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Best states for a contractor/consultant
Quoted expert
David Smith
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like contractor/consultants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for contractor/consultants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for contractor/consultants. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for contractor/consultants, and people in Bergenfield earn the most in the field.
The median salary for contractor/consultants in New Jersey is $96,232. Compare that to the median salary in Wyoming of $63,352, which ranked worst for contractor/consultants, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a contractor/consultant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for contractor/consultants in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 1,339 Average annual salary: $96,232 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
2. Massachusetts
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 1,275 Average annual salary: $96,120 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Rhode Island
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $89,805 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.99
4. Connecticut
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 411 Average annual salary: $96,155 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. New Hampshire
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $91,969 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. New York
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 1,711 Average annual salary: $95,543 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Pennsylvania
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 1,515 Average annual salary: $90,403 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. Virginia
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 1,375 Average annual salary: $91,753 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
9. Delaware
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $95,145 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
10. District of Columbia
Total contractor/consultant jobs: 472 Average annual salary: $91,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 2.37
Contractor/consultant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a contractor/consultant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a contractor/consultant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $96,232 | $68,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,339 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $96,120 | $69,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,275 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $89,805 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 286 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $96,155 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 411 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $91,969 | $66,000 | 1,342,795 | 247 |
| 6 | New York | $95,543 | $68,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,711 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $90,403 | $64,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,515 |
| 8 | Virginia | $91,753 | $64,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,375 |
| 9 | Delaware | $95,145 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 119 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $91,130 | $64,000 | 693,972 | 472 |
| 11 | Vermont | $84,714 | $60,000 | 623,657 | 121 |
| 12 | Oregon | $84,458 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 694 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $83,441 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,160 |
| 14 | Maryland | $92,237 | $65,000 | 6,052,177 | 678 |
| 15 | California | $91,029 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,164 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,697 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 616 |
| 17 | Ohio | $84,683 | $58,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,039 |
| 18 | Arizona | $83,597 | $56,000 | 7,016,270 | 651 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,481 | $58,000 | 1,815,857 | 121 |
| 20 | Illinois | $82,092 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,633 |
| 21 | Nevada | $78,961 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 262 |
| 22 | Utah | $76,405 | $53,000 | 3,101,833 | 479 |
| 23 | Alaska | $90,646 | $77,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 24 | Texas | $79,208 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,102 |
| 25 | Maine | $83,679 | $60,000 | 1,335,907 | 97 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $79,088 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 775 |
| 27 | Alabama | $71,474 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 702 |
| 28 | Indiana | $77,187 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 513 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $77,056 | $53,000 | 5,795,483 | 477 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $76,612 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 284 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $76,246 | $51,000 | 2,088,070 | 189 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $70,914 | $45,000 | 2,984,100 | 306 |
| 33 | Georgia | $75,333 | $49,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,005 |
| 34 | Missouri | $75,911 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 599 |
| 35 | Idaho | $71,911 | $49,000 | 1,716,943 | 206 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $64,516 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 191 |
| 37 | Washington | $76,988 | $54,000 | 7,405,743 | 691 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $74,761 | $47,000 | 4,684,333 | 223 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $72,489 | $49,000 | 6,715,984 | 433 |
| 40 | Kansas | $71,068 | $49,000 | 2,913,123 | 314 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $64,843 | $44,000 | 3,930,864 | 505 |
| 42 | Florida | $70,141 | $43,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,807 |
| 43 | Montana | $65,366 | $45,000 | 1,050,493 | 171 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $74,008 | $48,000 | 5,024,369 | 324 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $65,645 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 107 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $67,029 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 97 |
| 47 | Iowa | $71,907 | $50,000 | 3,145,711 | 211 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $65,495 | $44,000 | 3,004,279 | 258 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $64,147 | $45,000 | 1,920,076 | 231 |
| 50 | Colorado | $66,198 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 509 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $63,352 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 59 |
Highest paying states for contractor/consultants
| Rank | State | Avg. Contractor/Consultant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $96,232 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $96,120 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $89,805 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $96,155 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $91,969 |
| 6 | New York | $95,543 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $90,403 |
| 8 | Virginia | $91,753 |
| 9 | Delaware | $95,145 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $91,130 |
| 11 | Vermont | $84,714 |
| 12 | Oregon | $84,458 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $83,441 |
| 14 | Maryland | $92,237 |
| 15 | California | $91,029 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,697 |
| 17 | Ohio | $84,683 |
| 18 | Arizona | $83,597 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,481 |
| 20 | Illinois | $82,092 |
| 21 | Nevada | $78,961 |
| 22 | Utah | $76,405 |
| 23 | Alaska | $90,646 |
| 24 | Texas | $79,208 |
| 25 | Maine | $83,679 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $79,088 |
| 27 | Alabama | $71,474 |
| 28 | Indiana | $77,187 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $77,056 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $76,612 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $76,246 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $70,914 |
| 33 | Georgia | $75,333 |
| 34 | Missouri | $75,911 |
| 35 | Idaho | $71,911 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $64,516 |
| 37 | Washington | $76,988 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $74,761 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $72,489 |
| 40 | Kansas | $71,068 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $64,843 |
| 42 | Florida | $70,141 |
| 43 | Montana | $65,366 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $74,008 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $65,645 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $67,029 |
| 47 | Iowa | $71,907 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $65,495 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $64,147 |
| 50 | Colorado | $66,198 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $63,352 |
Expert opinions on the best states for contractor/consultants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for contractor/consultants to find work opportunities?
David Smith
Consultant, Coach and Speaker, David J. Smith Consulting
My work tends to focus on those seeking careers in conflict-sensitive fields, such as conflict resolution, humanitarian work, local and international development, and peacebuilding. Those working in these areas are driven by the locus of the work, that is, where the needs are and those that need support. In some cases, this is within one's own community, and in others, overseas.
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Updated January 8, 2025