Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest insights into owner salaries across the United States for 2026:
-
New Jersey boasts the highest owner salary at $153,245
-
Nebraska records the lowest owner salary at $52,847
-
The national average salary for owners stands at $90,334
-
The national hourly pay for owners is $43.43
For more details, refer to the specific methodology.
Background
Consistently, surveys indicate that salary remains the most crucial aspect of a job for most individuals—many wonder, how much do owners earn in my area?
While various factors determine your specific earning potential, robust data exists for average owner salaries by state in the U.S., segmented by seniority level. Though local averages can differ from state figures, these averages provide a solid benchmark for what you might expect to earn.
Currently, New Jersey leads as the state with the highest average salary for owners.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for owner salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these findings along with a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Owners By State
| Rank | State | Average Owner Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $153,245 | $110,000 | $212,000 |
| 2 | New York | $134,092 | $95,000 | $188,000 |
| 3 | Delaware | $129,855 | $92,000 | $182,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $121,422 | $86,000 | $170,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $119,771 | $83,000 | $171,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $119,186 | $84,000 | $167,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $118,604 | $84,000 | $166,000 |
| 8 | Washington | $116,071 | $76,000 | $175,000 |
| 9 | Maine | $111,283 | $78,000 | $157,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | $109,626 | $76,000 | $157,000 |
| 11 | Illinois | $108,127 | $72,000 | $160,000 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $108,058 | $74,000 | $157,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $106,057 | $75,000 | $149,000 |
| 14 | Vermont | $105,890 | $74,000 | $151,000 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $105,617 | $70,000 | $157,000 |
| 16 | California | $105,250 | $65,000 | $167,000 |
| 17 | Montana | $104,318 | $70,000 | $154,000 |
| 18 | Maryland | $101,715 | $71,000 | $143,000 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $98,793 | $64,000 | $150,000 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $95,188 | $65,000 | $139,000 |
| 21 | Ohio | $93,825 | $64,000 | $136,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $91,246 | $61,000 | $135,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $87,605 | $55,000 | $137,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $87,093 | $53,000 | $141,000 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $84,858 | $52,000 | $137,000 |
| 26 | Oregon | $84,206 | $54,000 | $129,000 |
| 27 | Florida | $83,536 | $53,000 | $130,000 |
| 28 | Kansas | $79,415 | $49,000 | $127,000 |
| 29 | Texas | $79,054 | $48,000 | $127,000 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $78,249 | $48,000 | $125,000 |
| 31 | Utah | $78,059 | $49,000 | $123,000 |
| 32 | Colorado | $76,507 | $47,000 | $122,000 |
| 33 | Arizona | $74,953 | $46,000 | $120,000 |
| 34 | Indiana | $74,789 | $49,000 | $112,000 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $74,595 | $49,000 | $112,000 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $73,842 | $45,000 | $119,000 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $73,109 | $49,000 | $107,000 |
| 38 | Nevada | $71,202 | $44,000 | $114,000 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $71,138 | $44,000 | $112,000 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $70,562 | $45,000 | $108,000 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $69,129 | $48,000 | $97,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $68,717 | $43,000 | $109,000 |
| 43 | Alabama | $68,532 | $43,000 | $109,000 |
| 44 | Iowa | $67,885 | $44,000 | $103,000 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $67,287 | $41,000 | $108,000 |
| 46 | Alaska | $66,026 | $44,000 | $98,000 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $62,846 | $42,000 | $93,000 |
| 48 | Idaho | $59,279 | $38,000 | $90,000 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $57,231 | $37,000 | $88,000 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $52,847 | $33,000 | $82,000 |
Methodology: Owner Salary By State
To analyze owner salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average salary for owners by state.
We have ranked every state based on average annual salary data for owners, identifying the state with the highest salary as leading in this category.
Owner Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for owners?
The highest-paid state for owners is New Jersey with an average salary of $153,245 per year.
-
What city pays owners the most?
New York, NY offers the highest average salary for owners at $134,539 per year.
-
What is the lowest-paying state for owners?
The state with the lowest average salary for owners is Nebraska at $52,847 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
