Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a senior scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
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 scientist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for senior scientists.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for senior scientists in America. The best city in America for senior scientists with the highest pay is Redwood City, CA.
The median salary for senior scientists in California is $139,883. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $67,829, which ranked worst for senior scientists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for senior scientists, and the Northeast is the worst. Redwood City, CA is the best city in the country for senior scientist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior scientists in 2025
1. California
Total senior scientist jobs: 4,187 Average annual salary: $139,883 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
2. New Jersey
Total senior scientist jobs: 1,110 Average annual salary: $112,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
3. Connecticut
Total senior scientist jobs: 321 Average annual salary: $112,942 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
4. Washington
Total senior scientist jobs: 1,039 Average annual salary: $106,028 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
5. Alaska
Total senior scientist jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $112,687 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
6. Delaware
Total senior scientist jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $104,380 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
7. Maine
Total senior scientist jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $112,920 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
8. Maryland
Total senior scientist jobs: 980 Average annual salary: $104,398 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.76
9. Massachusetts
Total senior scientist jobs: 2,150 Average annual salary: $101,553 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 2.67
10. Rhode Island
Total senior scientist jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $102,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Senior scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $139,883 | $92,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,187 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $112,400 | $81,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,110 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $112,942 | $82,000 | 3,588,184 | 321 |
| 4 | Washington | $106,028 | $69,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,039 |
| 5 | Alaska | $112,687 | $77,000 | 739,795 | 63 |
| 6 | Delaware | $104,380 | $74,000 | 961,939 | 151 |
| 7 | Maine | $112,920 | $85,000 | 1,335,907 | 94 |
| 8 | Maryland | $104,398 | $74,000 | 6,052,177 | 980 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $101,553 | $75,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,150 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $102,608 | $75,000 | 1,059,639 | 107 |
| 11 | Nevada | $112,328 | $71,000 | 2,998,039 | 121 |
| 12 | Vermont | $97,021 | $72,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $104,078 | $74,000 | 5,576,606 | 402 |
| 14 | Oregon | $101,449 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 336 |
| 15 | Arizona | $109,101 | $69,000 | 7,016,270 | 293 |
| 16 | Indiana | $106,275 | $74,000 | 6,666,818 | 304 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $105,981 | $78,000 | 1,427,538 | 77 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $93,604 | $67,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,021 |
| 19 | Illinois | $98,036 | $69,000 | 12,802,023 | 937 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $89,452 | $66,000 | 1,342,795 | 156 |
| 21 | New York | $90,317 | $65,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,616 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $94,602 | $63,000 | 6,715,984 | 257 |
| 23 | Montana | $85,448 | $56,000 | 1,050,493 | 109 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $91,065 | $65,000 | 693,972 | 242 |
| 25 | Idaho | $85,526 | $55,000 | 1,716,943 | 117 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $80,904 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 53 |
| 27 | Michigan | $88,631 | $63,000 | 9,962,311 | 412 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $80,953 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 920 |
| 29 | Virginia | $83,861 | $59,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,202 |
| 30 | Ohio | $86,183 | $61,000 | 11,658,609 | 573 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $78,572 | $54,000 | 869,666 | 106 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $81,986 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 390 |
| 33 | Florida | $84,226 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 808 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $75,552 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 164 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $78,689 | $51,000 | 3,004,279 | 94 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $71,922 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 80 |
| 37 | Texas | $74,847 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,148 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $72,713 | $51,000 | 1,815,857 | 72 |
| 39 | Utah | $71,748 | $45,000 | 3,101,833 | 247 |
| 40 | Iowa | $73,865 | $51,000 | 3,145,711 | 161 |
| 41 | Colorado | $73,617 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 406 |
| 42 | Alabama | $74,651 | $49,000 | 4,874,747 | 150 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $74,397 | $47,000 | 4,684,333 | 147 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $73,122 | $49,000 | 1,920,076 | 104 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $73,094 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 69 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $70,953 | $48,000 | 4,454,189 | 131 |
| 47 | Kansas | $65,330 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 185 |
| 48 | Missouri | $60,235 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 396 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $65,279 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 237 |
| 50 | Georgia | $68,141 | $45,000 | 10,429,379 | 441 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $67,829 | $44,000 | 2,984,100 | 55 |
Highest paying states for senior scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $139,883 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $112,400 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $112,942 |
| 4 | Washington | $106,028 |
| 5 | Alaska | $112,687 |
| 6 | Delaware | $104,380 |
| 7 | Maine | $112,920 |
| 8 | Maryland | $104,398 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $101,553 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $102,608 |
| 11 | Nevada | $112,328 |
| 12 | Vermont | $97,021 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $104,078 |
| 14 | Oregon | $101,449 |
| 15 | Arizona | $109,101 |
| 16 | Indiana | $106,275 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $105,981 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $93,604 |
| 19 | Illinois | $98,036 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $89,452 |
| 21 | New York | $90,317 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $94,602 |
| 23 | Montana | $85,448 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $91,065 |
| 25 | Idaho | $85,526 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $80,904 |
| 27 | Michigan | $88,631 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $80,953 |
| 29 | Virginia | $83,861 |
| 30 | Ohio | $86,183 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $78,572 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $81,986 |
| 33 | Florida | $84,226 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $75,552 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $78,689 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $71,922 |
| 37 | Texas | $74,847 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $72,713 |
| 39 | Utah | $71,748 |
| 40 | Iowa | $73,865 |
| 41 | Colorado | $73,617 |
| 42 | Alabama | $74,651 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $74,397 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $73,122 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $73,094 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $70,953 |
| 47 | Kansas | $65,330 |
| 48 | Missouri | $60,235 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $65,279 |
| 50 | Georgia | $68,141 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $67,829 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior 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.
Senior scientist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for senior scientist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025