Best states for an Associate

Q: What is the best state for associates?

The best state to be an associate is New York based on associate salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for associates?

The highest paying state for associates is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for associates?

The worst state for associates is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for associates in the United States. Associate positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for associates.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of associates in America is $140,000.

In order to get you the best states for associates, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as an associate, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for associates in 2025

1. New York
Total Associate Jobs: 18,099
Average Annual Salary: $89,570
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $48,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $166,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Associate Jobs in New York
2. Connecticut
Total Associate Jobs: 4,075
Average Annual Salary: $75,022
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $39,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $142,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Associate Jobs in Connecticut
3. New Jersey
Total Associate Jobs: 11,003
Average Annual Salary: $69,901
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $134,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Associate Jobs in New Jersey
4. Massachusetts
Total Associate Jobs: 10,945
Average Annual Salary: $73,855
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $38,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Associate Jobs in Massachusetts
5. Pennsylvania
Total Associate Jobs: 14,508
Average Annual Salary: $57,790
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
6. Delaware
Total Associate Jobs: 1,504
Average Annual Salary: $63,939
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $33,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $123,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Associate Jobs in Delaware
7. California
Total Associate Jobs: 29,624
Average Annual Salary: $79,213
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $41,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $152,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Associate Jobs in California
8. New Hampshire
Total Associate Jobs: 2,258
Average Annual Salary: $56,483
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $29,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Associate Jobs in New Hampshire
9. District of Columbia
Total Associate Jobs: 1,408
Average Annual Salary: $92,361
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $172,000
Location Quotient:
0.79
Associate Jobs in District of Columbia
10. Rhode Island
Total Associate Jobs: 1,138
Average Annual Salary: $65,297
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Associate Jobs in Rhode Island

Associate JobsNear Ashburn, VA

How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an associate

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	New York	$89,570	$48,000	19,849,399	18,099
2	Connecticut	$75,022	$39,000	3,588,184	4,075
3	New Jersey	$69,901	$36,000	9,005,644	11,003
4	Massachusetts	$73,855	$38,000	6,859,819	10,945
5	Pennsylvania	$57,790	$29,000	12,805,537	14,508
6	Delaware	$63,939	$33,000	961,939	1,504
7	California	$79,213	$41,000	39,536,653	29,624
8	New Hampshire	$56,483	$29,000	1,342,795	2,258
9	District of Columbia	$92,361	$49,000	693,972	1,408
10	Rhode Island	$65,297	$34,000	1,059,639	1,138
11	Maine	$51,794	$27,000	1,335,907	1,746
12	Michigan	$51,515	$25,000	9,962,311	9,504
13	Virginia	$56,720	$28,000	8,470,020	9,725
14	Vermont	$54,953	$28,000	623,657	785
15	Nevada	$57,615	$28,000	2,998,039	1,814
16	Maryland	$58,149	$29,000	6,052,177	6,238
17	Arizona	$56,052	$28,000	7,016,270	5,390
18	North Carolina	$49,152	$24,000	10,273,419	11,435
19	Ohio	$48,561	$23,000	11,658,609	11,327
20	West Virginia	$46,042	$22,000	1,815,857	1,899
21	Texas	$49,002	$25,000	28,304,596	21,868
22	Illinois	$47,860	$23,000	12,802,023	13,436
23	Oregon	$54,157	$27,000	4,142,776	3,272
24	Florida	$45,798	$23,000	20,984,400	17,600
25	Washington	$53,104	$27,000	7,405,743	5,443
26	Indiana	$42,793	$21,000	6,666,818	7,355
27	Utah	$46,242	$23,000	3,101,833	2,981
28	Wisconsin	$44,622	$21,000	5,795,483	5,580
29	New Mexico	$48,884	$25,000	2,088,070	1,377
30	Louisiana	$42,369	$21,000	4,684,333	3,390
31	Tennessee	$40,034	$20,000	6,715,984	6,694
32	South Carolina	$40,403	$21,000	5,024,369	5,034
33	Colorado	$45,634	$24,000	5,607,154	5,500
34	Idaho	$45,201	$23,000	1,716,943	1,274
35	Kentucky	$40,041	$20,000	4,454,189	4,020
36	North Dakota	$42,603	$22,000	755,393	771
37	Iowa	$42,730	$21,000	3,145,711	3,097
38	Minnesota	$44,031	$21,000	5,576,606	5,484
39	Hawaii	$47,222	$36,000	1,427,538	734
40	Oklahoma	$40,053	$21,000	3,930,864	2,776
41	Mississippi	$38,306	$20,000	2,984,100	2,289
42	Missouri	$39,956	$20,000	6,113,532	5,530
43	Arkansas	$38,595	$20,000	3,004,279	2,304
44	South Dakota	$39,954	$20,000	869,666	693
45	Georgia	$38,259	$20,000	10,429,379	10,209
46	Alabama	$38,154	$20,000	4,874,747	4,117
47	Alaska	$41,024	$27,000	739,795	464
48	Wyoming	$39,407	$20,000	579,315	471
49	Montana	$39,521	$21,000	1,050,493	896
50	Kansas	$39,292	$20,000	2,913,123	2,372
51	Nebraska	$39,466	$20,000	1,920,076	1,556

Highest paying states for associates

Rank	State	Avg. Associate Salary
1	New York	$89,570
2	Connecticut	$75,022
3	New Jersey	$69,901
4	Massachusetts	$73,855
5	Pennsylvania	$57,790
6	Delaware	$63,939
7	California	$79,213
8	New Hampshire	$56,483
9	District of Columbia	$92,361
10	Rhode Island	$65,297
11	Maine	$51,794
12	Michigan	$51,515
13	Virginia	$56,720
14	Vermont	$54,953
15	Nevada	$57,615
16	Maryland	$58,149
17	Arizona	$56,052
18	North Carolina	$49,152
19	Ohio	$48,561
20	West Virginia	$46,042
21	Texas	$49,002
22	Illinois	$47,860
23	Oregon	$54,157
24	Florida	$45,798
25	Washington	$53,104
26	Indiana	$42,793
27	Utah	$46,242
28	Wisconsin	$44,622
29	New Mexico	$48,884
30	Louisiana	$42,369
31	Tennessee	$40,034
32	South Carolina	$40,403
33	Colorado	$45,634
34	Idaho	$45,201
35	Kentucky	$40,041
36	North Dakota	$42,603
37	Iowa	$42,730
38	Minnesota	$44,031
39	Hawaii	$47,222
40	Oklahoma	$40,053
41	Mississippi	$38,306
42	Missouri	$39,956
43	Arkansas	$38,595
44	South Dakota	$39,954
45	Georgia	$38,259
46	Alabama	$38,154
47	Alaska	$41,024
48	Wyoming	$39,407
49	Montana	$39,521
50	Kansas	$39,292
51	Nebraska	$39,466

Associate best states FAQs

What is the best state for associates?

What is the highest paying state for associates?

What is the worst state for associates?

Have more questions? See all answers to common sales questions.

Search for associate jobs

Zippia Careers
Sales Industry
Associate
Best states for Associates

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse sales jobs

Total Associate Jobs:	18,099
Average Annual Salary:	$89,570
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$48,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$166,000
Location Quotient:	1.33

Best states for an Associate

10 best states for associates in 2025

1. New York

2. Connecticut

3. New Jersey

4. Massachusetts

5. Pennsylvania

6. Delaware

7. California

8. New Hampshire

9. District of Columbia

10. Rhode Island