Representative Salary By State: Highest-Paid Representatives by State [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted extensive research to present the latest insights on representative salaries by state across the United States in 2026:
-
New York offers the highest representative salary at $56,253.
-
Mississippi has the lowest representative salary at $29,598.
-
The national average salary for representatives stands at $36,023.
-
The national hourly wage for representatives is $17.32.
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains a key factor for job seekers, with many prioritizing compensation when considering career opportunities as representatives. Understanding average salaries by state can provide valuable insight into what you might expect to earn.
While individual salaries may vary based on factors like experience and location, these averages serve as a helpful benchmark. In 2026, New York continues to lead the nation in representative salaries.
Top States for Representative Salaries
Now, let’s dive into the detailed salary data across all states.
Highest-Paid Representatives By State
| Rank | State | Average Representative Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,253 | $32,000 | $98,000 |
| 2 | Delaware | $56,212 | $32,000 | $98,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $51,392 | $30,000 | $87,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $50,276 | $28,000 | $88,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $50,112 | $28,000 | $87,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $49,658 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $47,319 | $27,000 | $82,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $46,818 | $27,000 | $80,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $45,668 | $27,000 | $76,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $44,310 | $26,000 | $72,000 |
| 11 | Illinois | $43,100 | $28,000 | $65,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $42,389 | $25,000 | $69,000 |
| 13 | Michigan | $42,264 | $25,000 | $68,000 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $42,120 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 15 | Virginia | $40,807 | $23,000 | $69,000 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $39,876 | $26,000 | $60,000 |
| 17 | Washington | $39,752 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $39,679 | $24,000 | $64,000 |
| 19 | Ohio | $39,493 | $24,000 | $64,000 |
| 20 | Alaska | $39,425 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 21 | Kansas | $39,266 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 22 | California | $39,225 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $38,996 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 24 | Iowa | $37,492 | $25,000 | $55,000 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $37,381 | $22,000 | $62,000 |
| 26 | Montana | $36,491 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 27 | Indiana | $36,069 | $23,000 | $55,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $35,876 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,554 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 30 | Oregon | $35,256 | $24,000 | $49,000 |
| 31 | Alabama | $35,236 | $22,000 | $54,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $34,984 | $23,000 | $51,000 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $34,879 | $22,000 | $54,000 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $34,048 | $24,000 | $47,000 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $33,941 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 36 | Texas | $33,707 | $22,000 | $50,000 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $33,603 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $33,260 | $21,000 | $50,000 |
| 39 | Arizona | $33,246 | $22,000 | $49,000 |
| 40 | Utah | $33,147 | $23,000 | $46,000 |
| 41 | Florida | $31,995 | $20,000 | $49,000 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $31,688 | $21,000 | $47,000 |
| 43 | Nevada | $31,271 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,211 | $20,000 | $48,000 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $31,137 | $19,000 | $49,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $31,134 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 47 | Idaho | $30,824 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $30,690 | $20,000 | $46,000 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $30,356 | $20,000 | $44,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $29,598 | $19,000 | $44,000 |
Methodology: Representative Salary By State
To provide a clear picture of representative salaries across states, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In addition, we incorporate actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the representative salary for each state.
By analyzing the average annual salary data, we rank states based on their average representative salaries.
Representative Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for representatives?
The highest-paid state for representatives is New York, with an average salary of $56,253 per year.
-
What city pays representatives the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest average salary for representatives at $63,166 per year.
-
What is the worst state for representatives?
The state with the lowest average salary for representatives is Mississippi, at $29,598 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.
