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Best states for a research fellow
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 fellows? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for research fellow 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.In order to help you decide which state is the best for research fellows, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for research fellow jobs.
In order to get you the best states for research fellows, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a research fellow, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for research fellows in 2026
1. California
Total research fellow jobs: 5,316 Average annual salary: $67,202 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
2. Maine
Total research fellow jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $67,220 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
3. New Jersey
Total research fellow jobs: 1,231 Average annual salary: $62,579 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. Tennessee
Total research fellow jobs: 634 Average annual salary: $66,401 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
5. Rhode Island
Total research fellow jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $57,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. Montana
Total research fellow jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $63,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. Connecticut
Total research fellow jobs: 375 Average annual salary: $60,324 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. Minnesota
Total research fellow jobs: 779 Average annual salary: $56,437 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
9. Hawaii
Total research fellow jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $71,600 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
10. Maryland
Total research fellow jobs: 737 Average annual salary: $59,671 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
Research fellow jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research fellow
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research fellow
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $67,202 | $48,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,316 |
| 2 | Maine | $67,220 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 149 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $62,579 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,231 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $66,401 | $47,000 | 6,715,984 | 634 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $57,673 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 169 |
| 6 | Montana | $63,203 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 117 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $60,324 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 375 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $56,437 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 779 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $71,600 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 10 | Maryland | $59,671 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 737 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $53,888 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,533 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $51,921 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,745 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $53,547 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 212 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $56,246 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 507 |
| 15 | Indiana | $57,188 | $41,000 | 6,666,818 | 530 |
| 16 | Arizona | $56,312 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 562 |
| 17 | Alaska | $61,530 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 18 | Washington | $52,446 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,142 |
| 19 | Oregon | $52,207 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 743 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,502 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 132 |
| 21 | Nevada | $56,607 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 135 |
| 22 | Illinois | $52,952 | $38,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,272 |
| 23 | New York | $51,101 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,801 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $48,999 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 116 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $50,612 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 979 |
| 26 | Michigan | $48,964 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 818 |
| 27 | Colorado | $49,168 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 796 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $50,389 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 253 |
| 29 | Vermont | $46,424 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 121 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $50,807 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 238 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $47,374 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 65 |
| 32 | Virginia | $48,079 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,078 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $46,622 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 244 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $44,275 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 264 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,631 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 141 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $47,321 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 246 |
| 37 | Iowa | $46,972 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 283 |
| 38 | Ohio | $45,690 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 938 |
| 39 | Florida | $46,305 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,498 |
| 40 | Kansas | $44,686 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 255 |
| 41 | Idaho | $44,467 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 147 |
| 42 | Utah | $41,969 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 329 |
| 43 | Texas | $42,120 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,020 |
| 44 | Missouri | $40,161 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 638 |
| 45 | Alabama | $44,019 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 202 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $41,169 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 47 | Georgia | $40,740 | $29,000 | 10,429,379 | 893 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $37,300 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 145 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $40,099 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 152 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,753 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 233 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $36,384 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 233 |
Highest paying states for research fellows
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Fellow Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $67,202 |
| 2 | Maine | $67,220 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $62,579 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $66,401 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $57,673 |
| 6 | Montana | $63,203 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $60,324 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $56,437 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $71,600 |
| 10 | Maryland | $59,671 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $53,888 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $51,921 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $53,547 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $56,246 |
| 15 | Indiana | $57,188 |
| 16 | Arizona | $56,312 |
| 17 | Alaska | $61,530 |
| 18 | Washington | $52,446 |
| 19 | Oregon | $52,207 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,502 |
| 21 | Nevada | $56,607 |
| 22 | Illinois | $52,952 |
| 23 | New York | $51,101 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $48,999 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $50,612 |
| 26 | Michigan | $48,964 |
| 27 | Colorado | $49,168 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $50,389 |
| 29 | Vermont | $46,424 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $50,807 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $47,374 |
| 32 | Virginia | $48,079 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $46,622 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $44,275 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,631 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $47,321 |
| 37 | Iowa | $46,972 |
| 38 | Ohio | $45,690 |
| 39 | Florida | $46,305 |
| 40 | Kansas | $44,686 |
| 41 | Idaho | $44,467 |
| 42 | Utah | $41,969 |
| 43 | Texas | $42,120 |
| 44 | Missouri | $40,161 |
| 45 | Alabama | $44,019 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $41,169 |
| 47 | Georgia | $40,740 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $37,300 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $40,099 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,753 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $36,384 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research fellows
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research fellows 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