Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a child development specialist
- 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 child development specialists in the United States. Child development specialist 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 child development specialists.Our research shows that Nebraska is the best state in the country for child development specialists.
Nebraska is the best state for jobs for child development specialists, and Vermont is the worst. The most common pay in Nebraska is $49,834, while the median pay in Vermont is $36,276.We found that the South is best for child development specialists, and the Midwest is the worst. Manalapan, NJ is the best city in the country for child development specialist jobs, where as Nebraska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for child development specialists in 2026
1. Nebraska
Total child development specialist jobs: 491 Average annual salary: $49,834 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. Kansas
Total child development specialist jobs: 537 Average annual salary: $50,501 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
3. Minnesota
Total child development specialist jobs: 1,356 Average annual salary: $48,761 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
4. Montana
Total child development specialist jobs: 298 Average annual salary: $46,978 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.98
5. Washington
Total child development specialist jobs: 579 Average annual salary: $58,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
6. Michigan
Total child development specialist jobs: 1,332 Average annual salary: $48,802 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
7. New Jersey
Total child development specialist jobs: 583 Average annual salary: $67,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
8. Connecticut
Total child development specialist jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $57,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
9. District of Columbia
Total child development specialist jobs: 176 Average annual salary: $57,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
10. Pennsylvania
Total child development specialist jobs: 2,114 Average annual salary: $45,345 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
Child development specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a child development specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a child development specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $49,834 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 491 |
| 2 | Kansas | $50,501 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 537 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $48,761 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,356 |
| 4 | Montana | $46,978 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 298 |
| 5 | Washington | $58,563 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 579 |
| 6 | Michigan | $48,802 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,332 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,939 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 583 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $57,014 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 247 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $57,611 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 176 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $45,345 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,114 |
| 11 | Alaska | $47,850 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 213 |
| 12 | Illinois | $55,176 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 833 |
| 13 | New York | $51,843 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,223 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $47,602 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 95 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $43,732 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 405 |
| 16 | Delaware | $48,099 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 114 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $42,583 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 209 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $43,559 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 534 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $48,674 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 900 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $44,111 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 283 |
| 21 | Maryland | $49,762 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 543 |
| 22 | Missouri | $44,119 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 915 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $44,168 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 830 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $43,151 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 497 |
| 25 | Arizona | $42,627 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,206 |
| 26 | Virginia | $48,013 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 730 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $45,956 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 119 |
| 28 | Iowa | $42,048 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 587 |
| 29 | Ohio | $41,908 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,513 |
| 30 | Colorado | $46,316 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 439 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $41,150 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 878 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $42,389 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 434 |
| 33 | California | $47,625 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,041 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $39,340 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 194 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $39,614 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 200 |
| 36 | Oregon | $43,447 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 352 |
| 37 | Texas | $39,541 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,886 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $42,703 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 38 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $39,200 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 950 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,648 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,779 |
| 41 | Maine | $41,938 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 93 |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,492 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 968 |
| 43 | Nevada | $38,149 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 377 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,446 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 613 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,521 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,854 |
| 46 | Utah | $40,061 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 237 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $30,651 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 490 |
| 48 | Idaho | $36,672 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 172 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $34,647 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 570 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $30,153 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 228 |
| 51 | Vermont | $36,276 | $25,000 | 623,657 | 69 |
Highest paying states for child development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Child Development Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $49,834 |
| 2 | Kansas | $50,501 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $48,761 |
| 4 | Montana | $46,978 |
| 5 | Washington | $58,563 |
| 6 | Michigan | $48,802 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,939 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $57,014 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $57,611 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $45,345 |
| 11 | Alaska | $47,850 |
| 12 | Illinois | $55,176 |
| 13 | New York | $51,843 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $47,602 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $43,732 |
| 16 | Delaware | $48,099 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $42,583 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $43,559 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $48,674 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $44,111 |
| 21 | Maryland | $49,762 |
| 22 | Missouri | $44,119 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $44,168 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $43,151 |
| 25 | Arizona | $42,627 |
| 26 | Virginia | $48,013 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $45,956 |
| 28 | Iowa | $42,048 |
| 29 | Ohio | $41,908 |
| 30 | Colorado | $46,316 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $41,150 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $42,389 |
| 33 | California | $47,625 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $39,340 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $39,614 |
| 36 | Oregon | $43,447 |
| 37 | Texas | $39,541 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $42,703 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $39,200 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,648 |
| 41 | Maine | $41,938 |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,492 |
| 43 | Nevada | $38,149 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,446 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,521 |
| 46 | Utah | $40,061 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $30,651 |
| 48 | Idaho | $36,672 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $34,647 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $30,153 |
| 51 | Vermont | $36,276 |
Child development specialist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for child development specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025