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Best states for a research writer
Quoted expert
Edith Borbon
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like research writers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for research writers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for research writer jobs.
In order to get you the best states for research writers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for research writer jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.
10 best states for research writers in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total research writer jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $87,715 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. Virginia
Total research writer jobs: 1,157 Average annual salary: $73,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. Vermont
Total research writer jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $61,856 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
4. Pennsylvania
Total research writer jobs: 1,480 Average annual salary: $60,196 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
5. New Hampshire
Total research writer jobs: 206 Average annual salary: $62,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. Michigan
Total research writer jobs: 835 Average annual salary: $62,600 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
7. New Jersey
Total research writer jobs: 1,033 Average annual salary: $63,788 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
8. Connecticut
Total research writer jobs: 343 Average annual salary: $64,804 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Rhode Island
Total research writer jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $57,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
10. California
Total research writer jobs: 4,730 Average annual salary: $60,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
Research writer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research writer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research writer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,715 | $52,000 | 693,972 | 202 |
| 2 | Virginia | $73,215 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,157 |
| 3 | Vermont | $61,856 | $39,000 | 623,657 | 119 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $60,196 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,480 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $62,211 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 206 |
| 6 | Michigan | $62,600 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 835 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $63,788 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,033 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $64,804 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 343 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $57,244 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 174 |
| 10 | California | $60,043 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,730 |
| 11 | Arizona | $59,709 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 581 |
| 12 | Maryland | $70,555 | $41,000 | 6,052,177 | 325 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $53,561 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 82 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $59,819 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,000 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 714 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $65,375 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 349 |
| 17 | Delaware | $57,004 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 131 |
| 18 | Illinois | $56,073 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,275 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $53,331 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 772 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $56,291 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 944 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,037 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 920 |
| 22 | New York | $59,023 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 773 |
| 23 | Montana | $50,829 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 117 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $52,287 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 472 |
| 25 | Colorado | $51,462 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 700 |
| 26 | Missouri | $48,413 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 636 |
| 27 | Washington | $54,920 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 220 |
| 28 | Georgia | $50,205 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 865 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $45,690 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 606 |
| 30 | Maine | $48,578 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 122 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $46,875 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 133 |
| 32 | Texas | $48,125 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,925 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,815 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 377 |
| 34 | Nevada | $48,248 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 176 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $45,362 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 108 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,331 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 242 |
| 37 | Alaska | $49,759 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 30 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,905 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 229 |
| 39 | Florida | $44,862 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,552 |
| 40 | Iowa | $44,599 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 232 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $42,743 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 81 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $42,389 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 220 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,519 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 141 |
| 44 | Indiana | $42,974 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 545 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $43,738 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 215 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $43,199 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 160 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,877 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 187 |
| 48 | Alabama | $43,014 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 194 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,979 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 236 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $41,547 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 254 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $39,866 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 129 |
Highest paying states for research writers
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Writer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,715 |
| 2 | Virginia | $73,215 |
| 3 | Vermont | $61,856 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $60,196 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $62,211 |
| 6 | Michigan | $62,600 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $63,788 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $64,804 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $57,244 |
| 10 | California | $60,043 |
| 11 | Arizona | $59,709 |
| 12 | Maryland | $70,555 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $53,561 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $59,819 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,000 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $65,375 |
| 17 | Delaware | $57,004 |
| 18 | Illinois | $56,073 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $53,331 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $56,291 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,037 |
| 22 | New York | $59,023 |
| 23 | Montana | $50,829 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $52,287 |
| 25 | Colorado | $51,462 |
| 26 | Missouri | $48,413 |
| 27 | Washington | $54,920 |
| 28 | Georgia | $50,205 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $45,690 |
| 30 | Maine | $48,578 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $46,875 |
| 32 | Texas | $48,125 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,815 |
| 34 | Nevada | $48,248 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $45,362 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,331 |
| 37 | Alaska | $49,759 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,905 |
| 39 | Florida | $44,862 |
| 40 | Iowa | $44,599 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $42,743 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $42,389 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,519 |
| 44 | Indiana | $42,974 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $43,738 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $43,199 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,877 |
| 48 | Alabama | $43,014 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,979 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $41,547 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $39,866 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research writers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research writers to find work opportunities?
Edith Borbon
Adjunct Professor and Language Liaison, University of San Francisco
The federal government employs linguists and language experts. The military, the State Department, the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, the Defense Language Institute. Silicon Valley companies hire linguists as well to work on translation and localization. There are also translator and interpreter positions available in the city, county, and state governments, and in hospitals, courts, and schools.
With a Master's or a Ph.D., colleges and universities offer career options in teaching and research. And there's the United Nations and the World Bank for both domestic and international assignments.
In the virtual space, the increasing trend towards remote work makes it even more important to have a strong online presence (LinkedIn, websites, posting personal articles or projects online).
Research writer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025