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Best states for a research psychologist
Quoted expert
Dr. Timothy Roberts
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Are you thinking of becoming a research psychologist and really want to work at TechWerks? Turns out, your chances to become a research psychologist are better in some states than others.Our research found that Rhode Island is the best state for research psychologists, while California and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Rhode Island has a median salary of $103,865 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for research psychologists.
The median salary for research psychologists in Rhode Island is $103,865. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $63,015, which ranked worst for research psychologists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Rhode Island is the best state for research psychologist jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for research psychologists in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total research psychologist jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $103,865 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
2. Maryland
Total research psychologist jobs: 847 Average annual salary: $103,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
3. Maine
Total research psychologist jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $106,294 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
4. Oregon
Total research psychologist jobs: 547 Average annual salary: $99,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
5. Virginia
Total research psychologist jobs: 795 Average annual salary: $108,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
6. New Hampshire
Total research psychologist jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $97,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. Connecticut
Total research psychologist jobs: 303 Average annual salary: $99,785 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
8. Wisconsin
Total research psychologist jobs: 453 Average annual salary: $99,388 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Idaho
Total research psychologist jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $103,838 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Nevada
Total research psychologist jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $106,421 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
Research psychologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research psychologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research psychologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $103,865 | $76,000 | 1,059,639 | 129 |
| 2 | Maryland | $103,302 | $75,000 | 6,052,177 | 847 |
| 3 | Maine | $106,294 | $79,000 | 1,335,907 | 102 |
| 4 | Oregon | $99,762 | $71,000 | 4,142,776 | 547 |
| 5 | Virginia | $108,256 | $78,000 | 8,470,020 | 795 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $97,873 | $72,000 | 1,342,795 | 157 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $99,785 | $73,000 | 3,588,184 | 303 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $99,388 | $74,000 | 5,795,483 | 453 |
| 9 | Idaho | $103,838 | $75,000 | 1,716,943 | 111 |
| 10 | Nevada | $106,421 | $74,000 | 2,998,039 | 117 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $93,312 | $65,000 | 2,088,070 | 180 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $99,972 | $75,000 | 755,393 | 63 |
| 13 | Washington | $110,770 | $79,000 | 7,405,743 | 261 |
| 14 | Colorado | $94,184 | $68,000 | 5,607,154 | 717 |
| 15 | California | $112,967 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,312 |
| 16 | New York | $94,892 | $69,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,687 |
| 17 | Delaware | $92,331 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 130 |
| 18 | Ohio | $91,532 | $67,000 | 11,658,609 | 805 |
| 19 | Utah | $88,675 | $64,000 | 3,101,833 | 280 |
| 20 | Alaska | $99,897 | $76,000 | 739,795 | 15 |
| 21 | Florida | $87,460 | $57,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,348 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $84,202 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 771 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $79,583 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,125 |
| 24 | Indiana | $84,174 | $62,000 | 6,666,818 | 378 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $80,555 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 88 |
| 26 | Missouri | $83,863 | $61,000 | 6,113,532 | 457 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $79,248 | $58,000 | 579,315 | 59 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $84,039 | $60,000 | 3,004,279 | 129 |
| 29 | Iowa | $84,095 | $62,000 | 3,145,711 | 190 |
| 30 | Michigan | $79,732 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 658 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $81,212 | $60,000 | 5,576,606 | 569 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $93,928 | $68,000 | 693,972 | 77 |
| 33 | Kansas | $81,449 | $59,000 | 2,913,123 | 171 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $84,127 | $64,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $81,719 | $56,000 | 2,984,100 | 110 |
| 36 | Arizona | $77,952 | $54,000 | 7,016,270 | 518 |
| 37 | Vermont | $76,172 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 89 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $78,862 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 715 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $79,011 | $58,000 | 4,454,189 | 173 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $75,809 | $54,000 | 3,930,864 | 263 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $75,798 | $56,000 | 1,920,076 | 189 |
| 42 | Montana | $78,606 | $58,000 | 1,050,493 | 86 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $77,962 | $52,000 | 4,684,333 | 168 |
| 44 | Texas | $77,066 | $52,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,493 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $78,713 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 741 |
| 46 | Illinois | $73,502 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,131 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $72,459 | $52,000 | 6,715,984 | 452 |
| 48 | Georgia | $76,538 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 756 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $72,451 | $52,000 | 1,815,857 | 115 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $64,172 | $45,000 | 5,024,369 | 193 |
| 51 | Alabama | $63,015 | $43,000 | 4,874,747 | 152 |
Highest paying states for research psychologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Psychologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $103,865 |
| 2 | Maryland | $103,302 |
| 3 | Maine | $106,294 |
| 4 | Oregon | $99,762 |
| 5 | Virginia | $108,256 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $97,873 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $99,785 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $99,388 |
| 9 | Idaho | $103,838 |
| 10 | Nevada | $106,421 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $93,312 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $99,972 |
| 13 | Washington | $110,770 |
| 14 | Colorado | $94,184 |
| 15 | California | $112,967 |
| 16 | New York | $94,892 |
| 17 | Delaware | $92,331 |
| 18 | Ohio | $91,532 |
| 19 | Utah | $88,675 |
| 20 | Alaska | $99,897 |
| 21 | Florida | $87,460 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $84,202 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $79,583 |
| 24 | Indiana | $84,174 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $80,555 |
| 26 | Missouri | $83,863 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $79,248 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $84,039 |
| 29 | Iowa | $84,095 |
| 30 | Michigan | $79,732 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $81,212 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $93,928 |
| 33 | Kansas | $81,449 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $84,127 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $81,719 |
| 36 | Arizona | $77,952 |
| 37 | Vermont | $76,172 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $78,862 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $79,011 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $75,809 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $75,798 |
| 42 | Montana | $78,606 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $77,962 |
| 44 | Texas | $77,066 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $78,713 |
| 46 | Illinois | $73,502 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $72,459 |
| 48 | Georgia | $76,538 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $72,451 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $64,172 |
| 51 | Alabama | $63,015 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research psychologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research psychologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Timothy Roberts
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Western Illinois University
Job-rich areas in history traditionally have been in cities, like other jobs. But again, as distance learning and jobs-from-home become more common, cities may not be as attractive. Some American cities are already seeing a "brain drain." In the last few decades, high school teaching jobs have ebbed and flowed; currently, there is a shortage of qualified teachers, not only in STEM but also in history, in some parts of the country, believe it or not. Reforms are being discussed in some states that that raise high school teachers' salaries, which will create opportunities for qualified new graduates.
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Updated January 8, 2025