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Best states for a student research assistant
Quoted expert
Bart Elmore
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like student research assistants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for student research assistants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for student research assistants, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for student research assistant jobs.
In order to get you the best states for student research assistants, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a student research assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for student research assistants in 2026
1. Alaska
Total student research assistant jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $45,132 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 2.88
2. Massachusetts
Total student research assistant jobs: 1,950 Average annual salary: $46,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 2.14
3. Rhode Island
Total student research assistant jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $32,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
4. Connecticut
Total student research assistant jobs: 349 Average annual salary: $37,260 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. New Jersey
Total student research assistant jobs: 954 Average annual salary: $35,981 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
6. Illinois
Total student research assistant jobs: 1,187 Average annual salary: $34,670 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1
7. Delaware
Total student research assistant jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $32,326 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
8. Oregon
Total student research assistant jobs: 686 Average annual salary: $31,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
9. New Hampshire
Total student research assistant jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $32,768 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
10. New Mexico
Total student research assistant jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $31,155 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
Student research assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a student research assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a student research assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,132 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 239 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,563 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,950 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $32,720 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 162 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $37,260 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 349 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $35,981 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 954 |
| 6 | Illinois | $34,670 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,187 |
| 7 | Delaware | $32,326 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 147 |
| 8 | Oregon | $31,339 | $21,000 | 4,142,776 | 686 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $32,768 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 169 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $31,155 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 211 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $30,231 | $21,000 | 5,576,606 | 655 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $28,208 | $19,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,376 |
| 13 | Maine | $30,885 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 121 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $32,016 | $22,000 | 693,972 | 199 |
| 15 | Vermont | $28,537 | $19,000 | 623,657 | 112 |
| 16 | New York | $29,032 | $19,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,081 |
| 17 | Utah | $28,667 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 319 |
| 18 | Washington | $29,082 | $20,000 | 7,405,743 | 730 |
| 19 | Idaho | $29,506 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 131 |
| 20 | Maryland | $29,052 | $20,000 | 6,052,177 | 889 |
| 21 | California | $30,518 | $22,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,257 |
| 22 | Georgia | $29,085 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 703 |
| 23 | Colorado | $26,558 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 782 |
| 24 | Michigan | $26,943 | $18,000 | 9,962,311 | 745 |
| 25 | Virginia | $27,601 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 937 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $27,194 | $19,000 | 755,393 | 71 |
| 27 | Arizona | $25,488 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 570 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $25,497 | $18,000 | 1,815,857 | 132 |
| 29 | Florida | $26,343 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,363 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $26,232 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 249 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $25,551 | $18,000 | 5,795,483 | 475 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $25,775 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 769 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $23,940 | $17,000 | 579,315 | 77 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $27,036 | $22,000 | 1,427,538 | 79 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $26,034 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 203 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $24,091 | $17,000 | 1,920,076 | 247 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $25,325 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 189 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $24,632 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 189 |
| 39 | Kansas | $25,265 | $18,000 | 2,913,123 | 211 |
| 40 | Nevada | $25,264 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 118 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $22,393 | $16,000 | 6,715,984 | 596 |
| 42 | Indiana | $24,404 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 402 |
| 43 | Missouri | $23,567 | $17,000 | 6,113,532 | 539 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $22,688 | $16,000 | 869,666 | 93 |
| 45 | Texas | $22,579 | $17,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,780 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $23,148 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 146 |
| 47 | Ohio | $21,852 | $15,000 | 11,658,609 | 872 |
| 48 | Montana | $22,261 | $16,000 | 1,050,493 | 97 |
| 49 | Iowa | $21,672 | $15,000 | 3,145,711 | 308 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $20,310 | $15,000 | 3,930,864 | 252 |
| 51 | Alabama | $19,995 | $15,000 | 4,874,747 | 252 |
Highest paying states for student research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Student Research Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,132 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,563 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $32,720 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $37,260 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $35,981 |
| 6 | Illinois | $34,670 |
| 7 | Delaware | $32,326 |
| 8 | Oregon | $31,339 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $32,768 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $31,155 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $30,231 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $28,208 |
| 13 | Maine | $30,885 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $32,016 |
| 15 | Vermont | $28,537 |
| 16 | New York | $29,032 |
| 17 | Utah | $28,667 |
| 18 | Washington | $29,082 |
| 19 | Idaho | $29,506 |
| 20 | Maryland | $29,052 |
| 21 | California | $30,518 |
| 22 | Georgia | $29,085 |
| 23 | Colorado | $26,558 |
| 24 | Michigan | $26,943 |
| 25 | Virginia | $27,601 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $27,194 |
| 27 | Arizona | $25,488 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $25,497 |
| 29 | Florida | $26,343 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $26,232 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $25,551 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $25,775 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $23,940 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $27,036 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $26,034 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $24,091 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $25,325 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $24,632 |
| 39 | Kansas | $25,265 |
| 40 | Nevada | $25,264 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $22,393 |
| 42 | Indiana | $24,404 |
| 43 | Missouri | $23,567 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $22,688 |
| 45 | Texas | $22,579 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $23,148 |
| 47 | Ohio | $21,852 |
| 48 | Montana | $22,261 |
| 49 | Iowa | $21,672 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $20,310 |
| 51 | Alabama | $19,995 |
Expert opinions on the best states for student research assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for student research assistants to find work opportunities?
Bart Elmore
Associate Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University
Anywhere. That is the thing about history. Once they learn how to navigate archival repositories and digital databases-core expertise acquired by a history major-and hone writing skills that allow them to broadcast their ideas to the public, history majors can really take on any job. This is really the freeing thing about being a history major. These students are not taught highly technical skills that only apply to one craft or profession. Rather, they are taught rigorous writing and researching techniques that can help them start a business, build a political campaign, or develop strategies to combat climate change. Maybe some people see the history major as limiting, but they should not. It is really liberating.
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Updated January 8, 2025