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Best states for a department administrator
Quoted expert
Veronica Cochran
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to department administrator jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research found that Alaska is the best state for department administrators, while Alaska and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Alaska has a median salary of $60,199 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for department administrators.
The median salary for department administrators in Alaska is $60,199. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $41,666, which ranked worst for department administrators, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a department administrator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for department administrators in 2025
1. Alaska
Total department administrator jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $60,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
2. Washington
Total department administrator jobs: 983 Average annual salary: $58,182 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Connecticut
Total department administrator jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $58,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
4. Maine
Total department administrator jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $55,402 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. New Hampshire
Total department administrator jobs: 251 Average annual salary: $54,290 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Massachusetts
Total department administrator jobs: 1,209 Average annual salary: $56,822 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Maryland
Total department administrator jobs: 1,156 Average annual salary: $55,970 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
8. California
Total department administrator jobs: 3,526 Average annual salary: $60,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Pennsylvania
Total department administrator jobs: 1,395 Average annual salary: $53,551 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Oregon
Total department administrator jobs: 545 Average annual salary: $53,965 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Department administrator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a department administrator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a department administrator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $60,199 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 2 | Washington | $58,182 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 983 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $58,302 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 426 |
| 4 | Maine | $55,402 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 171 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $54,290 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 251 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $56,822 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,209 |
| 7 | Maryland | $55,970 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,156 |
| 8 | California | $60,163 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,526 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,551 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,395 |
| 10 | Oregon | $53,965 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 545 |
| 11 | Utah | $50,986 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 478 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,695 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 150 |
| 13 | New York | $56,189 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,486 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $55,095 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 96 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $52,131 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 625 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $54,792 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 914 |
| 17 | Virginia | $49,873 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,656 |
| 18 | Idaho | $51,550 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 192 |
| 19 | Michigan | $49,364 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 905 |
| 20 | Ohio | $49,668 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,152 |
| 21 | Arizona | $48,154 | $32,000 | 7,016,270 | 879 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $50,826 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 762 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $49,796 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 270 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $48,195 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,188 |
| 25 | Colorado | $48,159 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,021 |
| 26 | Vermont | $48,021 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 103 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $48,196 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 575 |
| 28 | Nevada | $48,039 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 257 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $48,374 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 133 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $48,037 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 272 |
| 31 | Delaware | $49,217 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 135 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,723 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 156 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $46,291 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 107 |
| 34 | Texas | $45,026 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,613 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $45,771 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 165 |
| 36 | Kansas | $46,673 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 326 |
| 37 | Illinois | $46,960 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,443 |
| 38 | Georgia | $45,587 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,276 |
| 39 | Iowa | $45,851 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 403 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $46,751 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 229 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $41,747 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 85 |
| 42 | Florida | $42,403 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,240 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $42,274 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 278 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $43,931 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 533 |
| 45 | Indiana | $44,700 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 696 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $44,658 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 362 |
| 47 | Missouri | $44,547 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 644 |
| 48 | Alabama | $40,008 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 554 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,980 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 260 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $42,464 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 331 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,666 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 236 |
Highest paying states for department administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. Department Administrator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $60,199 |
| 2 | Washington | $58,182 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $58,302 |
| 4 | Maine | $55,402 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $54,290 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $56,822 |
| 7 | Maryland | $55,970 |
| 8 | California | $60,163 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,551 |
| 10 | Oregon | $53,965 |
| 11 | Utah | $50,986 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,695 |
| 13 | New York | $56,189 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $55,095 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $52,131 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $54,792 |
| 17 | Virginia | $49,873 |
| 18 | Idaho | $51,550 |
| 19 | Michigan | $49,364 |
| 20 | Ohio | $49,668 |
| 21 | Arizona | $48,154 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $50,826 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $49,796 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $48,195 |
| 25 | Colorado | $48,159 |
| 26 | Vermont | $48,021 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $48,196 |
| 28 | Nevada | $48,039 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $48,374 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $48,037 |
| 31 | Delaware | $49,217 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,723 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $46,291 |
| 34 | Texas | $45,026 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $45,771 |
| 36 | Kansas | $46,673 |
| 37 | Illinois | $46,960 |
| 38 | Georgia | $45,587 |
| 39 | Iowa | $45,851 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $46,751 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $41,747 |
| 42 | Florida | $42,403 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $42,274 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $43,931 |
| 45 | Indiana | $44,700 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $44,658 |
| 47 | Missouri | $44,547 |
| 48 | Alabama | $40,008 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,980 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $42,464 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,666 |
Expert opinions on the best states for department administrators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for department administrators to find work opportunities?
Veronica Cochran
CEO, International Association of Administrative Professionals
I would urge graduates to not simply focus on locations or organizations with the highest salary or most job or promotion opportunities. The key to remaining engaged and creating value is finding an organization that supports your core beliefs and values.
Second to that, I believe a support network is vital to one's professional development and success. That being said, I have had the opportunity to engage administrative professionals throughout the United States and across the globe. In particular, I came across larger networks in New York, D.C., Alabama, California, and Texas.
If they are looking for a place to start, I believe Zippia's list of Best States for an Administrative Assistant is a great starting point.
Department administrator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025