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Best states for a research trainee
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for research trainees in the United States. Research trainee 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 trainees.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of research trainees in America is $66,000.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for research trainees.We found that Connecticut is the best state for research trainee jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for research trainees in 2025
1. Connecticut
Total research trainee jobs: 527 Average annual salary: $60,109 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
2. Washington
Total research trainee jobs: 1,110 Average annual salary: $62,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
3. Michigan
Total research trainee jobs: 1,349 Average annual salary: $55,012 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Pennsylvania
Total research trainee jobs: 1,728 Average annual salary: $56,178 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. Delaware
Total research trainee jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $74,574 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. New Jersey
Total research trainee jobs: 1,141 Average annual salary: $58,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Massachusetts
Total research trainee jobs: 2,199 Average annual salary: $51,229 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
8. New York
Total research trainee jobs: 1,630 Average annual salary: $66,679 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. California
Total research trainee jobs: 5,345 Average annual salary: $54,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
10. Minnesota
Total research trainee jobs: 1,065 Average annual salary: $49,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Research trainee jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research trainee
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research trainee
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,109 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 527 |
| 2 | Washington | $62,967 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,110 |
| 3 | Michigan | $55,012 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,349 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $56,178 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,728 |
| 5 | Delaware | $74,574 | $51,000 | 961,939 | 161 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $58,083 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,141 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $51,229 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,199 |
| 8 | New York | $66,679 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,630 |
| 9 | California | $54,244 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,345 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $49,582 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,065 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $53,869 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,290 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $48,632 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 189 |
| 13 | Ohio | $53,789 | $36,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,291 |
| 14 | Maine | $47,996 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 200 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $50,841 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 248 |
| 16 | Maryland | $55,981 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 808 |
| 17 | Oregon | $48,984 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 642 |
| 18 | Virginia | $56,117 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,155 |
| 19 | Vermont | $45,815 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 125 |
| 20 | Alaska | $56,696 | $42,000 | 739,795 | 87 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $43,105 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 148 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $42,371 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 159 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $53,043 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 220 |
| 24 | Illinois | $44,886 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,791 |
| 25 | Montana | $43,594 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 172 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $39,980 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 274 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $46,638 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 310 |
| 28 | Texas | $45,050 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,620 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $40,394 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 346 |
| 30 | Indiana | $41,570 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 936 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $40,550 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 490 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $40,325 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 791 |
| 33 | Iowa | $43,025 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 411 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $41,165 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 751 |
| 35 | Colorado | $40,370 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 875 |
| 36 | Georgia | $41,124 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,283 |
| 37 | Idaho | $39,537 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 215 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $38,883 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 271 |
| 39 | Florida | $38,472 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,204 |
| 40 | Nevada | $40,661 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 167 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $31,117 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 342 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,410 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 412 |
| 43 | Missouri | $33,462 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 865 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $33,418 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 119 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $37,040 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 74 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $35,377 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 488 |
| 47 | Arizona | $36,952 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 745 |
| 48 | Kansas | $36,384 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 358 |
| 49 | Utah | $32,425 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 450 |
| 50 | Alabama | $36,019 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 464 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,103 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 355 |
Highest paying states for research trainees
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Trainee Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,109 |
| 2 | Washington | $62,967 |
| 3 | Michigan | $55,012 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $56,178 |
| 5 | Delaware | $74,574 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $58,083 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $51,229 |
| 8 | New York | $66,679 |
| 9 | California | $54,244 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $49,582 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $53,869 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $48,632 |
| 13 | Ohio | $53,789 |
| 14 | Maine | $47,996 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $50,841 |
| 16 | Maryland | $55,981 |
| 17 | Oregon | $48,984 |
| 18 | Virginia | $56,117 |
| 19 | Vermont | $45,815 |
| 20 | Alaska | $56,696 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $43,105 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $42,371 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $53,043 |
| 24 | Illinois | $44,886 |
| 25 | Montana | $43,594 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $39,980 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $46,638 |
| 28 | Texas | $45,050 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $40,394 |
| 30 | Indiana | $41,570 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $40,550 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $40,325 |
| 33 | Iowa | $43,025 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $41,165 |
| 35 | Colorado | $40,370 |
| 36 | Georgia | $41,124 |
| 37 | Idaho | $39,537 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $38,883 |
| 39 | Florida | $38,472 |
| 40 | Nevada | $40,661 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $31,117 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,410 |
| 43 | Missouri | $33,462 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $33,418 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $37,040 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $35,377 |
| 47 | Arizona | $36,952 |
| 48 | Kansas | $36,384 |
| 49 | Utah | $32,425 |
| 50 | Alabama | $36,019 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $32,103 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research trainees
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research trainees 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