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Best states for a senior research associate
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for senior research associates? 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 senior research associate jobs.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of senior research associates in America is $102,000.
We figured that the best places for senior research associate 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 senior research associates, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for senior research associate jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior research associates in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior research associate jobs: 1,325 Average annual salary: $91,824 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
2. Connecticut
Total senior research associate jobs: 388 Average annual salary: $86,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
3. New Jersey
Total senior research associate jobs: 1,144 Average annual salary: $85,642 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. California
Total senior research associate jobs: 5,715 Average annual salary: $88,903 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
5. New York
Total senior research associate jobs: 1,387 Average annual salary: $85,771 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Massachusetts
Total senior research associate jobs: 2,945 Average annual salary: $80,500 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 2.86
7. Delaware
Total senior research associate jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $82,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. New Mexico
Total senior research associate jobs: 194 Average annual salary: $77,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. Nevada
Total senior research associate jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $89,670 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
10. Wyoming
Total senior research associate jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $74,861 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Senior research associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior research associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior research associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $91,824 | $56,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,325 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $86,328 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 388 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $85,642 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,144 |
| 4 | California | $88,903 | $55,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,715 |
| 5 | New York | $85,771 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,387 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,500 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,945 |
| 7 | Delaware | $82,169 | $56,000 | 961,939 | 133 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $77,444 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 194 |
| 9 | Nevada | $89,670 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 105 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $74,861 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 58 |
| 11 | Alaska | $79,327 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 73 |
| 12 | Vermont | $75,016 | $52,000 | 623,657 | 97 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $74,676 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 733 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $79,125 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 64 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $74,638 | $52,000 | 1,342,795 | 183 |
| 16 | Oregon | $74,316 | $45,000 | 4,142,776 | 572 |
| 17 | Maryland | $76,698 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 835 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $73,747 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 456 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $83,370 | $60,000 | 1,427,538 | 69 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $68,991 | $48,000 | 1,059,639 | 140 |
| 21 | Arizona | $72,486 | $46,000 | 7,016,270 | 527 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $72,723 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 244 |
| 23 | Montana | $72,452 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 99 |
| 24 | Alabama | $72,973 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 162 |
| 25 | Illinois | $71,298 | $47,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,256 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $72,969 | $48,000 | 5,024,369 | 146 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $66,448 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,289 |
| 28 | Maine | $67,686 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 126 |
| 29 | Michigan | $65,475 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 785 |
| 30 | Indiana | $68,025 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 525 |
| 31 | Utah | $67,268 | $43,000 | 3,101,833 | 309 |
| 32 | Iowa | $68,718 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 219 |
| 33 | Colorado | $65,406 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 711 |
| 34 | Virginia | $68,012 | $46,000 | 8,470,020 | 915 |
| 35 | Ohio | $66,159 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 741 |
| 36 | Idaho | $67,936 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 130 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $66,296 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 83 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $62,787 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 861 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $61,898 | $41,000 | 1,815,857 | 124 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $61,221 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 511 |
| 41 | Georgia | $62,730 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 812 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $62,879 | $41,000 | 2,984,100 | 119 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,336 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 637 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $61,983 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 198 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $54,683 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 219 |
| 46 | Kansas | $59,498 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 211 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $59,733 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 201 |
| 48 | Florida | $56,476 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,377 |
| 49 | Texas | $59,477 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,580 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,770 | $39,000 | 3,004,279 | 124 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $53,878 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 206 |
Highest paying states for senior research associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Research Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $91,824 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $86,328 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $85,642 |
| 4 | California | $88,903 |
| 5 | New York | $85,771 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,500 |
| 7 | Delaware | $82,169 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $77,444 |
| 9 | Nevada | $89,670 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $74,861 |
| 11 | Alaska | $79,327 |
| 12 | Vermont | $75,016 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $74,676 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $79,125 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $74,638 |
| 16 | Oregon | $74,316 |
| 17 | Maryland | $76,698 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $73,747 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $83,370 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $68,991 |
| 21 | Arizona | $72,486 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $72,723 |
| 23 | Montana | $72,452 |
| 24 | Alabama | $72,973 |
| 25 | Illinois | $71,298 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $72,969 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $66,448 |
| 28 | Maine | $67,686 |
| 29 | Michigan | $65,475 |
| 30 | Indiana | $68,025 |
| 31 | Utah | $67,268 |
| 32 | Iowa | $68,718 |
| 33 | Colorado | $65,406 |
| 34 | Virginia | $68,012 |
| 35 | Ohio | $66,159 |
| 36 | Idaho | $67,936 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $66,296 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $62,787 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $61,898 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $61,221 |
| 41 | Georgia | $62,730 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $62,879 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,336 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $61,983 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $54,683 |
| 46 | Kansas | $59,498 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $59,733 |
| 48 | Florida | $56,476 |
| 49 | Texas | $59,477 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,770 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $53,878 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior research associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior research associates 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