Research Summary. Following thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights into customer service agent salaries across the United States by state for 2026:
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Alaska offers the highest average salary for customer service agents at $35,949.
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Mississippi has the lowest average salary for customer service agents at $21,196.
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The national average salary for customer service agents is now $29,598.
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The national hourly wage for customer service agents stands at $14.23.
You can read more about our specific methodology.
Background
In job satisfaction surveys across demographics, salary consistently ranks as the top priority for most individuals. So, if you’re wondering, “How much can I expect to earn as a customer service agent in my area?” you’re not alone.
While various factors influence individual earnings, comprehensive data is available on average salaries for customer service agents across different states, categorized by experience and seniority. Although local figures may differ from state averages, these statistics provide a useful benchmark for salary expectations.
As of 2026, Alaska remains the leader in customer service agent salaries.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for customer service agent salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Customer Service Agents By State
| Rank | State | Average Customer Service Agent Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $35,949 | $30,000 | $42,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $34,707 | $29,000 | $41,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $34,055 | $28,000 | $41,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,025 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $32,995 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $32,798 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $32,570 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 8 | California | $32,420 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 9 | New York | $32,198 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 10 | Maine | $31,736 | $26,000 | $37,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $31,513 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 12 | Vermont | $31,393 | $26,000 | $37,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $30,634 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $30,592 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $30,216 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $30,012 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $29,850 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $29,792 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $29,573 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 20 | Michigan | $29,133 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $29,055 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $28,713 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 23 | Arizona | $28,464 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 24 | Iowa | $27,743 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 25 | Ohio | $27,647 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 26 | Missouri | $27,344 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 27 | Utah | $27,039 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 28 | Texas | $26,964 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 29 | Montana | $26,953 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 30 | Idaho | $26,838 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | Nevada | $26,791 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $26,641 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $26,513 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $26,461 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $26,403 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $26,175 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $25,262 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $25,230 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 39 | Virginia | $24,573 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 40 | Florida | $24,377 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 41 | Kansas | $24,278 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $24,153 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $24,063 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $23,986 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 45 | Alabama | $23,829 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $23,536 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,518 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $22,514 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $22,291 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,196 | $16,000 | $27,000 |
Methodology: Customer Service Agent Salary By State
To provide a clearer picture of customer service agent compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from multiple sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We complemented this data with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to establish the average pay for customer service agents by state.
We analyzed average annual salary data for customer service agents and ranked each state based on their average earnings, with the highest salary state crowned as the leader.
Customer Service Agent Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for customer service agents?
The highest-paid state for customer service agents is Alaska with an average salary of $35,949 per year.
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What city pays customer service agents the most?
Boston, MA offers the highest average salary for customer service agents at $34,109 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for customer service agents?
The lowest-paying state for customer service agents is Mississippi with an average salary of $21,196 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.
