Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of apprentice salaries by state for the United States in 2026:
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Alaska has the highest apprentice salary of $51,422
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Arkansas has the lowest apprentice salary of $28,625
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The national average salary for apprentices is $37,107
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The national hourly pay for apprentices is $17.84
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains a crucial factor for job seekers, and understanding how much apprentices earn in different states is vital for career planning.
Although many elements influence your individual earning potential, robust data exists for average salaries for apprentices across the United States, segmented by seniority level. While local salaries may vary from state averages, these figures provide a helpful benchmark for what to expect in terms of compensation.
The state with the highest salary for apprentices? That distinction goes to Alaska.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for apprentice salaries:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Apprentices By State
| Rank | State | Average Apprentice Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,422 | $45,000 | $58,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $51,099 | $41,000 | $62,000 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $50,438 | $38,000 | $65,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $48,011 | $36,000 | $62,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $47,632 | $37,000 | $61,000 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $47,003 | $35,000 | $62,000 |
| 7 | Montana | $45,799 | $35,000 | $59,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $44,489 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $43,852 | $32,000 | $58,000 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $43,416 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 11 | Missouri | $43,257 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $43,255 | $32,000 | $57,000 |
| 13 | California | $42,672 | $31,000 | $58,000 |
| 14 | Washington | $42,657 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 15 | Iowa | $42,584 | $31,000 | $58,000 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $41,653 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 17 | New York | $41,265 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 18 | Indiana | $41,021 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 19 | Illinois | $40,900 | $29,000 | $55,000 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $39,877 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $39,858 | $30,000 | $52,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $39,674 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $38,934 | $28,000 | $53,000 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $38,273 | $29,000 | $49,000 |
| 25 | Colorado | $38,259 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $37,712 | $27,000 | $52,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $37,670 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 28 | Delaware | $37,290 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 29 | Georgia | $37,269 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 30 | Ohio | $36,692 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 31 | Kansas | $36,610 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $36,475 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $36,469 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 34 | Texas | $36,433 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $36,327 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 36 | Maryland | $36,295 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $36,282 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 38 | Maine | $34,923 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 39 | Idaho | $34,493 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 40 | Virginia | $32,825 | $23,000 | $45,000 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $32,750 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $32,274 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $31,714 | $22,000 | $43,000 |
| 44 | Arizona | $31,661 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $31,470 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $31,331 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $31,184 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,826 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $30,524 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $28,625 | $20,000 | $39,000 |
Methodology: Apprentice Salary By State
To better understand apprentice pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We supplement that data with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for apprentices by state.
We analyzed the average annual salary data for apprentices from these estimates and ranked every state based on this criterion, with the state offering the highest salary ranked as having the highest average salary for apprentices.
Apprentice Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for apprentices?
The highest-paid state for apprentices is Alaska with an average salary of $51,422 per year.
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What city pays apprentices the most?
Worcester, MA pays apprentices the most with an average salary of $48,191 per year.
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What is the worst state for apprentices?
The worst state for apprentices is Arkansas with an average salary of $28,625 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.
