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Best states for a research assistant/technician
Quoted expert
Bart Elmore
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Are you thinking of becoming a research assistant/technician and really want to work at Brigham and Women's Hospital? Turns out, your chances to become a research assistant/technician are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for research assistant/technician jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for research assistant/technicians.We found that New Jersey is the best state for research assistant/technician jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.
10 best states for research assistant/technicians in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 701 Average annual salary: $54,800 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. Alaska
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $55,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
3. New York
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 1,614 Average annual salary: $50,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
4. Delaware
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $51,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
5. Pennsylvania
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 1,079 Average annual salary: $47,836 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
6. Massachusetts
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 1,304 Average annual salary: $47,793 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
7. Connecticut
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $50,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. Rhode Island
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 128 Average annual salary: $45,359 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
9. Washington
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 494 Average annual salary: $53,208 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. District of Columbia
Total research assistant/technician jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $49,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
Research assistant/technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research assistant/technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research assistant/technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $54,800 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 701 |
| 2 | Alaska | $55,092 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 72 |
| 3 | New York | $50,992 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,614 |
| 4 | Delaware | $51,381 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 107 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,836 | $30,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,079 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $47,793 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,304 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $50,355 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 274 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $45,359 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 128 |
| 9 | Washington | $53,208 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 494 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,188 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 182 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $44,316 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 146 |
| 12 | Maine | $44,886 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 94 |
| 13 | Texas | $45,071 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,434 |
| 14 | Vermont | $40,651 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 87 |
| 15 | Maryland | $43,148 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 760 |
| 16 | Oregon | $40,510 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 506 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $40,809 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 542 |
| 18 | Virginia | $42,297 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 742 |
| 19 | Colorado | $39,441 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 689 |
| 20 | Ohio | $39,474 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 707 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $39,819 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 587 |
| 22 | Michigan | $38,153 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 614 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $39,175 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 380 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $37,350 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 77 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $38,266 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 52 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $36,773 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 435 |
| 27 | Arizona | $37,446 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 478 |
| 28 | Georgia | $38,568 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 704 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $37,901 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 122 |
| 30 | California | $42,950 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,558 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,969 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 183 |
| 32 | Illinois | $36,473 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 942 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $38,500 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 65 |
| 34 | Missouri | $36,429 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 416 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $37,091 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 132 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $36,045 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 156 |
| 37 | Kansas | $35,995 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 162 |
| 38 | Nevada | $36,766 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 91 |
| 39 | Alabama | $36,129 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 144 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $34,654 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 161 |
| 41 | Montana | $36,203 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 74 |
| 42 | Idaho | $35,452 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 108 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,146 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 275 |
| 44 | Florida | $34,699 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,252 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $35,025 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 165 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $35,141 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 196 |
| 47 | Indiana | $35,395 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 351 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $33,111 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 112 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $32,711 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,669 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 155 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,081 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 102 |
Highest paying states for research assistant/technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Assistant/Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $54,800 |
| 2 | Alaska | $55,092 |
| 3 | New York | $50,992 |
| 4 | Delaware | $51,381 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $47,836 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $47,793 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $50,355 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $45,359 |
| 9 | Washington | $53,208 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,188 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $44,316 |
| 12 | Maine | $44,886 |
| 13 | Texas | $45,071 |
| 14 | Vermont | $40,651 |
| 15 | Maryland | $43,148 |
| 16 | Oregon | $40,510 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $40,809 |
| 18 | Virginia | $42,297 |
| 19 | Colorado | $39,441 |
| 20 | Ohio | $39,474 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $39,819 |
| 22 | Michigan | $38,153 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $39,175 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $37,350 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $38,266 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $36,773 |
| 27 | Arizona | $37,446 |
| 28 | Georgia | $38,568 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $37,901 |
| 30 | California | $42,950 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,969 |
| 32 | Illinois | $36,473 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $38,500 |
| 34 | Missouri | $36,429 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $37,091 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $36,045 |
| 37 | Kansas | $35,995 |
| 38 | Nevada | $36,766 |
| 39 | Alabama | $36,129 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $34,654 |
| 41 | Montana | $36,203 |
| 42 | Idaho | $35,452 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,146 |
| 44 | Florida | $34,699 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $35,025 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $35,141 |
| 47 | Indiana | $35,395 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $33,111 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $32,711 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,669 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $30,081 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research assistant/technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research assistant/technicians to find work opportunities?
Bart Elmore
Associate Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University
Anywhere. That is the thing about history. Once they learn how to navigate archival repositories and digital databases-core expertise acquired by a history major-and hone writing skills that allow them to broadcast their ideas to the public, history majors can really take on any job. This is really the freeing thing about being a history major. These students are not taught highly technical skills that only apply to one craft or profession. Rather, they are taught rigorous writing and researching techniques that can help them start a business, build a political campaign, or develop strategies to combat climate change. Maybe some people see the history major as limiting, but they should not. It is really liberating.
Research assistant/technician best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025