Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a community worker
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Community worker opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for community workers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for community workers.We wanted to look at the best states for community workers -- where there are plenty of community worker jobs to go around and community workers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for community workers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for community workers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Mateo, CA is the best city in the country for community worker jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for community workers in 2026
1. California
Total community worker jobs: 4,541 Average annual salary: $51,450 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. Connecticut
Total community worker jobs: 502 Average annual salary: $49,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
3. New Hampshire
Total community worker jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $46,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Delaware
Total community worker jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $49,846 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. West Virginia
Total community worker jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $40,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
6. North Carolina
Total community worker jobs: 1,349 Average annual salary: $42,695 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
7. Rhode Island
Total community worker jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $48,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.42
8. Nevada
Total community worker jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $48,718 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.42
9. District of Columbia
Total community worker jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $49,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
10. Oklahoma
Total community worker jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $40,242 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
Community worker jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a community worker
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a community worker
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $51,450 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,541 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $49,645 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 502 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $46,720 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 252 |
| 4 | Delaware | $49,846 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 142 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $40,967 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 248 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $42,695 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,349 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $48,775 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 55 |
| 8 | Nevada | $48,718 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 94 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $49,169 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 174 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $40,242 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 396 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $43,234 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 887 |
| 12 | Michigan | $40,982 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 480 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $45,165 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 383 |
| 14 | Oregon | $39,979 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 589 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $41,638 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 40 |
| 16 | Maryland | $44,398 | $30,000 | 6,052,177 | 603 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $38,389 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 150 |
| 18 | Alaska | $43,402 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 92 |
| 19 | Utah | $38,452 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 426 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $36,940 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 828 |
| 21 | Vermont | $42,434 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 20 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,524 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 130 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $40,230 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 367 |
| 24 | Idaho | $38,385 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 213 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $37,061 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 520 |
| 26 | Virginia | $40,770 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,174 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $37,847 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 28 | Texas | $37,727 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,572 |
| 29 | Iowa | $38,198 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 228 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $36,923 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 344 |
| 31 | New York | $41,038 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 885 |
| 32 | Florida | $37,000 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,713 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $38,788 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 245 |
| 34 | Washington | $37,767 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,155 |
| 35 | Colorado | $37,690 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 844 |
| 36 | Georgia | $36,685 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,485 |
| 37 | Kansas | $37,359 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 130 |
| 38 | Maine | $37,142 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 100 |
| 39 | Arizona | $37,566 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 315 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $41,127 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 66 |
| 41 | Alabama | $35,536 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 570 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $37,220 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 463 |
| 43 | Missouri | $34,366 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 945 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $36,229 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 86 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $34,469 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 588 |
| 46 | Illinois | $36,099 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 735 |
| 47 | Indiana | $34,769 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 413 |
| 48 | Montana | $35,928 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 58 |
| 49 | Ohio | $35,089 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 391 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $33,774 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 246 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $33,147 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 186 |
Highest paying states for community workers
| Rank | State | Avg. Community Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $51,450 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $49,645 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $46,720 |
| 4 | Delaware | $49,846 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $40,967 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $42,695 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $48,775 |
| 8 | Nevada | $48,718 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $49,169 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $40,242 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $43,234 |
| 12 | Michigan | $40,982 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $45,165 |
| 14 | Oregon | $39,979 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $41,638 |
| 16 | Maryland | $44,398 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $38,389 |
| 18 | Alaska | $43,402 |
| 19 | Utah | $38,452 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $36,940 |
| 21 | Vermont | $42,434 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,524 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $40,230 |
| 24 | Idaho | $38,385 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $37,061 |
| 26 | Virginia | $40,770 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $37,847 |
| 28 | Texas | $37,727 |
| 29 | Iowa | $38,198 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $36,923 |
| 31 | New York | $41,038 |
| 32 | Florida | $37,000 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $38,788 |
| 34 | Washington | $37,767 |
| 35 | Colorado | $37,690 |
| 36 | Georgia | $36,685 |
| 37 | Kansas | $37,359 |
| 38 | Maine | $37,142 |
| 39 | Arizona | $37,566 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $41,127 |
| 41 | Alabama | $35,536 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $37,220 |
| 43 | Missouri | $34,366 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $36,229 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $34,469 |
| 46 | Illinois | $36,099 |
| 47 | Indiana | $34,769 |
| 48 | Montana | $35,928 |
| 49 | Ohio | $35,089 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $33,774 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $33,147 |
Expert opinions on the best states for community workers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for community workers to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
Community worker best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for community worker jobs
Updated January 8, 2025