Best states for a data analyst

Q: What is the best state for data analysts?

The best state to be a data analyst is Connecticut based on data analyst salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for data analysts?

The highest paying state for data analysts is North Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for data analysts?

The worst state for data analysts is Oklahoma, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

John Alpers

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It seems like data analysts are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for data analysts aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Connecticut is the best state in the country for data analysts.

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 data analysts.We found that Connecticut is the best state for data analyst jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.

10 best states for data analysts in 2025

1. Connecticut
Total data analyst jobs: 821
Average annual salary: $79,907
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Data analyst jobs in Connecticut
2. New Jersey
Total data analyst jobs: 1,729
Average annual salary: $82,466
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Data analyst jobs in New Jersey
3. Maryland
Total data analyst jobs: 1,685
Average annual salary: $79,828
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
1.43
Data analyst jobs in Maryland
4. District of Columbia
Total data analyst jobs: 939
Average annual salary: $82,711
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
3.02
Data analyst jobs in District of Columbia
5. New York
Total data analyst jobs: 3,352
Average annual salary: $77,475
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Data analyst jobs in New York
6. Virginia
Total data analyst jobs: 2,234
Average annual salary: $75,875
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Data analyst jobs in Virginia
7. North Carolina
Total data analyst jobs: 1,798
Average annual salary: $73,317
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Data analyst jobs in North Carolina
8. Illinois
Total data analyst jobs: 2,831
Average annual salary: $73,071
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Data analyst jobs in Illinois
9. Rhode Island
Total data analyst jobs: 288
Average annual salary: $71,417
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Data analyst jobs in Rhode Island
10. New Hampshire
Total data analyst jobs: 316
Average annual salary: $72,371
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Data analyst jobs in New Hampshire

Data analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a data analyst

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a data analyst

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Connecticut	$79,907	$57,000	3,588,184	821
2	New Jersey	$82,466	$59,000	9,005,644	1,729
3	Maryland	$79,828	$57,000	6,052,177	1,685
4	District of Columbia	$82,711	$60,000	693,972	939
5	New York	$77,475	$55,000	19,849,399	3,352
6	Virginia	$75,875	$55,000	8,470,020	2,234
7	North Carolina	$73,317	$53,000	10,273,419	1,798
8	Illinois	$73,071	$52,000	12,802,023	2,831
9	Rhode Island	$71,417	$51,000	1,059,639	288
10	New Hampshire	$72,371	$51,000	1,342,795	316
11	Texas	$70,393	$49,000	28,304,596	4,006
12	Pennsylvania	$69,574	$50,000	12,805,537	2,073
13	Washington	$80,018	$54,000	7,405,743	874
14	Massachusetts	$78,750	$56,000	6,859,819	1,329
15	Georgia	$69,630	$50,000	10,429,379	2,027
16	California	$80,056	$55,000	39,536,653	4,430
17	Ohio	$68,379	$49,000	11,658,609	1,586
18	Michigan	$70,069	$50,000	9,962,311	1,103
19	Minnesota	$68,853	$49,000	5,576,606	1,138
20	Oregon	$72,311	$49,000	4,142,776	590
21	Wisconsin	$67,290	$48,000	5,795,483	879
22	Colorado	$66,648	$46,000	5,607,154	1,414
23	Arizona	$64,892	$45,000	7,016,270	1,349
24	Alabama	$66,024	$47,000	4,874,747	680
25	Delaware	$65,568	$47,000	961,939	290
26	Hawaii	$64,949	$51,000	1,427,538	234
27	Alaska	$63,817	$48,000	739,795	195
28	Iowa	$64,369	$46,000	3,145,711	573
29	Nevada	$63,749	$43,000	2,998,039	347
30	Maine	$62,636	$44,000	1,335,907	223
31	Florida	$60,592	$42,000	20,984,400	3,008
32	Kansas	$60,335	$43,000	2,913,123	511
33	Missouri	$63,276	$45,000	6,113,532	877
34	Tennessee	$61,283	$44,000	6,715,984	799
35	Wyoming	$54,850	$38,000	579,315	160
36	Indiana	$60,624	$43,000	6,666,818	1,010
37	Louisiana	$62,591	$44,000	4,684,333	409
38	South Carolina	$62,983	$45,000	5,024,369	477
39	West Virginia	$59,694	$43,000	1,815,857	213
40	Vermont	$54,505	$38,000	623,657	185
41	Kentucky	$57,374	$41,000	4,454,189	603
42	Montana	$56,865	$39,000	1,050,493	211
43	Utah	$53,407	$36,000	3,101,833	739
44	Nebraska	$55,131	$39,000	1,920,076	370
45	Arkansas	$53,595	$38,000	3,004,279	451
46	New Mexico	$55,903	$39,000	2,088,070	302
47	Idaho	$51,325	$34,000	1,716,943	335
48	Mississippi	$56,006	$40,000	2,984,100	247
49	South Dakota	$53,843	$38,000	869,666	163
50	North Dakota	$47,031	$33,000	755,393	173
51	Oklahoma	$54,964	$39,000	3,930,864	354

Highest paying states for data analysts

Rank	State	Avg. Data Analyst Salary
1	Connecticut	$79,907
2	New Jersey	$82,466
3	Maryland	$79,828
4	District of Columbia	$82,711
5	New York	$77,475
6	Virginia	$75,875
7	North Carolina	$73,317
8	Illinois	$73,071
9	Rhode Island	$71,417
10	New Hampshire	$72,371
11	Texas	$70,393
12	Pennsylvania	$69,574
13	Washington	$80,018
14	Massachusetts	$78,750
15	Georgia	$69,630
16	California	$80,056
17	Ohio	$68,379
18	Michigan	$70,069
19	Minnesota	$68,853
20	Oregon	$72,311
21	Wisconsin	$67,290
22	Colorado	$66,648
23	Arizona	$64,892
24	Alabama	$66,024
25	Delaware	$65,568
26	Hawaii	$64,949
27	Alaska	$63,817
28	Iowa	$64,369
29	Nevada	$63,749
30	Maine	$62,636
31	Florida	$60,592
32	Kansas	$60,335
33	Missouri	$63,276
34	Tennessee	$61,283
35	Wyoming	$54,850
36	Indiana	$60,624
37	Louisiana	$62,591
38	South Carolina	$62,983
39	West Virginia	$59,694
40	Vermont	$54,505
41	Kentucky	$57,374
42	Montana	$56,865
43	Utah	$53,407
44	Nebraska	$55,131
45	Arkansas	$53,595
46	New Mexico	$55,903
47	Idaho	$51,325
48	Mississippi	$56,006
49	South Dakota	$53,843
50	North Dakota	$47,031
51	Oklahoma	$54,964

Expert opinions on the best states for data analysts

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for data analysts to find work opportunities?
John Alpers
Assistant Professor of Business, Carson-Newman University
In my opinion, technical careers will continue to grow and flourish. Some of these skills can be taught virtually, but not all. I think anyone who can parlay this new environment and find a way to create value for an organization will be in demand.

Data analyst best states FAQs

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Search for data analyst jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

Total data analyst jobs:	821
Average annual salary:	$79,907
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$57,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$111,000
Location Quotient:	1.34

Best states for a data analyst

10 best states for data analysts in 2025

1. Connecticut

2. New Jersey

3. Maryland

4. District of Columbia

5. New York

6. Virginia

7. North Carolina

8. Illinois

9. Rhode Island

10. New Hampshire