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Best states for a business developer
Quoted expert
Jonathan Byers
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for business developers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for business developer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant business developer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Nevada is the best state in the country for business developer jobs.
The median salary for business developers in Nevada is $108,339. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $73,363, which ranked worst for business developers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Nevada is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for business developers.
10 best states for business developers in 2026
1. Nevada
Total business developer jobs: 785 Average annual salary: $108,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
2. Kentucky
Total business developer jobs: 1,124 Average annual salary: $110,912 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Washington
Total business developer jobs: 1,952 Average annual salary: $124,124 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. Oregon
Total business developer jobs: 1,030 Average annual salary: $124,371 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. District of Columbia
Total business developer jobs: 625 Average annual salary: $115,840 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
6. California
Total business developer jobs: 6,398 Average annual salary: $128,440 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
7. Ohio
Total business developer jobs: 3,545 Average annual salary: $99,124 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
8. Indiana
Total business developer jobs: 1,869 Average annual salary: $101,647 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
9. Alaska
Total business developer jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $107,135 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
10. Wisconsin
Total business developer jobs: 1,679 Average annual salary: $99,469 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
Business developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a business developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a business developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $108,339 | $67,000 | 2,998,039 | 785 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $110,912 | $71,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,124 |
| 3 | Washington | $124,124 | $78,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,952 |
| 4 | Oregon | $124,371 | $78,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,030 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $115,840 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 625 |
| 6 | California | $128,440 | $81,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,398 |
| 7 | Ohio | $99,124 | $64,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,545 |
| 8 | Indiana | $101,647 | $65,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,869 |
| 9 | Alaska | $107,135 | $66,000 | 739,795 | 224 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $99,469 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,679 |
| 11 | New York | $113,429 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,989 |
| 12 | Iowa | $98,490 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,003 |
| 13 | Georgia | $101,063 | $63,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,664 |
| 14 | Delaware | $108,390 | $70,000 | 961,939 | 224 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $105,807 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,716 |
| 16 | Utah | $101,310 | $63,000 | 3,101,833 | 610 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $94,109 | $60,000 | 1,920,076 | 786 |
| 18 | Idaho | $101,882 | $63,000 | 1,716,943 | 301 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $95,306 | $58,000 | 2,088,070 | 617 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $93,059 | $59,000 | 869,666 | 320 |
| 21 | Maryland | $114,011 | $74,000 | 6,052,177 | 909 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $102,287 | $66,000 | 1,342,795 | 273 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $105,179 | $69,000 | 3,588,184 | 549 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $101,486 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,817 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $91,763 | $59,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,448 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $97,973 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 258 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $93,935 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 135 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $88,331 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 836 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $96,366 | $61,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,619 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $88,380 | $55,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,689 |
| 31 | Michigan | $88,603 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,319 |
| 32 | Illinois | $95,477 | $61,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,393 |
| 33 | Kansas | $85,626 | $54,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,065 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $88,762 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 356 |
| 35 | Vermont | $91,278 | $59,000 | 623,657 | 184 |
| 36 | Arizona | $95,089 | $58,000 | 7,016,270 | 958 |
| 37 | Colorado | $89,615 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,658 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $95,795 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,513 |
| 39 | Montana | $86,208 | $54,000 | 1,050,493 | 320 |
| 40 | Maine | $85,695 | $56,000 | 1,335,907 | 355 |
| 41 | Virginia | $93,632 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,690 |
| 42 | Missouri | $79,905 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,820 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $82,446 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 241 |
| 44 | Texas | $85,934 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,891 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $83,738 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 686 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $81,328 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,099 |
| 47 | Alabama | $77,638 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,113 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $74,234 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 836 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $80,504 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 406 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $63,223 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 187 |
| 51 | Florida | $73,363 | $44,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,331 |
Highest paying states for business developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Business Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $108,339 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $110,912 |
| 3 | Washington | $124,124 |
| 4 | Oregon | $124,371 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $115,840 |
| 6 | California | $128,440 |
| 7 | Ohio | $99,124 |
| 8 | Indiana | $101,647 |
| 9 | Alaska | $107,135 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $99,469 |
| 11 | New York | $113,429 |
| 12 | Iowa | $98,490 |
| 13 | Georgia | $101,063 |
| 14 | Delaware | $108,390 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $105,807 |
| 16 | Utah | $101,310 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $94,109 |
| 18 | Idaho | $101,882 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $95,306 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $93,059 |
| 21 | Maryland | $114,011 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $102,287 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $105,179 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $101,486 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $91,763 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $97,973 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $93,935 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $88,331 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $96,366 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $88,380 |
| 31 | Michigan | $88,603 |
| 32 | Illinois | $95,477 |
| 33 | Kansas | $85,626 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $88,762 |
| 35 | Vermont | $91,278 |
| 36 | Arizona | $95,089 |
| 37 | Colorado | $89,615 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $95,795 |
| 39 | Montana | $86,208 |
| 40 | Maine | $85,695 |
| 41 | Virginia | $93,632 |
| 42 | Missouri | $79,905 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $82,446 |
| 44 | Texas | $85,934 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $83,738 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $81,328 |
| 47 | Alabama | $77,638 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $74,234 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $80,504 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $63,223 |
| 51 | Florida | $73,363 |
Expert opinions on the best states for business developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for business developers to find work opportunities?
Jonathan Byers
Assistant Director, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Like most Liberal Arts graduates, people with History degrees will most likely develop a number of the professional skills mentioned above that can be applicable in many different industry areas. In today's job market, college graduates are not bound to one type of job opportunity. History majors from Virginia Tech have found employment in Higher Education, Law, Politics, Public Policy, Business, Marketing, Information Technology, Information Management, International Affairs, Local & State Government, and the Federal Government. They have found opportunities in many different locations across the United Students. A person who finds a job depends on how much they are willing to network with other professionals and be strategic and intentional with their job search strategies.
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Updated January 8, 2025