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Best states for a colorist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like colorists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for colorists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that West Virginia is the best state for colorists in America. The best city in America for colorists with the highest pay is New York, NY.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for colorists.If you are currently seeking employment as a colorist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for colorists in 2026
1. West Virginia
Total colorist jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $43,573 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. Michigan
Total colorist jobs: 579 Average annual salary: $37,825 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
3. Wisconsin
Total colorist jobs: 311 Average annual salary: $37,357 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
4. New Jersey
Total colorist jobs: 265 Average annual salary: $44,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
5. Pennsylvania
Total colorist jobs: 529 Average annual salary: $38,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
6. Washington
Total colorist jobs: 230 Average annual salary: $42,629 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
7. Indiana
Total colorist jobs: 333 Average annual salary: $34,783 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
8. North Dakota
Total colorist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $41,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
9. Ohio
Total colorist jobs: 548 Average annual salary: $34,546 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
10. Vermont
Total colorist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $40,429 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
Colorist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a colorist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a colorist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $43,573 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 71 |
| 2 | Michigan | $37,825 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 579 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $37,357 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 311 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $44,799 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 265 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $38,014 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 529 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,629 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 230 |
| 7 | Indiana | $34,783 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 333 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $41,097 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 9 | Ohio | $34,546 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 548 |
| 10 | Vermont | $40,429 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 20 |
| 11 | New York | $43,587 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 324 |
| 12 | Montana | $40,057 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 27 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $38,682 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 46 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $40,904 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 271 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $39,172 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 168 |
| 16 | California | $41,959 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 872 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $36,199 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $38,723 | $22,000 | 3,588,184 | 131 |
| 19 | Iowa | $34,507 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 153 |
| 20 | Maryland | $42,566 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 111 |
| 21 | Virginia | $40,767 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 234 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $35,079 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 177 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,329 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 722 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $35,451 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 320 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $34,153 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 86 |
| 26 | Arizona | $33,031 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 457 |
| 27 | Illinois | $34,903 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 446 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $33,881 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 21 |
| 29 | Missouri | $33,208 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 249 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $33,232 | $20,000 | 1,342,795 | 79 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $40,228 | $24,000 | 693,972 | 7 |
| 32 | Alabama | $31,933 | $21,000 | 4,874,747 | 188 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $30,886 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 295 |
| 34 | Delaware | $33,009 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 51 |
| 35 | Texas | $32,025 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 780 |
| 36 | Utah | $30,817 | $21,000 | 3,101,833 | 138 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $31,663 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 79 |
| 38 | Colorado | $33,294 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 211 |
| 39 | Alaska | $34,162 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 9 |
| 40 | Maine | $32,412 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 38 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $28,516 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 170 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,195 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 199 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $28,242 | $22,000 | 1,427,538 | 35 |
| 44 | Idaho | $30,511 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 55 |
| 45 | Oregon | $31,695 | $21,000 | 4,142,776 | 127 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $28,418 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 128 |
| 47 | Kansas | $27,729 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 116 |
| 48 | Nevada | $27,680 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 81 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $25,043 | $17,000 | 3,004,279 | 100 |
| 50 | Georgia | $26,053 | $17,000 | 10,429,379 | 299 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $22,056 | $14,000 | 2,088,070 | 51 |
Highest paying states for colorists
| Rank | State | Avg. Colorist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $43,573 |
| 2 | Michigan | $37,825 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $37,357 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $44,799 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $38,014 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,629 |
| 7 | Indiana | $34,783 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $41,097 |
| 9 | Ohio | $34,546 |
| 10 | Vermont | $40,429 |
| 11 | New York | $43,587 |
| 12 | Montana | $40,057 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $38,682 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $40,904 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $39,172 |
| 16 | California | $41,959 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $36,199 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $38,723 |
| 19 | Iowa | $34,507 |
| 20 | Maryland | $42,566 |
| 21 | Virginia | $40,767 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $35,079 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,329 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $35,451 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $34,153 |
| 26 | Arizona | $33,031 |
| 27 | Illinois | $34,903 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $33,881 |
| 29 | Missouri | $33,208 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $33,232 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $40,228 |
| 32 | Alabama | $31,933 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $30,886 |
| 34 | Delaware | $33,009 |
| 35 | Texas | $32,025 |
| 36 | Utah | $30,817 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $31,663 |
| 38 | Colorado | $33,294 |
| 39 | Alaska | $34,162 |
| 40 | Maine | $32,412 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $28,516 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,195 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $28,242 |
| 44 | Idaho | $30,511 |
| 45 | Oregon | $31,695 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $28,418 |
| 47 | Kansas | $27,729 |
| 48 | Nevada | $27,680 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $25,043 |
| 50 | Georgia | $26,053 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $22,056 |
Colorist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025