Best states for a research associate professor

Q: What is the best state for research associate professors?

The best state to be a research associate professor is Utah based on research associate professor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for research associate professors?

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

Q: What is the worst state for research associate professors?

The worst state for research associate professors is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Don Snyder

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for research associate professors? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for research associate professor jobs.In fact, our research shows that Utah is the best state for research associate professors in America. The best city in America for research associate professors with the highest pay is Salt Lake City, UT.

Utah is the best state for jobs for research associate professors, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in Utah is $152,802, while the median pay in South Carolina is $68,871.If you are currently seeking employment as a research associate professor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for research associate professors in 2025

1. Utah
Total research associate professor jobs: 395
Average annual salary: $152,802
Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Research associate professor jobs in Utah
2. California
Total research associate professor jobs: 4,364
Average annual salary: $151,020
Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Research associate professor jobs in California
3. Rhode Island
Total research associate professor jobs: 158
Average annual salary: $121,725
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Research associate professor jobs in Rhode Island
4. Oregon
Total research associate professor jobs: 698
Average annual salary: $125,012
Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000
Location Quotient:
1.62
Research associate professor jobs in Oregon
5. Mississippi
Total research associate professor jobs: 218
Average annual salary: $130,204
Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Research associate professor jobs in Mississippi
6. Michigan
Total research associate professor jobs: 915
Average annual salary: $120,275
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Research associate professor jobs in Michigan
7. Massachusetts
Total research associate professor jobs: 1,077
Average annual salary: $122,949
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Research associate professor jobs in Massachusetts
8. New York
Total research associate professor jobs: 1,234
Average annual salary: $132,615
Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Research associate professor jobs in New York
9. Alaska
Total research associate professor jobs: 42
Average annual salary: $142,282
Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000
Location Quotient:
0.48
Research associate professor jobs in Alaska
10. New Hampshire
Total research associate professor jobs: 167
Average annual salary: $117,374
Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Research associate professor jobs in New Hampshire

Research associate professor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a research associate professor

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

Detailed list of the best states for a research associate professor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Utah	$152,802	$103,000	3,101,833	395
2	California	$151,020	$101,000	39,536,653	4,364
3	Rhode Island	$121,725	$75,000	1,059,639	158
4	Oregon	$125,012	$83,000	4,142,776	698
5	Mississippi	$130,204	$85,000	2,984,100	218
6	Michigan	$120,275	$75,000	9,962,311	915
7	Massachusetts	$122,949	$75,000	6,859,819	1,077
8	New York	$132,615	$83,000	19,849,399	1,234
9	Alaska	$142,282	$105,000	739,795	42
10	New Hampshire	$117,374	$71,000	1,342,795	167
11	Connecticut	$117,922	$72,000	3,588,184	337
12	Indiana	$115,000	$72,000	6,666,818	569
13	Vermont	$107,805	$64,000	623,657	140
14	Maine	$109,275	$65,000	1,335,907	151
15	West Virginia	$101,983	$62,000	1,815,857	203
16	Delaware	$117,035	$72,000	961,939	117
17	Minnesota	$109,682	$70,000	5,576,606	754
18	Nevada	$120,667	$78,000	2,998,039	103
19	Wisconsin	$108,655	$68,000	5,795,483	540
20	New Mexico	$109,771	$70,000	2,088,070	196
21	District of Columbia	$114,651	$71,000	693,972	165
22	North Dakota	$108,699	$72,000	755,393	65
23	Wyoming	$98,806	$65,000	579,315	60
24	Washington	$111,860	$75,000	7,405,743	484
25	New Jersey	$99,378	$60,000	9,005,644	1,018
26	Pennsylvania	$96,727	$58,000	12,805,537	1,362
27	Colorado	$95,465	$62,000	5,607,154	922
28	Iowa	$103,053	$65,000	3,145,711	286
29	Kansas	$101,874	$65,000	2,913,123	245
30	Illinois	$99,241	$62,000	12,802,023	1,202
31	Idaho	$103,096	$68,000	1,716,943	130
32	Maryland	$112,162	$69,000	6,052,177	294
33	Georgia	$102,085	$65,000	10,429,379	802
34	Nebraska	$88,396	$56,000	1,920,076	285
35	Oklahoma	$97,041	$62,000	3,930,864	248
36	Ohio	$95,276	$58,000	11,658,609	858
37	Missouri	$92,911	$59,000	6,113,532	562
38	Louisiana	$92,150	$59,000	4,684,333	304
39	Virginia	$87,968	$54,000	8,470,020	1,128
40	South Dakota	$79,141	$51,000	869,666	126
41	Tennessee	$89,239	$56,000	6,715,984	540
42	Alabama	$93,784	$60,000	4,874,747	292
43	Texas	$77,374	$50,000	28,304,596	2,156
44	Arkansas	$89,974	$57,000	3,004,279	151
45	Montana	$80,970	$55,000	1,050,493	108
46	North Carolina	$83,587	$52,000	10,273,419	860
47	Kentucky	$74,596	$46,000	4,454,189	343
48	Florida	$76,428	$50,000	20,984,400	1,477
49	Arizona	$74,685	$48,000	7,016,270	529
50	Hawaii	$67,849	$51,000	1,427,538	69
51	South Carolina	$68,871	$44,000	5,024,369	201

Highest paying states for research associate professors

Rank	State	Avg. Research Associate Professor Salary
1	Utah	$152,802
2	California	$151,020
3	Rhode Island	$121,725
4	Oregon	$125,012
5	Mississippi	$130,204
6	Michigan	$120,275
7	Massachusetts	$122,949
8	New York	$132,615
9	Alaska	$142,282
10	New Hampshire	$117,374
11	Connecticut	$117,922
12	Indiana	$115,000
13	Vermont	$107,805
14	Maine	$109,275
15	West Virginia	$101,983
16	Delaware	$117,035
17	Minnesota	$109,682
18	Nevada	$120,667
19	Wisconsin	$108,655
20	New Mexico	$109,771
21	District of Columbia	$114,651
22	North Dakota	$108,699
23	Wyoming	$98,806
24	Washington	$111,860
25	New Jersey	$99,378
26	Pennsylvania	$96,727
27	Colorado	$95,465
28	Iowa	$103,053
29	Kansas	$101,874
30	Illinois	$99,241
31	Idaho	$103,096
32	Maryland	$112,162
33	Georgia	$102,085
34	Nebraska	$88,396
35	Oklahoma	$97,041
36	Ohio	$95,276
37	Missouri	$92,911
38	Louisiana	$92,150
39	Virginia	$87,968
40	South Dakota	$79,141
41	Tennessee	$89,239
42	Alabama	$93,784
43	Texas	$77,374
44	Arkansas	$89,974
45	Montana	$80,970
46	North Carolina	$83,587
47	Kentucky	$74,596
48	Florida	$76,428
49	Arizona	$74,685
50	Hawaii	$67,849
51	South Carolina	$68,871

Expert opinions on the best states for research associate professors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research associate professors 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 associate professor best states FAQs

What is the best state for research associate professors?

What is the highest paying state for research associate professors?

What is the worst state for research associate professors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

Search for research associate professor jobs

Zippia Careers
Education, Training, and Library Industry
Research Associate Professor
Best states for Research Associate Professors

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs

Total research associate professor jobs:	395
Average annual salary:	$152,802
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$103,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$225,000
Location Quotient:	1.19

Best states for a research associate professor

10 best states for research associate professors in 2025

1. Utah

2. California

3. Rhode Island

4. Oregon

5. Mississippi

6. Michigan

7. Massachusetts

8. New York

9. Alaska

10. New Hampshire