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Best states for a senior research assistant
Quoted expert
Lorraine Coons Ph.D.
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and life, physical, and social science careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to senior research assistant jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for senior research assistants.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 senior research assistant jobs.
We figured that the best places for senior research assistant 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 Massachusetts is the best state for senior research assistant jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for senior research assistants in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total senior research assistant jobs: 2,375 Average annual salary: $68,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 2.69
2. New Jersey
Total senior research assistant jobs: 1,008 Average annual salary: $71,639 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
3. Illinois
Total senior research assistant jobs: 1,015 Average annual salary: $69,533 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
4. Pennsylvania
Total senior research assistant jobs: 1,192 Average annual salary: $57,325 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. Delaware
Total senior research assistant jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $62,235 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Rhode Island
Total senior research assistant jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $57,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
7. Alaska
Total senior research assistant jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $56,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
8. District of Columbia
Total senior research assistant jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $61,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
9. New York
Total senior research assistant jobs: 2,363 Average annual salary: $56,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.92
10. West Virginia
Total senior research assistant jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $55,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Senior research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $68,538 | $45,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,375 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $71,639 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,008 |
| 3 | Illinois | $69,533 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,015 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $57,325 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,192 |
| 5 | Delaware | $62,235 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 115 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $57,511 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 138 |
| 7 | Alaska | $56,750 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 97 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $61,525 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 220 |
| 9 | New York | $56,528 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,363 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $55,614 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 11 | Washington | $54,771 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 866 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,914 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 158 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $54,378 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 309 |
| 14 | Florida | $53,533 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,352 |
| 15 | Ohio | $54,377 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 769 |
| 16 | California | $55,192 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,762 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $51,778 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 603 |
| 18 | Michigan | $51,237 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 654 |
| 19 | Colorado | $50,671 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 856 |
| 20 | Oregon | $50,349 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 583 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $51,215 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 747 |
| 22 | Maryland | $50,225 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 921 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $51,795 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 184 |
| 24 | Virginia | $50,134 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 812 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $48,592 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 417 |
| 26 | Indiana | $49,495 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 324 |
| 27 | Georgia | $49,804 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 671 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $49,136 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 203 |
| 29 | Maine | $46,789 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 109 |
| 30 | Missouri | $48,004 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 444 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $47,251 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 117 |
| 32 | Iowa | $47,595 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 180 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $47,393 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 153 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $41,970 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 202 |
| 35 | Kansas | $46,128 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 163 |
| 36 | Nevada | $47,080 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 97 |
| 37 | Vermont | $40,397 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 94 |
| 38 | Idaho | $45,150 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 117 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $42,175 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $40,981 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 172 |
| 41 | Utah | $41,020 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 283 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $41,464 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 85 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $43,400 | $25,000 | 755,393 | 57 |
| 44 | Arizona | $40,971 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 485 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $36,843 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 532 |
| 46 | Montana | $40,741 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 79 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $40,616 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 61 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $39,975 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 118 |
| 49 | Texas | $36,648 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,606 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,301 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 200 |
| 51 | Alabama | $35,935 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 157 |
Highest paying states for senior research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $68,538 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $71,639 |
| 3 | Illinois | $69,533 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $57,325 |
| 5 | Delaware | $62,235 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $57,511 |
| 7 | Alaska | $56,750 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $61,525 |
| 9 | New York | $56,528 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $55,614 |
| 11 | Washington | $54,771 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,914 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $54,378 |
| 14 | Florida | $53,533 |
| 15 | Ohio | $54,377 |
| 16 | California | $55,192 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $51,778 |
| 18 | Michigan | $51,237 |
| 19 | Colorado | $50,671 |
| 20 | Oregon | $50,349 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $51,215 |
| 22 | Maryland | $50,225 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $51,795 |
| 24 | Virginia | $50,134 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $48,592 |
| 26 | Indiana | $49,495 |
| 27 | Georgia | $49,804 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $49,136 |
| 29 | Maine | $46,789 |
| 30 | Missouri | $48,004 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $47,251 |
| 32 | Iowa | $47,595 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $47,393 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $41,970 |
| 35 | Kansas | $46,128 |
| 36 | Nevada | $47,080 |
| 37 | Vermont | $40,397 |
| 38 | Idaho | $45,150 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $42,175 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $40,981 |
| 41 | Utah | $41,020 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $41,464 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $43,400 |
| 44 | Arizona | $40,971 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $36,843 |
| 46 | Montana | $40,741 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $40,616 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $39,975 |
| 49 | Texas | $36,648 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,301 |
| 51 | Alabama | $35,935 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior research assistants to find work opportunities?
Lorraine Coons Ph.D.
Professor of History, Chestnut Hill College
I'm happy to see that three of our five seniors have found employment since graduation. Two are teachers working in a high school in North Jersey and a middle school in suburban Philadelphia. Another is working as a paralegal in a law firm in New York as she contemplates applying to grad school next year for museum studies. I have not heard back from the other two. Students generally choose to remain in the general vicinity of where they were raised or went to college. However, one of my former majors is interested in pursuing a graduate degree in museum studies in the UK and would like to live abroad.
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Updated January 8, 2025