Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified the latest details of senior manager salaries by state for the United States as of 2026:
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New Jersey boasts the highest senior manager salary at $134,746.
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Mississippi has the lowest senior manager salary at $75,178.
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The national average salary for senior managers is $118,906.
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The national hourly pay for senior managers is $57.17.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In a constantly evolving job market, salary remains a top priority for professionals across demographics. Individuals often ask, “How much do senior managers earn where I live?” Understanding salary expectations is crucial.
Many factors influence individual salaries, including location, industry, and seniority. While the average salaries provide a helpful benchmark, your city’s figures may vary slightly from state averages. These averages offer a foundational understanding of what to expect in terms of compensation.
As of 2026, New Jersey stands out as the state with the highest salary for senior managers.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for senior manager salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the salary landscape and provide a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Senior Managers By State
| Rank | State | Average Senior Manager Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $134,746 | $96,000 | $187,000 |
| 2 | California | $133,035 | $94,000 | $188,000 |
| 3 | New York | $132,854 | $95,000 | $185,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $124,738 | $88,000 | $174,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $124,125 | $86,000 | $178,000 |
| 6 | Delaware | $121,345 | $87,000 | $168,000 |
| 7 | Virginia | $121,190 | $88,000 | $166,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $121,186 | $86,000 | $169,000 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $119,185 | $85,000 | $166,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $113,580 | $82,000 | $157,000 |
| 11 | Colorado | $112,559 | $82,000 | $154,000 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $110,554 | $79,000 | $153,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $110,256 | $79,000 | $153,000 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $109,105 | $80,000 | $148,000 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $108,271 | $79,000 | $148,000 |
| 16 | Texas | $105,698 | $76,000 | $146,000 |
| 17 | Alaska | $105,585 | $71,000 | $154,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $105,301 | $76,000 | $145,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $104,312 | $74,000 | $146,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $104,181 | $75,000 | $143,000 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $104,051 | $75,000 | $142,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $103,774 | $73,000 | $146,000 |
| 23 | Ohio | $103,095 | $74,000 | $142,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $101,031 | $73,000 | $139,000 |
| 25 | Alabama | $100,894 | $74,000 | $135,000 |
| 26 | Michigan | $100,404 | $72,000 | $139,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $100,159 | $72,000 | $138,000 |
| 28 | Oregon | $99,347 | $68,000 | $143,000 |
| 29 | Georgia | $97,633 | $72,000 | $131,000 |
| 30 | Maine | $96,577 | $68,000 | $135,000 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $95,558 | $70,000 | $129,000 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $95,084 | $70,000 | $128,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $94,933 | $69,000 | $130,000 |
| 34 | Florida | $92,509 | $65,000 | $129,000 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $88,116 | $64,000 | $120,000 |
| 36 | Missouri | $87,889 | $64,000 | $119,000 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $87,809 | $63,000 | $120,000 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $86,945 | $64,000 | $117,000 |
| 39 | Iowa | $86,104 | $62,000 | $117,000 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $85,895 | $62,000 | $117,000 |
| 41 | Montana | $85,064 | $61,000 | $117,000 |
| 42 | Kansas | $84,301 | $62,000 | $114,000 |
| 43 | Utah | $84,288 | $60,000 | $117,000 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $84,139 | $61,000 | $116,000 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $82,777 | $65,000 | $104,000 |
| 46 | Vermont | $81,666 | $58,000 | $114,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $80,998 | $59,000 | $110,000 |
| 48 | Idaho | $79,405 | $56,000 | $111,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $78,137 | $57,000 | $105,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $75,178 | $55,000 | $101,000 |
Methodology: Senior Manager Salary By State
To better understand senior manager pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from numerous sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Additionally, we supplement this data with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average of these figures to establish an accurate average pay for senior managers by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for senior managers, identifying the state with the highest salary as leading in compensation for these roles.
Senior Manager Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for senior managers?
The highest-paid state for senior managers is New Jersey with an average salary of $134,746 per year.
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What city pays senior managers the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest average salary for senior managers at $142,577 per year.
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What is the worst state for senior managers?
The state with the lowest average salary for senior managers is Mississippi at $75,178 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.
