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Best states for a controller
Quoted expert
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like controllers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for controllers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for controllers. We found that New York is the best state in the nation for controllers, and people in Troy earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for controllers, 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 controller, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for controllers in 2025
1. New York
Total controller jobs: 1,590 Average annual salary: $121,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. Massachusetts
Total controller jobs: 1,156 Average annual salary: $112,665 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
3. Connecticut
Total controller jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $110,716 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
4. New Hampshire
Total controller jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $112,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
5. New Jersey
Total controller jobs: 743 Average annual salary: $113,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Maine
Total controller jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $120,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
7. California
Total controller jobs: 4,021 Average annual salary: $109,990 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
8. Washington
Total controller jobs: 786 Average annual salary: $103,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. Delaware
Total controller jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $101,298 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. Pennsylvania
Total controller jobs: 960 Average annual salary: $102,998 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
Controller jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a controller
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a controller
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $121,130 | $83,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,590 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $112,665 | $78,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,156 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $110,716 | $76,000 | 3,588,184 | 405 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $112,957 | $78,000 | 1,342,795 | 149 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $113,532 | $78,000 | 9,005,644 | 743 |
| 6 | Maine | $120,935 | $84,000 | 1,335,907 | 92 |
| 7 | California | $109,990 | $75,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,021 |
| 8 | Washington | $103,219 | $72,000 | 7,405,743 | 786 |
| 9 | Delaware | $101,298 | $70,000 | 961,939 | 143 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $102,998 | $71,000 | 12,805,537 | 960 |
| 11 | Nevada | $99,332 | $68,000 | 2,998,039 | 225 |
| 12 | Virginia | $102,436 | $71,000 | 8,470,020 | 958 |
| 13 | Maryland | $103,680 | $72,000 | 6,052,177 | 691 |
| 14 | Arizona | $94,788 | $65,000 | 7,016,270 | 587 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $101,340 | $70,000 | 693,972 | 347 |
| 16 | Michigan | $93,537 | $64,000 | 9,962,311 | 651 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $93,603 | $65,000 | 5,576,606 | 751 |
| 18 | Oregon | $97,335 | $68,000 | 4,142,776 | 417 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $93,883 | $65,000 | 5,795,483 | 440 |
| 20 | Montana | $93,432 | $66,000 | 1,050,493 | 106 |
| 21 | Illinois | $91,557 | $63,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,546 |
| 22 | Vermont | $100,279 | $69,000 | 623,657 | 49 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $92,624 | $65,000 | 10,273,419 | 784 |
| 24 | Texas | $90,395 | $63,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,001 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $93,300 | $64,000 | 1,059,639 | 95 |
| 26 | Ohio | $88,922 | $61,000 | 11,658,609 | 750 |
| 27 | Utah | $85,460 | $59,000 | 3,101,833 | 332 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $88,240 | $61,000 | 4,454,189 | 219 |
| 29 | Colorado | $84,632 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 768 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $85,133 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 401 |
| 31 | Indiana | $86,083 | $59,000 | 6,666,818 | 468 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $88,092 | $62,000 | 5,024,369 | 305 |
| 33 | Missouri | $85,316 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 478 |
| 34 | Georgia | $83,857 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 928 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $84,011 | $59,000 | 869,666 | 58 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $83,291 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 54 |
| 37 | Kansas | $82,183 | $57,000 | 2,913,123 | 203 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $73,288 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 97 |
| 39 | Iowa | $79,906 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 279 |
| 40 | Idaho | $83,350 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 102 |
| 41 | Alabama | $80,937 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 258 |
| 42 | Florida | $79,454 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,407 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,993 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 55 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $82,888 | $57,000 | 4,684,333 | 171 |
| 45 | Alaska | $75,847 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 60 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $76,256 | $53,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,254 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 168 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $79,492 | $55,000 | 3,930,864 | 155 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $76,218 | $53,000 | 1,920,076 | 155 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $78,419 | $54,000 | 2,088,070 | 120 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $78,599 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 102 |
Highest paying states for controllers
| Rank | State | Avg. Controller Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $121,130 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $112,665 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $110,716 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $112,957 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $113,532 |
| 6 | Maine | $120,935 |
| 7 | California | $109,990 |
| 8 | Washington | $103,219 |
| 9 | Delaware | $101,298 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $102,998 |
| 11 | Nevada | $99,332 |
| 12 | Virginia | $102,436 |
| 13 | Maryland | $103,680 |
| 14 | Arizona | $94,788 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $101,340 |
| 16 | Michigan | $93,537 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $93,603 |
| 18 | Oregon | $97,335 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $93,883 |
| 20 | Montana | $93,432 |
| 21 | Illinois | $91,557 |
| 22 | Vermont | $100,279 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $92,624 |
| 24 | Texas | $90,395 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $93,300 |
| 26 | Ohio | $88,922 |
| 27 | Utah | $85,460 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $88,240 |
| 29 | Colorado | $84,632 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $85,133 |
| 31 | Indiana | $86,083 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $88,092 |
| 33 | Missouri | $85,316 |
| 34 | Georgia | $83,857 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $84,011 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $83,291 |
| 37 | Kansas | $82,183 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $73,288 |
| 39 | Iowa | $79,906 |
| 40 | Idaho | $83,350 |
| 41 | Alabama | $80,937 |
| 42 | Florida | $79,454 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $80,993 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $82,888 |
| 45 | Alaska | $75,847 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $76,256 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $78,254 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $79,492 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $76,218 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $78,419 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $78,599 |
Expert opinions on the best states for controllers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for controllers to find work opportunities?
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.
Professor of Finance, Loyola University Maryland
Many students think of finance and think of Wall Street. There certainly are opportunities in New York and Chicago, but I urge students to broaden their search. In finding your first career opportunity, treat it as if it is a three-credit course, and put that amount of time into job searching each week. I don't think of job hunting as where to search but of how to search. Develop a strong LinkedIn profile, and post articles to your page; look at firms in your area, consider firms in cities that are growing; access your alumni network; network with family and friends. Don't limit your search to a handful of firms. In this economy, you need to cast a broad net and be open to opportunities that present themselves. Apply broadly, and be open-minded.
Controller best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025