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Best states for a bureau chief
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a bureau chief and really want to work at Iowa Department of Transportation? Turns out, your chances to become a bureau chief are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that New York is the best state for bureau chiefs in America. The best city in America for bureau chiefs with the highest pay is Washington, DC.
We figured that the best places for bureau chief jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.New York is the best state, and Southampton is the city with the highest pay for bureau chiefs.
10 best states for bureau chiefs in 2025
1. New York
Total bureau chief jobs: 441 Average annual salary: $136,972 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
2. District of Columbia
Total bureau chief jobs: 159 Average annual salary: $137,496 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 4.71
3. Connecticut
Total bureau chief jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $121,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
4. Minnesota
Total bureau chief jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $112,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Virginia
Total bureau chief jobs: 258 Average annual salary: $105,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
6. New Hampshire
Total bureau chief jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $118,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
7. New Mexico
Total bureau chief jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $97,458 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. North Dakota
Total bureau chief jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $108,434 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
9. Illinois
Total bureau chief jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $109,990 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
10. West Virginia
Total bureau chief jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $102,603 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
Bureau chief jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a bureau chief
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a bureau chief
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $136,972 | $92,000 | 19,849,399 | 441 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $137,496 | $92,000 | 693,972 | 159 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $121,596 | $81,000 | 3,588,184 | 85 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $112,214 | $73,000 | 5,576,606 | 127 |
| 5 | Virginia | $105,902 | $69,000 | 8,470,020 | 258 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,467 | $78,000 | 1,342,795 | 20 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $97,458 | $61,000 | 2,088,070 | 50 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $108,434 | $71,000 | 755,393 | 13 |
| 9 | Illinois | $109,990 | $71,000 | 12,802,023 | 175 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $102,603 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 22 |
| 11 | Washington | $99,940 | $65,000 | 7,405,743 | 180 |
| 12 | California | $103,171 | $65,000 | 39,536,653 | 709 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $98,111 | $65,000 | 6,859,819 | 265 |
| 14 | Vermont | $98,059 | $64,000 | 623,657 | 15 |
| 15 | Maryland | $102,487 | $67,000 | 6,052,177 | 148 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $94,024 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 14 |
| 17 | Maine | $96,371 | $63,000 | 1,335,907 | 26 |
| 18 | Delaware | $95,086 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 39 |
| 19 | Michigan | $95,918 | $63,000 | 9,962,311 | 146 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $97,001 | $64,000 | 12,805,537 | 197 |
| 21 | Nevada | $93,152 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 51 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $99,913 | $64,000 | 4,454,189 | 27 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $101,369 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 130 |
| 24 | Texas | $92,643 | $57,000 | 28,304,596 | 421 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $94,593 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 90 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $98,077 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 34 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $95,087 | $63,000 | 1,059,639 | 20 |
| 28 | Arizona | $91,308 | $57,000 | 7,016,270 | 140 |
| 29 | Georgia | $94,220 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 165 |
| 30 | Ohio | $94,179 | $61,000 | 11,658,609 | 143 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $94,143 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 28 |
| 32 | Iowa | $90,563 | $58,000 | 3,145,711 | 66 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $89,419 | $58,000 | 10,273,419 | 164 |
| 34 | Utah | $90,477 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 51 |
| 35 | Alabama | $85,993 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 76 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $86,714 | $55,000 | 5,024,369 | 82 |
| 37 | Oregon | $74,225 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 107 |
| 38 | Colorado | $86,373 | $54,000 | 5,607,154 | 94 |
| 39 | Montana | $71,317 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 28 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $84,275 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 82 |
| 41 | Florida | $73,020 | $45,000 | 20,984,400 | 302 |
| 42 | Idaho | $77,532 | $49,000 | 1,716,943 | 25 |
| 43 | Alaska | $68,280 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $70,780 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 16 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $69,539 | $43,000 | 4,684,333 | 58 |
| 46 | Indiana | $78,199 | $50,000 | 6,666,818 | 69 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $72,684 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 12 |
| 48 | Kansas | $73,444 | $46,000 | 2,913,123 | 38 |
| 49 | Missouri | $70,283 | $45,000 | 6,113,532 | 68 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $64,118 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 32 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $61,935 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 19 |
Highest paying states for bureau chiefs
| Rank | State | Avg. Bureau Chief Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $136,972 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $137,496 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $121,596 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $112,214 |
| 5 | Virginia | $105,902 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,467 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $97,458 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $108,434 |
| 9 | Illinois | $109,990 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $102,603 |
| 11 | Washington | $99,940 |
| 12 | California | $103,171 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $98,111 |
| 14 | Vermont | $98,059 |
| 15 | Maryland | $102,487 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $94,024 |
| 17 | Maine | $96,371 |
| 18 | Delaware | $95,086 |
| 19 | Michigan | $95,918 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $97,001 |
| 21 | Nevada | $93,152 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $99,913 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $101,369 |
| 24 | Texas | $92,643 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $94,593 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $98,077 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $95,087 |
| 28 | Arizona | $91,308 |
| 29 | Georgia | $94,220 |
| 30 | Ohio | $94,179 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $94,143 |
| 32 | Iowa | $90,563 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $89,419 |
| 34 | Utah | $90,477 |
| 35 | Alabama | $85,993 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $86,714 |
| 37 | Oregon | $74,225 |
| 38 | Colorado | $86,373 |
| 39 | Montana | $71,317 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $84,275 |
| 41 | Florida | $73,020 |
| 42 | Idaho | $77,532 |
| 43 | Alaska | $68,280 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $70,780 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $69,539 |
| 46 | Indiana | $78,199 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $72,684 |
| 48 | Kansas | $73,444 |
| 49 | Missouri | $70,283 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $64,118 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $61,935 |
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Updated January 8, 2025