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Best states for a developmental specialist
Quoted expert
Donna Kukarola
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like developmental specialists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for developmental specialists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Although there are abundant developmental specialist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Alaska is the best state in the country for developmental specialist jobs.
The median salary for developmental specialists in Alaska is $61,061. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $33,242, which ranked worst for developmental specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for developmental specialists, and the West is the worst. San Jose, CA is the best city in the country for developmental specialist jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for developmental specialists in 2025
1. Alaska
Total developmental specialist jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $61,061 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
2. Nevada
Total developmental specialist jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $49,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
3. District of Columbia
Total developmental specialist jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $53,789 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
4. North Dakota
Total developmental specialist jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $45,920 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
5. Washington
Total developmental specialist jobs: 361 Average annual salary: $49,952 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
6. Oregon
Total developmental specialist jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $47,876 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Pennsylvania
Total developmental specialist jobs: 622 Average annual salary: $45,489 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
8. New Mexico
Total developmental specialist jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $49,123 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
9. Illinois
Total developmental specialist jobs: 564 Average annual salary: $47,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
10. Delaware
Total developmental specialist jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $43,712 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
Developmental specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a developmental specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a developmental specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $61,061 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 65 |
| 2 | Nevada | $49,775 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 119 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $53,789 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 97 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $45,920 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 57 |
| 5 | Washington | $49,952 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 361 |
| 6 | Oregon | $47,876 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 216 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $45,489 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 622 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $49,123 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 80 |
| 9 | Illinois | $47,083 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 564 |
| 10 | Delaware | $43,712 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 93 |
| 11 | Idaho | $43,539 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 89 |
| 12 | Virginia | $45,896 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 508 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,908 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 272 |
| 14 | Colorado | $48,543 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 253 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $45,607 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 166 |
| 16 | Iowa | $39,480 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 300 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $45,379 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 85 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,473 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 61 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $46,434 | $33,000 | 9,005,644 | 369 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $43,962 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 80 |
| 21 | California | $48,465 | $34,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,346 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,469 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 473 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $38,899 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 43 |
| 24 | New York | $41,119 | $29,000 | 19,849,399 | 936 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $39,128 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 139 |
| 26 | Missouri | $41,418 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 289 |
| 27 | Florida | $38,222 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,066 |
| 28 | Maryland | $40,309 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 421 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $40,439 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 78 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,848 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 281 |
| 31 | Arizona | $38,643 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 351 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $36,532 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 172 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $37,692 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 742 |
| 34 | Montana | $36,702 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 104 |
| 35 | Utah | $39,476 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 150 |
| 36 | Texas | $39,900 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 934 |
| 37 | Kansas | $37,538 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 155 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $35,484 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 563 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,765 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 167 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $39,125 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 164 |
| 41 | Maine | $35,008 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 84 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $35,251 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 76 |
| 43 | Indiana | $36,761 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 307 |
| 44 | Vermont | $35,255 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 48 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $34,381 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 158 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $34,849 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 161 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $35,135 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 267 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 52 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,808 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 388 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,541 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 523 |
| 51 | Alabama | $33,242 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
Highest paying states for developmental specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Developmental Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $61,061 |
| 2 | Nevada | $49,775 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $53,789 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $45,920 |
| 5 | Washington | $49,952 |
| 6 | Oregon | $47,876 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $45,489 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $49,123 |
| 9 | Illinois | $47,083 |
| 10 | Delaware | $43,712 |
| 11 | Idaho | $43,539 |
| 12 | Virginia | $45,896 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,908 |
| 14 | Colorado | $48,543 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $45,607 |
| 16 | Iowa | $39,480 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $45,379 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,473 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $46,434 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $43,962 |
| 21 | California | $48,465 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,469 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $38,899 |
| 24 | New York | $41,119 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $39,128 |
| 26 | Missouri | $41,418 |
| 27 | Florida | $38,222 |
| 28 | Maryland | $40,309 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $40,439 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,848 |
| 31 | Arizona | $38,643 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $36,532 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $37,692 |
| 34 | Montana | $36,702 |
| 35 | Utah | $39,476 |
| 36 | Texas | $39,900 |
| 37 | Kansas | $37,538 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $35,484 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,765 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $39,125 |
| 41 | Maine | $35,008 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $35,251 |
| 43 | Indiana | $36,761 |
| 44 | Vermont | $35,255 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $34,381 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $34,849 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $35,135 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,808 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,541 |
| 51 | Alabama | $33,242 |
Expert opinions on the best states for developmental specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for developmental 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025