |
| 18 | Washington | $92,924 | $64,000 | 7,405,743 | 957 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $84,561 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 90 |
| 20 | Virginia | $88,377 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,629 |
| 21 | Maryland | $82,233 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,544 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $100,825 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 163 |
| 23 | Michigan | $77,991 | $56,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,569 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $75,998 | $56,000 | 1,342,795 | 485 |
| 25 | New York | $82,511 | $60,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,652 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $76,955 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,176 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $72,780 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 272 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $77,090 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 473 |
| 29 | Oregon | $79,533 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 805 |
| 30 | Ohio | $76,807 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,810 |
| 31 | Illinois | $83,637 | $60,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,715 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $70,844 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 460 |
| 33 | Colorado | $75,825 | $52,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,036 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $68,469 | $48,000 | 1,920,076 | 435 |
| 35 | Florida | $69,120 | $45,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,479 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $67,452 | $48,000 | 1,815,857 | 276 |
| 37 | Idaho | $75,906 | $52,000 | 1,716,943 | 198 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $64,678 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 212 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $71,032 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 542 |
| 40 | Vermont | $68,874 | $51,000 | 623,657 | 143 |
| 41 | Kansas | $67,797 | $47,000 | 2,913,123 | 535 |
| 42 | Texas | $73,059 | $48,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,290 |
| 43 | Missouri | $64,812 | $46,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,160 |
| 44 | Alabama | $67,202 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 635 |
| 45 | Georgia | $63,974 | $44,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,032 |
| 46 | Iowa | $63,773 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 581 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $64,816 | $44,000 | 2,984,100 | 286 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $61,506 | $42,000 | 3,930,864 | 445 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $62,545 | $43,000 | 5,024,369 | 619 |
| 50 | Utah | $57,957 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 464 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $56,972 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 426 |
Highest paying states for research and development scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research And Development Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $116,118 |
| 2 | Delaware | $102,889 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $91,677 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $98,848 |
| 5 | California | $110,346 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $99,004 |
| 7 | Indiana | $95,454 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $95,179 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $95,180 |
| 10 | Alaska | $89,462 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $87,410 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $80,046 |
| 13 | Arizona | $96,752 |
| 14 | Maine | $94,862 |
| 15 | Montana | $94,127 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $79,663 |
| 17 | Nevada | $87,063 |
| 18 | Washington | $92,924 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $84,561 |
| 20 | Virginia | $88,377 |
| 21 | Maryland | $82,233 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $100,825 |
| 23 | Michigan | $77,991 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $75,998 |
| 25 | New York | $82,511 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $76,955 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $72,780 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $77,090 |
| 29 | Oregon | $79,533 |
| 30 | Ohio | $76,807 |
| 31 | Illinois | $83,637 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $70,844 |
| 33 | Colorado | $75,825 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $68,469 |
| 35 | Florida | $69,120 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $67,452 |
| 37 | Idaho | $75,906 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $64,678 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $71,032 |
| 40 | Vermont | $68,874 |
| 41 | Kansas | $67,797 |
| 42 | Texas | $73,059 |
| 43 | Missouri | $64,812 |
| 44 | Alabama | $67,202 |
| 45 | Georgia | $63,974 |
| 46 | Iowa | $63,773 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $64,816 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $61,506 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $62,545 |
| 50 | Utah | $57,957 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $56,972 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research and development scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research and development 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.
Research and development scientist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025