Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of picker salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Oregon has the highest picker salary of $36,837
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North Carolina has the lowest picker salary of $24,765
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The national average salary for pickers is $30,779
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The national hourly pay for pickers is $14.8
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains a top priority for job seekers across all demographics. Understanding how much pickers earn in different regions is crucial for both prospective employees and employers.
While individual salaries can vary based on experience, skill level, and location, we offer comprehensive data on average picker salaries by state, adjusted for 2026 trends. These averages provide valuable insights for those considering a career in this field.
Currently, Oregon holds the title for the highest average salary for pickers in the United States.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for picker salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a closer look at how these salaries have evolved and explore the full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Pickers By State
| Rank | State | Average Picker Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $36,837 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $35,824 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $33,257 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 4 | California | $33,095 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $32,970 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 6 | Nevada | $32,592 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 7 | Montana | $32,217 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 8 | Utah | $32,095 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $32,020 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 10 | Idaho | $31,951 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $31,926 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $31,398 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $31,395 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 14 | Vermont | $31,394 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $30,954 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $30,789 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $30,652 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $30,546 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 19 | Delaware | $30,539 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 20 | Arizona | $30,447 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $30,055 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $29,852 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $29,828 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 24 | Maine | $29,641 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $29,190 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 26 | New York | $29,078 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $28,946 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $28,873 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 29 | Illinois | $28,839 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 30 | Kansas | $28,754 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 31 | Missouri | $28,647 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $28,480 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $28,126 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $27,841 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $27,814 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 36 | Texas | $27,691 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 37 | Iowa | $27,639 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | Ohio | $27,622 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $27,299 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $26,941 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $26,701 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $26,300 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $26,253 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $26,232 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Maryland | $26,011 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 46 | Virginia | $25,918 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 47 | Alabama | $25,632 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 48 | Georgia | $25,260 | $20,000 | $31,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $25,002 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $24,765 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Picker Salary By State
To better understand picker pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across a multitude of channels including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We supplement that data with actual listed salaries from job postings. Finally, the data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for pickers by state.
Using the average annual salary data for pickers from these estimates, we ranked every state based on this criterion, with the state with the highest salary ranking as the highest average salary for pickers.
Picker Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for pickers?
The highest-paid state for pickers is Oregon with an average salary of $36,837 per year.
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What city pays pickers the most?
Reno, NV pays pickers the most with an average salary of $34,099 per year.
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What is the worst state for pickers?
The worst state for pickers is North Carolina with an average salary of $24,765 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.
