Best states for a scientific director

Q: What is the best state for scientific directors?

The best state to be a scientific director is New Jersey based on scientific director salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for scientific directors?

The highest paying state for scientific directors is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for scientific directors?

The worst state for scientific directors is Missouri, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for scientific directors in the United States. Scientific director 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 scientific directors.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for scientific directors. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for scientific directors, and people in Bristol earn the most in the field.

New Jersey is the best state for jobs for scientific directors, and Missouri is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $132,104, while the median pay in Missouri is $83,229.We found that the Midwest is best for scientific directors, and the Northeast is the worst. Sacramento, CA is the best city in the country for scientific director jobs, where as New Jersey is the best state in the country.

10 best states for scientific directors in 2026

1. New Jersey
Total scientific director jobs: 311
Average annual salary: $132,104
Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000
Location Quotient:
1.66
Scientific director jobs in New Jersey
2. Tennessee
Total scientific director jobs: 63
Average annual salary: $151,052
Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000
Location Quotient:
0.45
Scientific director jobs in Tennessee
3. Alaska
Total scientific director jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $128,742
Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Scientific director jobs in Alaska
4. California
Total scientific director jobs: 534
Average annual salary: $136,659
Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Scientific director jobs in California
5. Montana
Total scientific director jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $128,826
Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000
Location Quotient:
0.66
Scientific director jobs in Montana
6. Pennsylvania
Total scientific director jobs: 176
Average annual salary: $129,276
Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000
Location Quotient:
0.64
Scientific director jobs in Pennsylvania
7. Indiana
Total scientific director jobs: 62
Average annual salary: $134,519
Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000
Location Quotient:
0.4
Scientific director jobs in Indiana
8. Maine
Total scientific director jobs: 19
Average annual salary: $127,287
Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Scientific director jobs in Maine
9. Massachusetts
Total scientific director jobs: 337
Average annual salary: $125,706
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000
Location Quotient:
1.55
Scientific director jobs in Massachusetts
10. Delaware
Total scientific director jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $123,208
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Scientific director jobs in Delaware

Scientific director jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a scientific director

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a scientific director

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Jersey	$132,104	$84,000	9,005,644	311
2	Tennessee	$151,052	$99,000	6,715,984	63
3	Alaska	$128,742	$83,000	739,795	18
4	California	$136,659	$88,000	39,536,653	534
5	Montana	$128,826	$80,000	1,050,493	18
6	Pennsylvania	$129,276	$82,000	12,805,537	176
7	Indiana	$134,519	$85,000	6,666,818	62
8	Maine	$127,287	$79,000	1,335,907	19
9	Massachusetts	$125,706	$78,000	6,859,819	337
10	Delaware	$123,208	$77,000	961,939	26
11	Connecticut	$132,367	$84,000	3,588,184	30
12	Minnesota	$126,150	$78,000	5,576,606	64
13	Nevada	$120,433	$76,000	2,998,039	25
14	Illinois	$116,986	$72,000	12,802,023	204
15	District of Columbia	$120,618	$76,000	693,972	68
16	Maryland	$123,166	$77,000	6,052,177	85
17	Vermont	$109,001	$66,000	623,657	18
18	Washington	$115,059	$71,000	7,405,743	118
19	Oregon	$111,816	$69,000	4,142,776	81
20	Arkansas	$99,599	$61,000	3,004,279	501
21	Arizona	$118,656	$75,000	7,016,270	52
22	West Virginia	$108,141	$67,000	1,815,857	17
23	Oklahoma	$99,837	$61,000	3,930,864	456
24	New York	$112,317	$69,000	19,849,399	218
25	Rhode Island	$108,823	$67,000	1,059,639	14
26	Ohio	$106,409	$65,000	11,658,609	118
27	South Dakota	$95,528	$57,000	869,666	206
28	Michigan	$110,399	$67,000	9,962,311	47
29	Wyoming	$98,225	$59,000	579,315	14
30	Alabama	$95,760	$58,000	4,874,747	534
31	New Hampshire	$101,826	$62,000	1,342,795	21
32	Wisconsin	$104,771	$63,000	5,795,483	41
33	North Carolina	$100,012	$62,000	10,273,419	103
34	Virginia	$108,258	$67,000	8,470,020	64
35	Colorado	$98,945	$60,000	5,607,154	91
36	North Dakota	$91,022	$55,000	755,393	19
37	Mississippi	$87,181	$53,000	2,984,100	311
38	Kentucky	$93,380	$57,000	4,454,189	47
39	Georgia	$101,320	$62,000	10,429,379	62
40	Louisiana	$81,902	$50,000	4,684,333	542
41	Texas	$92,565	$57,000	28,304,596	180
42	New Mexico	$92,365	$57,000	2,088,070	18
43	Iowa	$73,529	$44,000	3,145,711	532
44	Florida	$94,036	$57,000	20,984,400	116
45	Nebraska	$92,720	$55,000	1,920,076	14
46	Kansas	$87,190	$52,000	2,913,123	26
47	Idaho	$88,192	$53,000	1,716,943	13
48	Hawaii	$73,404	$48,000	1,427,538	13
49	Utah	$82,213	$49,000	3,101,833	33
50	South Carolina	$83,688	$51,000	5,024,369	32
51	Missouri	$83,229	$50,000	6,113,532	31

Highest paying states for scientific directors

Rank	State	Avg. Scientific Director Salary
1	New Jersey	$132,104
2	Tennessee	$151,052
3	Alaska	$128,742
4	California	$136,659
5	Montana	$128,826
6	Pennsylvania	$129,276
7	Indiana	$134,519
8	Maine	$127,287
9	Massachusetts	$125,706
10	Delaware	$123,208
11	Connecticut	$132,367
12	Minnesota	$126,150
13	Nevada	$120,433
14	Illinois	$116,986
15	District of Columbia	$120,618
16	Maryland	$123,166
17	Vermont	$109,001
18	Washington	$115,059
19	Oregon	$111,816
20	Arkansas	$99,599
21	Arizona	$118,656
22	West Virginia	$108,141
23	Oklahoma	$99,837
24	New York	$112,317
25	Rhode Island	$108,823
26	Ohio	$106,409
27	South Dakota	$95,528
28	Michigan	$110,399
29	Wyoming	$98,225
30	Alabama	$95,760
31	New Hampshire	$101,826
32	Wisconsin	$104,771
33	North Carolina	$100,012
34	Virginia	$108,258
35	Colorado	$98,945
36	North Dakota	$91,022
37	Mississippi	$87,181
38	Kentucky	$93,380
39	Georgia	$101,320
40	Louisiana	$81,902
41	Texas	$92,565
42	New Mexico	$92,365
43	Iowa	$73,529
44	Florida	$94,036
45	Nebraska	$92,720
46	Kansas	$87,190
47	Idaho	$88,192
48	Hawaii	$73,404
49	Utah	$82,213
50	South Carolina	$83,688
51	Missouri	$83,229

Scientific director best states FAQs

What is the best state for scientific directors?

What is the highest paying state for scientific directors?

What is the worst state for scientific directors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

Search for scientific director jobs

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Scientific Director
Best states for Scientific Directors

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs

Total scientific director jobs:	311
Average annual salary:	$132,104
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$84,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$207,000
Location Quotient:	1.66

Best states for a scientific director

10 best states for scientific directors in 2026

1. New Jersey

2. Tennessee

3. Alaska

4. California

5. Montana

6. Pennsylvania

7. Indiana

8. Maine

9. Massachusetts

10. Delaware