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Best states for a research and development specialist
Quoted expert
Donna Kukarola
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a research and development specialist and really want to work at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals? Turns out, your chances to become a research and development specialist are better in some states than others.As research and development specialists are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for research and development specialists. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a research and development specialist, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
In order to get you the best states for research and development specialists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Michigan is the best state, and Wilmington is the city with the highest pay for research and development specialists.
10 best states for research and development specialists in 2025
1. Michigan
Total research and development specialist jobs: 1,901 Average annual salary: $81,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
2. Pennsylvania
Total research and development specialist jobs: 3,054 Average annual salary: $79,082 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
3. Ohio
Total research and development specialist jobs: 2,150 Average annual salary: $81,732 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Minnesota
Total research and development specialist jobs: 1,825 Average annual salary: $77,487 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
5. Delaware
Total research and development specialist jobs: 172 Average annual salary: $104,796 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
6. Washington
Total research and development specialist jobs: 598 Average annual salary: $103,926 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
7. Oregon
Total research and development specialist jobs: 829 Average annual salary: $79,113 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
8. North Carolina
Total research and development specialist jobs: 1,278 Average annual salary: $85,505 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
9. New York
Total research and development specialist jobs: 1,628 Average annual salary: $92,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
10. New Jersey
Total research and development specialist jobs: 1,369 Average annual salary: $81,264 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
Research and development specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research and development specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research and development specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $81,997 | $52,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,901 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $79,082 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,054 |
| 3 | Ohio | $81,732 | $51,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,150 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $77,487 | $49,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,825 |
| 5 | Delaware | $104,796 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 172 |
| 6 | Washington | $103,926 | $63,000 | 7,405,743 | 598 |
| 7 | Oregon | $79,113 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 829 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $85,505 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,278 |
| 9 | New York | $92,059 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,628 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $81,264 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,369 |
| 11 | Montana | $70,703 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 328 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $84,171 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 464 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $71,553 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 549 |
| 14 | Alaska | $78,157 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 150 |
| 15 | California | $81,397 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,728 |
| 16 | Virginia | $82,212 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,256 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $67,371 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 262 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $67,232 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,292 |
| 19 | Texas | $76,350 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,640 |
| 20 | Iowa | $68,348 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 653 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $71,428 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 296 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $66,130 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 204 |
| 23 | Nevada | $68,548 | $39,000 | 2,998,039 | 386 |
| 24 | Maryland | $79,512 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 695 |
| 25 | Indiana | $65,771 | $40,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,343 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $63,957 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 470 |
| 27 | Illinois | $71,167 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,719 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $68,106 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 217 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $63,515 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 522 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $71,867 | $47,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,382 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $64,379 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,141 |
| 32 | Arizona | $62,038 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,518 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $75,623 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 231 |
| 34 | Georgia | $63,647 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,129 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $64,964 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 534 |
| 36 | Florida | $62,918 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,468 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $60,731 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 312 |
| 38 | Maine | $67,801 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 178 |
| 39 | Idaho | $65,055 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 224 |
| 40 | Vermont | $64,695 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 122 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $62,611 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 656 |
| 42 | Kansas | $56,343 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 627 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $48,915 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 202 |
| 44 | Colorado | $62,337 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 901 |
| 45 | Missouri | $52,528 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,307 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $56,241 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 632 |
| 47 | Alabama | $55,633 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 687 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $49,307 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 572 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $58,100 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 78 |
| 50 | Utah | $52,669 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 477 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $48,742 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 338 |
Highest paying states for research and development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research And Development Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $81,997 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $79,082 |
| 3 | Ohio | $81,732 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $77,487 |
| 5 | Delaware | $104,796 |
| 6 | Washington | $103,926 |
| 7 | Oregon | $79,113 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $85,505 |
| 9 | New York | $92,059 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $81,264 |
| 11 | Montana | $70,703 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $84,171 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $71,553 |
| 14 | Alaska | $78,157 |
| 15 | California | $81,397 |
| 16 | Virginia | $82,212 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $67,371 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $67,232 |
| 19 | Texas | $76,350 |
| 20 | Iowa | $68,348 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $71,428 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $66,130 |
| 23 | Nevada | $68,548 |
| 24 | Maryland | $79,512 |
| 25 | Indiana | $65,771 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $63,957 |
| 27 | Illinois | $71,167 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $68,106 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $63,515 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $71,867 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $64,379 |
| 32 | Arizona | $62,038 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $75,623 |
| 34 | Georgia | $63,647 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $64,964 |
| 36 | Florida | $62,918 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $60,731 |
| 38 | Maine | $67,801 |
| 39 | Idaho | $65,055 |
| 40 | Vermont | $64,695 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $62,611 |
| 42 | Kansas | $56,343 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $48,915 |
| 44 | Colorado | $62,337 |
| 45 | Missouri | $52,528 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $56,241 |
| 47 | Alabama | $55,633 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $49,307 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $58,100 |
| 50 | Utah | $52,669 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $48,742 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research and development specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research and development specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola
Procurement Director, Forsyth County, Georgia
This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Research and development specialist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025