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Best states for a social sciences research scientist
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Sami Mejri Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for social sciences research scientists in the United States. Social sciences research scientist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for social sciences research scientists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of social sciences research scientists in America is $122,000.
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 social sciences research scientists.Maine is the best state, and Bullhead City is the city with the highest pay for social sciences research scientists.
10 best states for social sciences research scientists in 2026
1. Maine
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $103,157 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. Virginia
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 1,878 Average annual salary: $104,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
3. Arizona
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 937 Average annual salary: $105,024 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. Idaho
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 284 Average annual salary: $98,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Wisconsin
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 832 Average annual salary: $98,374 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. Delaware
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 295 Average annual salary: $80,853 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
7. Rhode Island
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 251 Average annual salary: $81,089 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
8. Washington
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 902 Average annual salary: $101,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
9. New Hampshire
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 368 Average annual salary: $79,963 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
10. Indiana
Total social sciences research scientist jobs: 722 Average annual salary: $100,397 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
Social sciences research scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a social sciences research scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a social sciences research scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $103,157 | $60,000 | 1,335,907 | 287 |
| 2 | Virginia | $104,943 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,878 |
| 3 | Arizona | $105,024 | $63,000 | 7,016,270 | 937 |
| 4 | Idaho | $98,205 | $56,000 | 1,716,943 | 284 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $98,374 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 832 |
| 6 | Delaware | $80,853 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 295 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,089 | $48,000 | 1,059,639 | 251 |
| 8 | Washington | $101,160 | $57,000 | 7,405,743 | 902 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $79,963 | $46,000 | 1,342,795 | 368 |
| 10 | Indiana | $100,397 | $60,000 | 6,666,818 | 722 |
| 11 | Vermont | $78,434 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 194 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $81,226 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 695 |
| 13 | Maryland | $80,197 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,779 |
| 14 | Nevada | $82,419 | $48,000 | 2,998,039 | 277 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $77,995 | $46,000 | 1,815,857 | 241 |
| 16 | Alaska | $87,308 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 102 |
| 17 | Utah | $75,572 | $43,000 | 3,101,833 | 606 |
| 18 | Ohio | $77,326 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,335 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $68,398 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 240 |
| 20 | California | $84,370 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,710 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $80,689 | $47,000 | 6,859,819 | 969 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $74,344 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 428 |
| 23 | Colorado | $72,351 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,261 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $85,589 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 121 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $75,832 | $45,000 | 4,454,189 | 388 |
| 26 | Missouri | $73,354 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 878 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $74,239 | $44,000 | 2,984,100 | 236 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $72,276 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,641 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $75,335 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 472 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $70,762 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 341 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $66,542 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 166 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $65,603 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,080 |
| 33 | Montana | $66,973 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 220 |
| 34 | New York | $66,193 | $39,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,336 |
| 35 | Oregon | $66,219 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 888 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $72,594 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 168 |
| 37 | Illinois | $66,453 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,078 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $63,123 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 387 |
| 39 | Michigan | $62,659 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,374 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $62,562 | $37,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,484 |
| 41 | Kansas | $64,584 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 366 |
| 42 | Iowa | $64,153 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 405 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $60,776 | $36,000 | 6,715,984 | 780 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $56,335 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 126 |
| 45 | Texas | $61,338 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,786 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $60,686 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 383 |
| 47 | Georgia | $60,595 | $36,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,305 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $60,247 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 302 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $57,710 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,000 |
| 50 | Florida | $58,472 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,317 |
| 51 | Alabama | $60,336 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 387 |
Highest paying states for social sciences research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Social Sciences Research Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $103,157 |
| 2 | Virginia | $104,943 |
| 3 | Arizona | $105,024 |
| 4 | Idaho | $98,205 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $98,374 |
| 6 | Delaware | $80,853 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,089 |
| 8 | Washington | $101,160 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $79,963 |
| 10 | Indiana | $100,397 |
| 11 | Vermont | $78,434 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $81,226 |
| 13 | Maryland | $80,197 |
| 14 | Nevada | $82,419 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $77,995 |
| 16 | Alaska | $87,308 |
| 17 | Utah | $75,572 |
| 18 | Ohio | $77,326 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $68,398 |
| 20 | California | $84,370 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $80,689 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $74,344 |
| 23 | Colorado | $72,351 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $85,589 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $75,832 |
| 26 | Missouri | $73,354 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $74,239 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $72,276 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $75,335 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $70,762 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $66,542 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $65,603 |
| 33 | Montana | $66,973 |
| 34 | New York | $66,193 |
| 35 | Oregon | $66,219 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $72,594 |
| 37 | Illinois | $66,453 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $63,123 |
| 39 | Michigan | $62,659 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $62,562 |
| 41 | Kansas | $64,584 |
| 42 | Iowa | $64,153 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $60,776 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $56,335 |
| 45 | Texas | $61,338 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $60,686 |
| 47 | Georgia | $60,595 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $60,247 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $57,710 |
| 50 | Florida | $58,472 |
| 51 | Alabama | $60,336 |
Expert opinions on the best states for social sciences research scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for social sciences research scientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, Tiffin University
With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.
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Updated January 8, 2025