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Best states for a business leader
Quoted expert
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like business leaders are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for business leaders aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for business leaders -- where there are plenty of business leader jobs to go around and business leaders get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for business leaders, 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 a business leader, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for business leaders in 2026
1. Washington
Total business leader jobs: 1,638 Average annual salary: $119,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
2. Pennsylvania
Total business leader jobs: 3,937 Average annual salary: $94,975 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 2.45
3. District of Columbia
Total business leader jobs: 452 Average annual salary: $96,691 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.95
4. Rhode Island
Total business leader jobs: 241 Average annual salary: $93,186 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
5. New York
Total business leader jobs: 1,453 Average annual salary: $123,584 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
6. South Dakota
Total business leader jobs: 285 Average annual salary: $86,300 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.93
7. New Jersey
Total business leader jobs: 909 Average annual salary: $109,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
8. Massachusetts
Total business leader jobs: 2,195 Average annual salary: $87,505 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
9. Wisconsin
Total business leader jobs: 866 Average annual salary: $85,874 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Delaware
Total business leader jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $96,111 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
Business leader jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a business leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a business leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $119,270 | $73,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,638 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $94,975 | $57,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,937 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $96,691 | $58,000 | 693,972 | 452 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $93,186 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 241 |
| 5 | New York | $123,584 | $77,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,453 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $86,300 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 285 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $109,092 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 909 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $87,505 | $54,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,195 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $85,874 | $51,000 | 5,795,483 | 866 |
| 10 | Delaware | $96,111 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 127 |
| 11 | California | $95,782 | $57,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,506 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $95,135 | $58,000 | 3,588,184 | 359 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $75,228 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 216 |
| 14 | Oregon | $80,753 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 937 |
| 15 | Illinois | $90,634 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,128 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $76,491 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,266 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $73,351 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 627 |
| 18 | Colorado | $86,753 | $52,000 | 5,607,154 | 442 |
| 19 | Alaska | $73,384 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 237 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $78,358 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 148 |
| 21 | Michigan | $72,108 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,180 |
| 22 | Maine | $77,548 | $47,000 | 1,335,907 | 66 |
| 23 | Ohio | $68,108 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,712 |
| 24 | Virginia | $79,604 | $47,000 | 8,470,020 | 756 |
| 25 | Arizona | $76,666 | $46,000 | 7,016,270 | 424 |
| 26 | Montana | $65,143 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 348 |
| 27 | Nevada | $66,593 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 421 |
| 28 | Vermont | $74,581 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 72 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $72,912 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 776 |
| 30 | Kansas | $65,501 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 497 |
| 31 | Idaho | $73,493 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 118 |
| 32 | Texas | $70,794 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,756 |
| 33 | Indiana | $64,687 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 867 |
| 34 | Maryland | $76,059 | $46,000 | 6,052,177 | 432 |
| 35 | Alabama | $63,025 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 517 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $63,067 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 174 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $61,422 | $36,000 | 6,715,984 | 872 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $51,797 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 932 |
| 39 | Iowa | $58,680 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 531 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $60,733 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 259 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $60,202 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 423 |
| 42 | Georgia | $64,185 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 797 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,849 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 933 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $62,690 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 45 | Utah | $51,590 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 688 |
| 46 | Florida | $63,425 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,049 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $54,720 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 549 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $54,616 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 373 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $53,856 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 73 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,457 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 210 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $48,976 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 554 |
Highest paying states for business leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Business Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $119,270 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $94,975 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $96,691 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $93,186 |
| 5 | New York | $123,584 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $86,300 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $109,092 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $87,505 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $85,874 |
| 10 | Delaware | $96,111 |
| 11 | California | $95,782 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $95,135 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $75,228 |
| 14 | Oregon | $80,753 |
| 15 | Illinois | $90,634 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $76,491 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $73,351 |
| 18 | Colorado | $86,753 |
| 19 | Alaska | $73,384 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $78,358 |
| 21 | Michigan | $72,108 |
| 22 | Maine | $77,548 |
| 23 | Ohio | $68,108 |
| 24 | Virginia | $79,604 |
| 25 | Arizona | $76,666 |
| 26 | Montana | $65,143 |
| 27 | Nevada | $66,593 |
| 28 | Vermont | $74,581 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $72,912 |
| 30 | Kansas | $65,501 |
| 31 | Idaho | $73,493 |
| 32 | Texas | $70,794 |
| 33 | Indiana | $64,687 |
| 34 | Maryland | $76,059 |
| 35 | Alabama | $63,025 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $63,067 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $61,422 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $51,797 |
| 39 | Iowa | $58,680 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $60,733 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $60,202 |
| 42 | Georgia | $64,185 |
| 43 | Missouri | $56,849 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $62,690 |
| 45 | Utah | $51,590 |
| 46 | Florida | $63,425 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $54,720 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $54,616 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $53,856 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,457 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $48,976 |
Expert opinions on the best states for business leaders
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for business leaders to find work opportunities?
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University
We have had success in placing our candidates from the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University in all portions of the country. Small towns, to large cities, to graduate programs, and beyond are all able to benefit from the skills learned by these majors.
Business leader best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025