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Best states for a scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for scientists? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for scientist jobs.Our research found that California is the best state for scientists, while California and Nevada are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $124,868 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for scientists.
We figured that the best places for scientist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for scientists, and the Northeast is the worst. Redwood City, CA is the best city in the country for scientist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for scientists in 2025
1. California
Total scientist jobs: 6,346 Average annual salary: $124,868 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 2.05
2. Rhode Island
Total scientist jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $95,796 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
3. New Jersey
Total scientist jobs: 1,118 Average annual salary: $93,772 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
4. Delaware
Total scientist jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $88,740 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. Montana
Total scientist jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $96,680 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
6. Connecticut
Total scientist jobs: 365 Average annual salary: $88,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Washington
Total scientist jobs: 1,464 Average annual salary: $87,000 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
8. Massachusetts
Total scientist jobs: 2,877 Average annual salary: $86,057 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 2.95
9. Maine
Total scientist jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $91,232 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
10. Nevada
Total scientist jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $101,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 0.49
Scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $124,868 | $81,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,346 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $95,796 | $67,000 | 1,059,639 | 115 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $93,772 | $66,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,118 |
| 4 | Delaware | $88,740 | $62,000 | 961,939 | 179 |
| 5 | Montana | $96,680 | $62,000 | 1,050,493 | 102 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $88,798 | $62,000 | 3,588,184 | 365 |
| 7 | Washington | $87,000 | $56,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,464 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $86,057 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,877 |
| 9 | Maine | $91,232 | $64,000 | 1,335,907 | 108 |
| 10 | Nevada | $101,741 | $65,000 | 2,998,039 | 108 |
| 11 | Alaska | $94,138 | $62,000 | 739,795 | 60 |
| 12 | Arizona | $92,313 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 361 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $93,221 | $63,000 | 6,715,984 | 296 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $90,727 | $71,000 | 1,427,538 | 80 |
| 15 | Maryland | $84,073 | $58,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,156 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $84,420 | $59,000 | 693,972 | 378 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $81,786 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 561 |
| 18 | Indiana | $85,848 | $59,000 | 6,666,818 | 378 |
| 19 | New York | $80,639 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,625 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $76,416 | $53,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,045 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $76,395 | $54,000 | 1,342,795 | 169 |
| 22 | Illinois | $74,976 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,110 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $71,399 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 184 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $72,146 | $49,000 | 10,273,419 | 892 |
| 25 | Virginia | $72,417 | $50,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,208 |
| 26 | Vermont | $71,942 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 84 |
| 27 | Idaho | $72,017 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 136 |
| 28 | Oregon | $73,559 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 362 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $69,468 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 30 | Ohio | $72,223 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 595 |
| 31 | Michigan | $71,306 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 455 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $72,318 | $48,000 | 3,930,864 | 86 |
| 33 | Colorado | $67,928 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 534 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $66,511 | $45,000 | 5,795,483 | 448 |
| 35 | Texas | $68,872 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,200 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $60,338 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 111 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $67,275 | $45,000 | 3,004,279 | 110 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $62,212 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 39 | Utah | $58,454 | $37,000 | 3,101,833 | 292 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $63,412 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 77 |
| 41 | Florida | $61,485 | $39,000 | 20,984,400 | 991 |
| 42 | Kansas | $57,941 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 218 |
| 43 | Georgia | $61,591 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 569 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $61,485 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 160 |
| 45 | Iowa | $58,474 | $40,000 | 3,145,711 | 212 |
| 46 | Missouri | $55,994 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 459 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $55,792 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 117 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $49,917 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 267 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $54,094 | $37,000 | 4,454,189 | 159 |
| 50 | Alabama | $54,162 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 178 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $45,302 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 60 |
Highest paying states for scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $124,868 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $95,796 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $93,772 |
| 4 | Delaware | $88,740 |
| 5 | Montana | $96,680 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $88,798 |
| 7 | Washington | $87,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $86,057 |
| 9 | Maine | $91,232 |
| 10 | Nevada | $101,741 |
| 11 | Alaska | $94,138 |
| 12 | Arizona | $92,313 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $93,221 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $90,727 |
| 15 | Maryland | $84,073 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $84,420 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $81,786 |
| 18 | Indiana | $85,848 |
| 19 | New York | $80,639 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $76,416 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $76,395 |
| 22 | Illinois | $74,976 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $71,399 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $72,146 |
| 25 | Virginia | $72,417 |
| 26 | Vermont | $71,942 |
| 27 | Idaho | $72,017 |
| 28 | Oregon | $73,559 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $69,468 |
| 30 | Ohio | $72,223 |
| 31 | Michigan | $71,306 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $72,318 |
| 33 | Colorado | $67,928 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $66,511 |
| 35 | Texas | $68,872 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $60,338 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $67,275 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $62,212 |
| 39 | Utah | $58,454 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $63,412 |
| 41 | Florida | $61,485 |
| 42 | Kansas | $57,941 |
| 43 | Georgia | $61,591 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $61,485 |
| 45 | Iowa | $58,474 |
| 46 | Missouri | $55,994 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $55,792 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $49,917 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $54,094 |
| 50 | Alabama | $54,162 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $45,302 |
Expert opinions on the best states for scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for scientists 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