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Best states for a senior principal scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
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- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for senior principal scientists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for senior principal scientist 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.Our research shows that New Jersey is the best state in the country for senior principal scientists.
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 senior principal scientists.We found that New Jersey is the best state for senior principal scientist jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.
10 best states for senior principal scientists in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 1,779 Average annual salary: $127,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
2. Montana
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 201 Average annual salary: $126,299 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
3. Nevada
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $130,576 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
4. Arizona
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 765 Average annual salary: $124,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. Illinois
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 1,717 Average annual salary: $120,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Connecticut
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 469 Average annual salary: $120,770 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
7. California
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 2,687 Average annual salary: $141,024 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
8. Massachusetts
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 1,521 Average annual salary: $115,408 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
9. Alaska
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $127,494 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
10. Tennessee
Total senior principal scientist jobs: 326 Average annual salary: $140,653 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location Quotient: 0.48
Senior principal scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior principal scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior principal scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $127,253 | $91,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,779 |
| 2 | Montana | $126,299 | $86,000 | 1,050,493 | 201 |
| 3 | Nevada | $130,576 | $87,000 | 2,998,039 | 224 |
| 4 | Arizona | $124,340 | $82,000 | 7,016,270 | 765 |
| 5 | Illinois | $120,701 | $85,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,717 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $120,770 | $87,000 | 3,588,184 | 469 |
| 7 | California | $141,024 | $95,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,687 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $115,408 | $83,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,521 |
| 9 | Alaska | $127,494 | $89,000 | 739,795 | 74 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $140,653 | $97,000 | 6,715,984 | 326 |
| 11 | Washington | $108,887 | $73,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,495 |
| 12 | Oregon | $112,032 | $74,000 | 4,142,776 | 569 |
| 13 | Maine | $120,359 | $88,000 | 1,335,907 | 115 |
| 14 | Indiana | $121,701 | $86,000 | 6,666,818 | 465 |
| 15 | Delaware | $110,190 | $78,000 | 961,939 | 171 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $102,224 | $71,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,454 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $103,794 | $74,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,444 |
| 18 | Vermont | $100,431 | $73,000 | 623,657 | 155 |
| 19 | New York | $103,251 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,983 |
| 20 | Maryland | $101,684 | $72,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,299 |
| 21 | Florida | $100,034 | $65,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,685 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $94,212 | $63,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $93,134 | $67,000 | 1,342,795 | 286 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $95,017 | $67,000 | 5,576,606 | 848 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $92,837 | $60,000 | 2,088,070 | 258 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $95,563 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 107 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $104,544 | $75,000 | 1,427,538 | 83 |
| 28 | Virginia | $93,574 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,804 |
| 29 | Colorado | $94,193 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 816 |
| 30 | Ohio | $93,935 | $66,000 | 11,658,609 | 769 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $89,493 | $62,000 | 869,666 | 116 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $99,020 | $71,000 | 1,059,639 | 73 |
| 33 | Texas | $93,267 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,887 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $107,247 | $76,000 | 693,972 | 102 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $90,968 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 220 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $94,257 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 152 |
| 37 | Idaho | $86,052 | $57,000 | 1,716,943 | 240 |
| 38 | Utah | $92,693 | $61,000 | 3,101,833 | 182 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $92,068 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 97 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $86,365 | $59,000 | 1,920,076 | 227 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $82,996 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 102 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $82,875 | $59,000 | 5,795,483 | 609 |
| 43 | Missouri | $86,544 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 595 |
| 44 | Alabama | $87,505 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 268 |
| 45 | Michigan | $85,281 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 531 |
| 46 | Kansas | $82,267 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 311 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $83,864 | $58,000 | 4,454,189 | 264 |
| 48 | Georgia | $77,877 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 809 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $81,444 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 77 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $74,891 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 328 |
| 51 | Iowa | $66,910 | $47,000 | 3,145,711 | 198 |
Highest paying states for senior principal scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Principal Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $127,253 |
| 2 | Montana | $126,299 |
| 3 | Nevada | $130,576 |
| 4 | Arizona | $124,340 |
| 5 | Illinois | $120,701 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $120,770 |
| 7 | California | $141,024 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $115,408 |
| 9 | Alaska | $127,494 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $140,653 |
| 11 | Washington | $108,887 |
| 12 | Oregon | $112,032 |
| 13 | Maine | $120,359 |
| 14 | Indiana | $121,701 |
| 15 | Delaware | $110,190 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $102,224 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $103,794 |
| 18 | Vermont | $100,431 |
| 19 | New York | $103,251 |
| 20 | Maryland | $101,684 |
| 21 | Florida | $100,034 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $94,212 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $93,134 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $95,017 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $92,837 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $95,563 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $104,544 |
| 28 | Virginia | $93,574 |
| 29 | Colorado | $94,193 |
| 30 | Ohio | $93,935 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $89,493 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $99,020 |
| 33 | Texas | $93,267 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $107,247 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $90,968 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $94,257 |
| 37 | Idaho | $86,052 |
| 38 | Utah | $92,693 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $92,068 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $86,365 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $82,996 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $82,875 |
| 43 | Missouri | $86,544 |
| 44 | Alabama | $87,505 |
| 45 | Michigan | $85,281 |
| 46 | Kansas | $82,267 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $83,864 |
| 48 | Georgia | $77,877 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $81,444 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $74,891 |
| 51 | Iowa | $66,910 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior principal scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior principal 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