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Best states for a data communications specialist
Quoted expert
Donna Kukarola
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like data communications specialists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for data communications specialists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for data communications specialist jobs.
Idaho is the best state for jobs for data communications specialists, and Missouri is the worst. The most common pay in Idaho is $83,184, while the median pay in Missouri is $57,677.Idaho is the best state, and Virginia Beach is the city with the highest pay for data communications specialists.
10 best states for data communications specialists in 2026
1. Idaho
Total data communications specialist jobs: 343 Average annual salary: $83,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Utah
Total data communications specialist jobs: 730 Average annual salary: $78,724 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
3. New Mexico
Total data communications specialist jobs: 315 Average annual salary: $81,348 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
4. Vermont
Total data communications specialist jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $77,051 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
5. Arkansas
Total data communications specialist jobs: 455 Average annual salary: $76,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Pennsylvania
Total data communications specialist jobs: 2,051 Average annual salary: $77,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Louisiana
Total data communications specialist jobs: 465 Average annual salary: $79,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
8. Virginia
Total data communications specialist jobs: 1,411 Average annual salary: $84,126 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. North Dakota
Total data communications specialist jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $74,186 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
10. New Jersey
Total data communications specialist jobs: 1,558 Average annual salary: $77,978 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
Data communications specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a data communications specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a data communications specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $83,184 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 343 |
| 2 | Utah | $78,724 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 730 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $81,348 | $54,000 | 2,088,070 | 315 |
| 4 | Vermont | $77,051 | $55,000 | 623,657 | 221 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $76,799 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 455 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $77,016 | $53,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,051 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $79,902 | $53,000 | 4,684,333 | 465 |
| 8 | Virginia | $84,126 | $57,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,411 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $74,186 | $50,000 | 755,393 | 202 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $77,978 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,558 |
| 11 | Montana | $76,703 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 236 |
| 12 | Georgia | $75,716 | $51,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,920 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $74,119 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 203 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $78,046 | $53,000 | 693,972 | 495 |
| 15 | Alaska | $79,393 | $68,000 | 739,795 | 244 |
| 16 | Maine | $77,242 | $57,000 | 1,335,907 | 230 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $83,864 | $70,000 | 1,427,538 | 265 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $72,250 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 289 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $76,312 | $51,000 | 2,984,100 | 269 |
| 20 | Iowa | $72,893 | $49,000 | 3,145,711 | 694 |
| 21 | Nevada | $74,546 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 370 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $75,528 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 538 |
| 23 | New York | $72,070 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,107 |
| 24 | Arizona | $69,733 | $47,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,258 |
| 25 | Washington | $77,098 | $50,000 | 7,405,743 | 815 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $70,997 | $48,000 | 6,715,984 | 813 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $64,736 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 184 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $75,570 | $54,000 | 6,859,819 | 972 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $66,869 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 277 |
| 30 | California | $76,082 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,575 |
| 31 | Maryland | $68,675 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,568 |
| 32 | Delaware | $70,966 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 216 |
| 33 | Oregon | $73,589 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 443 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $68,252 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,097 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $63,971 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 417 |
| 36 | Ohio | $65,927 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,468 |
| 37 | Michigan | $64,807 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,209 |
| 38 | Indiana | $64,872 | $44,000 | 6,666,818 | 955 |
| 39 | Illinois | $63,571 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,380 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $61,743 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 781 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $63,472 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 524 |
| 42 | Texas | $61,758 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,755 |
| 43 | Colorado | $60,385 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,239 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $58,570 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 330 |
| 45 | Kansas | $61,348 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 461 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $60,088 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,780 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $62,146 | $42,000 | 3,930,864 | 394 |
| 48 | Alabama | $61,241 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 631 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $59,759 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 892 |
| 50 | Florida | $57,630 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,900 |
| 51 | Missouri | $57,677 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 875 |
Highest paying states for data communications specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Data Communications Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $83,184 |
| 2 | Utah | $78,724 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $81,348 |
| 4 | Vermont | $77,051 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $76,799 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $77,016 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $79,902 |
| 8 | Virginia | $84,126 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $74,186 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $77,978 |
| 11 | Montana | $76,703 |
| 12 | Georgia | $75,716 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $74,119 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $78,046 |
| 15 | Alaska | $79,393 |
| 16 | Maine | $77,242 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $83,864 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $72,250 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $76,312 |
| 20 | Iowa | $72,893 |
| 21 | Nevada | $74,546 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $75,528 |
| 23 | New York | $72,070 |
| 24 | Arizona | $69,733 |
| 25 | Washington | $77,098 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $70,997 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $64,736 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $75,570 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $66,869 |
| 30 | California | $76,082 |
| 31 | Maryland | $68,675 |
| 32 | Delaware | $70,966 |
| 33 | Oregon | $73,589 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $68,252 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $63,971 |
| 36 | Ohio | $65,927 |
| 37 | Michigan | $64,807 |
| 38 | Indiana | $64,872 |
| 39 | Illinois | $63,571 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $61,743 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $63,472 |
| 42 | Texas | $61,758 |
| 43 | Colorado | $60,385 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $58,570 |
| 45 | Kansas | $61,348 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $60,088 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $62,146 |
| 48 | Alabama | $61,241 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $59,759 |
| 50 | Florida | $57,630 |
| 51 | Missouri | $57,677 |
Expert opinions on the best states for data communications specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for data communications specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola
Procurement Director, Forsyth County, Georgia
This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Data communications specialist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025