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Best states for a research biologist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for research biologists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for research biologist 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.Our research found that Pennsylvania is the best state for research biologists, while Alaska and Hawaii are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Pennsylvania has a median salary of $79,418 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for research biologists.
Pennsylvania is the best state for jobs for research biologists, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in Pennsylvania is $79,418, while the median pay in Arkansas is $54,623.Pennsylvania is the best state, and Anchorage is the city with the highest pay for research biologists.
10 best states for research biologists in 2026
1. Pennsylvania
Total research biologist jobs: 1,328 Average annual salary: $79,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Rhode Island
Total research biologist jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $74,483 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
3. California
Total research biologist jobs: 4,235 Average annual salary: $80,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
4. Utah
Total research biologist jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $75,787 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Alaska
Total research biologist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $91,807 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
6. New Jersey
Total research biologist jobs: 906 Average annual salary: $75,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
7. Hawaii
Total research biologist jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $89,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. New York
Total research biologist jobs: 908 Average annual salary: $83,506 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
9. Oregon
Total research biologist jobs: 552 Average annual salary: $72,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
10. New Hampshire
Total research biologist jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $71,954 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
Research biologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research biologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research biologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $79,418 | $56,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,328 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $74,483 | $53,000 | 1,059,639 | 146 |
| 3 | California | $80,313 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,235 |
| 4 | Utah | $75,787 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 286 |
| 5 | Alaska | $91,807 | $63,000 | 739,795 | 52 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $75,108 | $53,000 | 9,005,644 | 906 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $89,409 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 70 |
| 8 | New York | $83,506 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 908 |
| 9 | Oregon | $72,563 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 552 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $71,954 | $51,000 | 1,342,795 | 174 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $74,559 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 282 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $70,095 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 98 |
| 13 | Washington | $72,559 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 801 |
| 14 | Georgia | $75,450 | $52,000 | 10,429,379 | 702 |
| 15 | Delaware | $74,172 | $52,000 | 961,939 | 103 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $74,169 | $50,000 | 755,393 | 63 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $73,770 | $50,000 | 3,930,864 | 209 |
| 18 | Nevada | $75,560 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 121 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $70,904 | $50,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,783 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $79,619 | $56,000 | 693,972 | 139 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $66,194 | $45,000 | 1,920,076 | 224 |
| 22 | Ohio | $68,896 | $48,000 | 11,658,609 | 796 |
| 23 | Montana | $68,772 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 98 |
| 24 | Vermont | $67,187 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 96 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $70,182 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 387 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $66,357 | $46,000 | 1,815,857 | 124 |
| 27 | Arizona | $66,978 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 488 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $65,520 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 637 |
| 29 | Virginia | $68,688 | $48,000 | 8,470,020 | 836 |
| 30 | Maryland | $73,615 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 417 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $62,449 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 56 |
| 32 | Illinois | $65,602 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,005 |
| 33 | Maine | $63,984 | $45,000 | 1,335,907 | 117 |
| 34 | Michigan | $62,646 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 707 |
| 35 | Indiana | $63,902 | $44,000 | 6,666,818 | 468 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $64,332 | $45,000 | 4,454,189 | 177 |
| 37 | Alabama | $64,664 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 154 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $63,404 | $44,000 | 10,273,419 | 756 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $58,999 | $41,000 | 6,715,984 | 547 |
| 40 | Texas | $62,667 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,613 |
| 41 | Iowa | $63,272 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 191 |
| 42 | Colorado | $60,733 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 586 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $56,987 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 197 |
| 44 | Kansas | $61,816 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 188 |
| 45 | Florida | $61,807 | $42,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,276 |
| 46 | Missouri | $55,407 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 545 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $60,662 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 164 |
| 48 | Idaho | $56,660 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 121 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $56,825 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 177 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,027 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 118 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $54,623 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 123 |
Highest paying states for research biologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Biologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $79,418 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $74,483 |
| 3 | California | $80,313 |
| 4 | Utah | $75,787 |
| 5 | Alaska | $91,807 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $75,108 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $89,409 |
| 8 | New York | $83,506 |
| 9 | Oregon | $72,563 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $71,954 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $74,559 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $70,095 |
| 13 | Washington | $72,559 |
| 14 | Georgia | $75,450 |
| 15 | Delaware | $74,172 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $74,169 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $73,770 |
| 18 | Nevada | $75,560 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $70,904 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $79,619 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $66,194 |
| 22 | Ohio | $68,896 |
| 23 | Montana | $68,772 |
| 24 | Vermont | $67,187 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $70,182 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $66,357 |
| 27 | Arizona | $66,978 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $65,520 |
| 29 | Virginia | $68,688 |
| 30 | Maryland | $73,615 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $62,449 |
| 32 | Illinois | $65,602 |
| 33 | Maine | $63,984 |
| 34 | Michigan | $62,646 |
| 35 | Indiana | $63,902 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $64,332 |
| 37 | Alabama | $64,664 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $63,404 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $58,999 |
| 40 | Texas | $62,667 |
| 41 | Iowa | $63,272 |
| 42 | Colorado | $60,733 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $56,987 |
| 44 | Kansas | $61,816 |
| 45 | Florida | $61,807 |
| 46 | Missouri | $55,407 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $60,662 |
| 48 | Idaho | $56,660 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $56,825 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,027 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $54,623 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research biologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research biologists 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025