Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a science technician
Quoted expert
Dr. Steven Christenson Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for science technicians? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for science technician 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 fact, our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state for science technicians in America. The best city in America for science technicians with the highest pay is Boston, MA.
The median salary for science technicians in Massachusetts is $60,333. Compare that to the median salary in Utah of $26,722, which ranked worst for science technicians, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Massachusetts is the best state, and Falmouth is the city with the highest pay for science technicians.
10 best states for science technicians in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total science technician jobs: 988 Average annual salary: $60,333 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 2.1
2. Connecticut
Total science technician jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $54,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Rhode Island
Total science technician jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $49,002 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. New Hampshire
Total science technician jobs: 106 Average annual salary: $53,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. New Jersey
Total science technician jobs: 501 Average annual salary: $49,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. New York
Total science technician jobs: 826 Average annual salary: $48,592 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
7. Illinois
Total science technician jobs: 778 Average annual salary: $41,332 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. Wisconsin
Total science technician jobs: 329 Average annual salary: $38,398 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
9. Maine
Total science technician jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $37,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 2.16
10. Wyoming
Total science technician jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $35,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
Science technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a science technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a science technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $60,333 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 988 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $54,211 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 223 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $49,002 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 87 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $53,538 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 106 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $49,935 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 501 |
| 6 | New York | $48,592 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 826 |
| 7 | Illinois | $41,332 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 778 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $38,398 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 329 |
| 9 | Maine | $37,720 | $22,000 | 1,335,907 | 147 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $35,916 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 41 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $36,915 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 138 |
| 12 | Maryland | $39,080 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 435 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $36,650 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 297 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $37,087 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 99 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $42,114 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 517 |
| 16 | Delaware | $37,108 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 104 |
| 17 | Michigan | $35,745 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 488 |
| 18 | Washington | $39,915 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 309 |
| 19 | Vermont | $34,455 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 88 |
| 20 | Ohio | $37,010 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 400 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $35,625 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 152 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $35,853 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 349 |
| 23 | Georgia | $37,754 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 383 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $32,476 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 116 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $33,932 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 136 |
| 26 | Alaska | $32,819 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 77 |
| 27 | California | $39,731 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,031 |
| 28 | Iowa | $35,148 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 161 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,107 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 677 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $33,060 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 119 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $38,828 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 77 |
| 32 | Idaho | $32,473 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 87 |
| 33 | Oregon | $34,476 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 185 |
| 34 | Missouri | $30,560 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 415 |
| 35 | Colorado | $33,816 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 280 |
| 36 | Florida | $32,802 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 779 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $30,271 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 209 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,792 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 373 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $30,919 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 230 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $32,844 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 107 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $29,207 | $21,000 | 10,273,419 | 554 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $32,876 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 38 |
| 43 | Kansas | $30,093 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 123 |
| 44 | Nevada | $27,916 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 123 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,439 | $20,000 | 1,050,493 | 73 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $27,271 | $20,000 | 755,393 | 46 |
| 47 | Arizona | $28,268 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 269 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,183 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 47 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,214 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 166 |
| 50 | Indiana | $27,188 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 235 |
| 51 | Utah | $26,722 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 122 |
Highest paying states for science technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Science Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $60,333 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $54,211 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $49,002 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $53,538 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $49,935 |
| 6 | New York | $48,592 |
| 7 | Illinois | $41,332 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $38,398 |
| 9 | Maine | $37,720 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $35,916 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $36,915 |
| 12 | Maryland | $39,080 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $36,650 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $37,087 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $42,114 |
| 16 | Delaware | $37,108 |
| 17 | Michigan | $35,745 |
| 18 | Washington | $39,915 |
| 19 | Vermont | $34,455 |
| 20 | Ohio | $37,010 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $35,625 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $35,853 |
| 23 | Georgia | $37,754 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $32,476 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $33,932 |
| 26 | Alaska | $32,819 |
| 27 | California | $39,731 |
| 28 | Iowa | $35,148 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,107 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $33,060 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $38,828 |
| 32 | Idaho | $32,473 |
| 33 | Oregon | $34,476 |
| 34 | Missouri | $30,560 |
| 35 | Colorado | $33,816 |
| 36 | Florida | $32,802 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $30,271 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,792 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $30,919 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $32,844 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $29,207 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $32,876 |
| 43 | Kansas | $30,093 |
| 44 | Nevada | $27,916 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,439 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $27,271 |
| 47 | Arizona | $28,268 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,183 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,214 |
| 50 | Indiana | $27,188 |
| 51 | Utah | $26,722 |
Expert opinions on the best states for science technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for science technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Steven Christenson Ph.D.
Chair, Brigham Young University-Idaho
I think one thing the pandemic has done has shed light on the need for rapid and accurate laboratory testing. It is not unlikely that COVID alone will increase demand for laboratory testing and thus require the hiring of more Medical Lab Scientists. This increase will likely be present across the country. So I think that everywhere will be a good place to find work opportunities. This field already enjoyed high worker demand and double-digit job growth outlook even before the pandemic. I suspect it will only be stronger now.
Science technician best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for science technician jobs
Updated January 8, 2025