Career Atlas USA

Best States for Physical Scientists, All Other

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1District of Columbia90.4 / 100
  2. 2Maryland88.1 / 100
  3. 3Georgia80.5 / 100
  4. 4Minnesota75.9 / 100
  5. 5Colorado75 / 100
  6. 6Mississippi72.4 / 100
  7. 7New Mexico72.1 / 100
  8. 8North Dakota68 / 100
  9. 9Alaska66.3 / 100
  10. 10New Hampshire55.9 / 100
  11. 11New York54.9 / 100
  12. 12Indiana54.8 / 100
  13. 13Pennsylvania52.4 / 100
  14. 14California51.9 / 100
  15. 15Texas51.8 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).