Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a staff research scientist
Quoted expert
Don Snyder
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like staff research scientists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for staff research scientists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that New Jersey is the best state for staff research scientists, while California and Alaska are ranked highest in terms of median salary. New Jersey has a median salary of $108,727 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for staff research scientists.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for staff research scientists. New Jersey is the best state for staff research scientists, where the median salary is $108,727.New Jersey is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for staff research scientists.
10 best states for staff research scientists in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total staff research scientist jobs: 2,085 Average annual salary: $108,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
2. Connecticut
Total staff research scientist jobs: 779 Average annual salary: $106,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Maine
Total staff research scientist jobs: 256 Average annual salary: $105,084 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
4. Delaware
Total staff research scientist jobs: 298 Average annual salary: $96,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
5. Pennsylvania
Total staff research scientist jobs: 2,863 Average annual salary: $90,441 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
6. California
Total staff research scientist jobs: 4,348 Average annual salary: $122,192 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
7. Arizona
Total staff research scientist jobs: 1,151 Average annual salary: $98,085 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1
8. Massachusetts
Total staff research scientist jobs: 3,375 Average annual salary: $90,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.86
9. Oregon
Total staff research scientist jobs: 1,096 Average annual salary: $91,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
10. Nevada
Total staff research scientist jobs: 325 Average annual salary: $104,641 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Staff research scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a staff research scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a staff research scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $108,727 | $75,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,085 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $106,190 | $74,000 | 3,588,184 | 779 |
| 3 | Maine | $105,084 | $75,000 | 1,335,907 | 256 |
| 4 | Delaware | $96,404 | $66,000 | 961,939 | 298 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $90,441 | $62,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,863 |
| 6 | California | $122,192 | $77,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,348 |
| 7 | Arizona | $98,085 | $61,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,151 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $90,930 | $64,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,375 |
| 9 | Oregon | $91,098 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,096 |
| 10 | Nevada | $104,641 | $65,000 | 2,998,039 | 325 |
| 11 | New York | $89,734 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,621 |
| 12 | Vermont | $87,591 | $62,000 | 623,657 | 206 |
| 13 | Alaska | $115,406 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 101 |
| 14 | Montana | $96,619 | $61,000 | 1,050,493 | 208 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $87,169 | $61,000 | 1,059,639 | 285 |
| 16 | Indiana | $98,399 | $66,000 | 6,666,818 | 909 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $91,529 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,227 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $93,240 | $64,000 | 693,972 | 351 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $95,430 | $66,000 | 1,427,538 | 161 |
| 20 | Maryland | $85,534 | $58,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,903 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $83,764 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 363 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $85,633 | $57,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,000 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $83,614 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,805 |
| 24 | Illinois | $81,717 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,592 |
| 25 | Washington | $80,435 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,540 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $80,567 | $54,000 | 1,815,857 | 249 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $76,288 | $51,000 | 5,795,483 | 997 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $72,262 | $46,000 | 579,315 | 122 |
| 29 | Ohio | $75,612 | $51,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,709 |
| 30 | Idaho | $76,350 | $47,000 | 1,716,943 | 285 |
| 31 | Michigan | $76,868 | $52,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,261 |
| 32 | Virginia | $72,180 | $49,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,159 |
| 33 | Colorado | $69,464 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,444 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $69,413 | $43,000 | 2,088,070 | 393 |
| 35 | Texas | $69,790 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,696 |
| 36 | Georgia | $71,244 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,697 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $69,089 | $46,000 | 3,004,279 | 388 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $65,392 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 193 |
| 39 | Florida | $63,725 | $40,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,094 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $66,483 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 368 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $68,326 | $45,000 | 3,930,864 | 397 |
| 42 | Utah | $61,910 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 656 |
| 43 | Alabama | $66,561 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 628 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $66,823 | $45,000 | 4,454,189 | 453 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $64,983 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 135 |
| 46 | Kansas | $61,923 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 450 |
| 47 | Missouri | $51,502 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,074 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $59,298 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 441 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $60,300 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 224 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $59,627 | $39,000 | 5,024,369 | 546 |
| 51 | Iowa | $52,112 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 524 |
Highest paying states for staff research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Staff Research Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $108,727 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $106,190 |
| 3 | Maine | $105,084 |
| 4 | Delaware | $96,404 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $90,441 |
| 6 | California | $122,192 |
| 7 | Arizona | $98,085 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $90,930 |
| 9 | Oregon | $91,098 |
| 10 | Nevada | $104,641 |
| 11 | New York | $89,734 |
| 12 | Vermont | $87,591 |
| 13 | Alaska | $115,406 |
| 14 | Montana | $96,619 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $87,169 |
| 16 | Indiana | $98,399 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $91,529 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $93,240 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $95,430 |
| 20 | Maryland | $85,534 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $83,764 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $85,633 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $83,614 |
| 24 | Illinois | $81,717 |
| 25 | Washington | $80,435 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $80,567 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $76,288 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $72,262 |
| 29 | Ohio | $75,612 |
| 30 | Idaho | $76,350 |
| 31 | Michigan | $76,868 |
| 32 | Virginia | $72,180 |
| 33 | Colorado | $69,464 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $69,413 |
| 35 | Texas | $69,790 |
| 36 | Georgia | $71,244 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $69,089 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $65,392 |
| 39 | Florida | $63,725 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $66,483 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $68,326 |
| 42 | Utah | $61,910 |
| 43 | Alabama | $66,561 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $66,823 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $64,983 |
| 46 | Kansas | $61,923 |
| 47 | Missouri | $51,502 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $59,298 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $60,300 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $59,627 |
| 51 | Iowa | $52,112 |
Expert opinions on the best states for staff research scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for staff research 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.
Staff research scientist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for staff research scientist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025