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Top 10 States with the Highest Salaries for Eligibility Specialists in 2026
In today’s job market, salary remains the top priority for job seekers across various demographics. If you’re considering a career as an eligibility specialist, it’s crucial to know the earning potential in your state. Understanding salary trends can help you negotiate better and make informed career decisions.
Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides insights into the average salaries for eligibility specialists across the United States, categorized by state and seniority level. While individual salaries may vary based on location and experience, these averages serve as a valuable benchmark.
It’s also important to consider the cost of living in different states, as your salary can have varying purchasing power depending on where you live. For instance, a salary in North Carolina may afford you a different lifestyle compared to one in California.
After adjusting for cost of living, here are the top states for eligibility specialists based on average salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and explore a comprehensive ranking of eligibility specialist salaries across the states.
If you’re interested in further career resources, consider checking out the following articles:
- Top 10 Best Small Companies to Work For in Davenport
- 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Iowa
- 100 Largest Companies in Iowa
How We Determined Salaries by State
We utilized the latest annual salary data for eligibility specialists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics.’ To ensure accurate comparisons across states, we factored in the cost of living in each state.
We created an index by dividing the average wage for a state by the cost of living relative to the national average. For example, if California has a cost of living index of 135.9 and an average pay of $48,160, the adjusted salary would be calculated as follows:
$48,160 * (100 / 135.9) = $35,437
Using this method, we ranked each state to determine where eligibility specialists can expect the highest adjusted salaries.
Detailed List of Eligibility Specialist Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $59,692 |
| 2 | Michigan | $57,629 |
| 3 | Illinois | $52,748 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $49,580 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $48,943 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $47,549 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $47,041 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $46,503 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $46,423 |
| 10 | Utah | $45,913 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $45,082 |
| 12 | Ohio | $44,925 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $44,818 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $44,279 |
| 15 | Washington | $44,011 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $43,677 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $43,668 |
| 18 | Kansas | $43,325 |
| 19 | Alabama | $43,092 |
| 20 | Missouri | $43,064 |
| 21 | Colorado | $43,063 |
| 22 | Virginia | $42,380 |
| 23 | Nevada | $41,210 |
| 24 | Arizona | $40,989 |
| 25 | Indiana | $40,715 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $40,622 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $40,601 |
| 28 | Idaho | $40,597 |
| 29 | Alaska | $40,266 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $39,893 |
| 31 | Texas | $39,614 |
| 32 | Maryland | $39,537 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $39,311 |
| 34 | Georgia | $38,730 |
| 35 | Vermont | $38,629 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $38,397 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $38,268 |
| 38 | Florida | $38,260 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $37,875 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $37,043 |
| 41 | New York | $36,580 |
| 42 | Montana | $36,468 |
| 43 | California | $35,437 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $35,367 |
| 45 | Maine | $35,000 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $33,934 |
| 47 | Oregon | $33,347 |
| 48 | Delaware | $33,293 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $32,740 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $27,581 |

