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Best states for a research support specialist
Quoted expert
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for research support specialists in the United States. Research support specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for research support specialists.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for research support specialists.
Washington is the best state for jobs for research support specialists, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $53,617, while the median pay in Alabama is $34,609.Washington is the best state, and Brick is the city with the highest pay for research support specialists.
10 best states for research support specialists in 2025
1. Washington
Total research support specialist jobs: 1,842 Average annual salary: $53,617 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
2. New Jersey
Total research support specialist jobs: 1,573 Average annual salary: $66,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
3. Delaware
Total research support specialist jobs: 250 Average annual salary: $61,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
4. Minnesota
Total research support specialist jobs: 1,266 Average annual salary: $51,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
5. New Hampshire
Total research support specialist jobs: 361 Average annual salary: $49,210 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. North Carolina
Total research support specialist jobs: 1,695 Average annual salary: $54,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. Arkansas
Total research support specialist jobs: 627 Average annual salary: $45,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
8. Maine
Total research support specialist jobs: 317 Average annual salary: $46,375 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. South Dakota
Total research support specialist jobs: 337 Average annual salary: $43,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
10. Michigan
Total research support specialist jobs: 2,248 Average annual salary: $44,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
Research support specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research support specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research support specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $53,617 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,842 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,399 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,573 |
| 3 | Delaware | $61,773 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 250 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $51,700 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,266 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,210 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 361 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $54,918 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,695 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $45,413 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 627 |
| 8 | Maine | $46,375 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 317 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $43,400 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 337 |
| 10 | Michigan | $44,108 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,248 |
| 11 | Virginia | $50,612 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,796 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $49,704 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,817 |
| 13 | New York | $55,902 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,066 |
| 14 | Alaska | $57,513 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 128 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $46,508 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 270 |
| 16 | Maryland | $56,617 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 961 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $51,381 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 344 |
| 18 | Ohio | $48,984 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,644 |
| 19 | Montana | $44,714 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 250 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $47,920 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 923 |
| 21 | Colorado | $46,590 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,127 |
| 22 | Illinois | $46,574 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,191 |
| 23 | California | $42,965 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,205 |
| 24 | Nevada | $40,728 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 532 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $43,067 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 177 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $47,534 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 561 |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,567 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 299 |
| 28 | Oregon | $41,468 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,033 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,462 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,607 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,608 |
| 31 | Iowa | $42,047 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 609 |
| 32 | Arizona | $41,245 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,146 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $40,444 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,070 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $36,597 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 726 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $38,200 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 828 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $37,339 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 544 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $39,012 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 909 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $37,713 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 733 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $38,142 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 119 |
| 40 | Utah | $37,441 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 684 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $39,534 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 252 |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,941 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 983 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $36,741 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 179 |
| 44 | Texas | $39,181 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,502 |
| 45 | Kansas | $33,252 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 810 |
| 46 | Vermont | $33,673 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 208 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $33,015 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 671 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,479 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 478 |
| 49 | Georgia | $36,202 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,766 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,496 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,946 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,609 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 767 |
Highest paying states for research support specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Support Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $53,617 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,399 |
| 3 | Delaware | $61,773 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $51,700 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,210 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $54,918 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $45,413 |
| 8 | Maine | $46,375 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $43,400 |
| 10 | Michigan | $44,108 |
| 11 | Virginia | $50,612 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $49,704 |
| 13 | New York | $55,902 |
| 14 | Alaska | $57,513 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $46,508 |
| 16 | Maryland | $56,617 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $51,381 |
| 18 | Ohio | $48,984 |
| 19 | Montana | $44,714 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $47,920 |
| 21 | Colorado | $46,590 |
| 22 | Illinois | $46,574 |
| 23 | California | $42,965 |
| 24 | Nevada | $40,728 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $43,067 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $47,534 |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,567 |
| 28 | Oregon | $41,468 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,607 |
| 31 | Iowa | $42,047 |
| 32 | Arizona | $41,245 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $40,444 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $36,597 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $38,200 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $37,339 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $39,012 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $37,713 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $38,142 |
| 40 | Utah | $37,441 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $39,534 |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,941 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $36,741 |
| 44 | Texas | $39,181 |
| 45 | Kansas | $33,252 |
| 46 | Vermont | $33,673 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $33,015 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,479 |
| 49 | Georgia | $36,202 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,496 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,609 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research support specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research support specialists to find work opportunities?
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.
Liberal Arts Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography Director, Graduate Program in Demography Faculty Director, Graduate Programs in Applied Demography Editor, Spatial Demography Associate Editor, Mathematical Population Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Anywhere and everywhere - academia, government (local to national), NGOs, INGOs, private sector, and applied research - in the US and overseas!
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Updated January 8, 2025