Overview of Associate Salaries by State for 2026 In 2026, understanding the salary landscape for associates across the United States is crucial for both job seekers and employers. The Zippia Data Science Team has conducted thorough research to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding associate salaries by state:
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New York leads with the highest average associate salary at $89,570.
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Alabama ranks lowest, with an average associate salary of $38,154.
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The national average salary for associates is $69,556.
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Nationally, the hourly wage for associates is $33.44.
For more details, you can explore our methodology.
Understanding Associate Salaries
Salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers, as reflected in numerous surveys. A prevalent question is: What do associates earn in my area?
While individual salaries may vary depending on specific job titles and local markets, our data offers a comprehensive overview of average associate salaries by state, categorized by seniority level. This information provides a baseline expectation for potential earnings.
As of 2026, New York stands out as the state offering the best compensation for associates.
Below is a snapshot of the top ten states for associate salaries:
Now, let’s delve into the detailed salary data across all states.
Highest-Paid Associates By State
| Rank | State | Average Associate Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $89,570 | $48,000 | $166,000 |
| 2 | California | $79,213 | $41,000 | $152,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $75,022 | $39,000 | $142,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $73,855 | $38,000 | $141,000 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $69,901 | $36,000 | $134,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $65,297 | $34,000 | $125,000 |
| 7 | Delaware | $63,939 | $33,000 | $123,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $58,149 | $29,000 | $114,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $57,790 | $29,000 | $112,000 |
| 10 | Nevada | $57,615 | $28,000 | $115,000 |
| 11 | Virginia | $56,720 | $28,000 | $113,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,483 | $29,000 | $109,000 |
| 13 | Arizona | $56,052 | $28,000 | $110,000 |
| 14 | Vermont | $54,953 | $28,000 | $106,000 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,157 | $27,000 | $106,000 |
| 16 | Washington | $53,104 | $27,000 | $102,000 |
| 17 | Maine | $51,794 | $27,000 | $99,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $51,515 | $25,000 | $105,000 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $49,152 | $24,000 | $97,000 |
| 20 | Texas | $49,002 | $25,000 | $95,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $48,884 | $25,000 | $95,000 |
| 22 | Ohio | $48,561 | $23,000 | $99,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $47,860 | $23,000 | $97,000 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $47,222 | $36,000 | $61,000 |
| 25 | Utah | $46,242 | $23,000 | $90,000 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $46,042 | $22,000 | $93,000 |
| 27 | Florida | $45,798 | $23,000 | $88,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $45,634 | $24,000 | $86,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $45,201 | $23,000 | $87,000 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $44,622 | $21,000 | $91,000 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $44,031 | $21,000 | $88,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $42,793 | $21,000 | $87,000 |
| 33 | Iowa | $42,730 | $21,000 | $84,000 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $42,603 | $22,000 | $82,000 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $42,369 | $21,000 | $82,000 |
| 36 | Alaska | $41,024 | $27,000 | $60,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $40,403 | $21,000 | $77,000 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $40,053 | $21,000 | $75,000 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $40,041 | $20,000 | $79,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $40,034 | $20,000 | $76,000 |
| 41 | Missouri | $39,956 | $20,000 | $77,000 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $39,954 | $20,000 | $77,000 |
| 43 | Montana | $39,521 | $21,000 | $74,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $39,466 | $20,000 | $76,000 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $39,407 | $20,000 | $74,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $39,292 | $20,000 | $75,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $38,595 | $20,000 | $72,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $38,306 | $20,000 | $72,000 |
| 49 | Georgia | $38,259 | $20,000 | $72,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $38,154 | $20,000 | $72,000 |
Methodology for Associate Salary Data
To compile the associate salary data by state, Zippia has gathered information from various credible sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We also consider actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these figures to produce an accurate representation of average pay for associates in each state.
By analyzing this data, we ranked each state based on the average annual salary for associates, identifying the state with the highest salary as the leader in compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Associate Salaries
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Which state offers the highest pay for associates?
The state with the highest average salary for associates is New York, with an average annual salary of $89,570.
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What city has the highest average salary for associates?
The city that pays associates the most is Washington, DC, with an average salary of $93,302.
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Which state has the lowest pay for associates?
The state with the lowest average salary for associates is Alabama, with an average salary of $38,154.
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.
