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Best states for an economic development specialist
Quoted expert
C. Jeffrey Waddoups Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for economic development specialists in the United States. Economic development specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for economic development specialists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of economic development specialists in America is $82,000.
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 economic development specialists.We found that Nebraska is the best state for economic development specialist jobs, whereas South Carolina is the worst.
10 best states for economic development specialists in 2025
1. Nebraska
Total economic development specialist jobs: 358 Average annual salary: $61,308 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.562. District of Columbia
Total economic development specialist jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $80,080 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.033. Illinois
Total economic development specialist jobs: 1,799 Average annual salary: $61,642 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.474. Virginia
Total economic development specialist jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $68,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.725. Kansas
Total economic development specialist jobs: 413 Average annual salary: $58,284 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.336. Delaware
Total economic development specialist jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $63,407 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.87. New Jersey
Total economic development specialist jobs: 413 Average annual salary: $74,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.518. New York
Total economic development specialist jobs: 858 Average annual salary: $67,986 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 0.659. Ohio
Total economic development specialist jobs: 1,209 Average annual salary: $58,301 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.1510. Michigan
Total economic development specialist jobs: 1,110 Average annual salary: $56,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
Economic development specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an economic development specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an economic development specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $61,308 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 358 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $80,080 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 177 |
| 3 | Illinois | $61,642 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,799 |
| 4 | Virginia | $68,322 | $41,000 | 8,470,020 | 700 |
| 5 | Kansas | $58,284 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 413 |
| 6 | Delaware | $63,407 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 103 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $74,097 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 413 |
| 8 | New York | $67,986 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 858 |
| 9 | Ohio | $58,301 | $36,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,209 |
| 10 | Michigan | $56,221 | $36,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,110 |
| 11 | Indiana | $57,536 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 845 |
| 12 | California | $72,259 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,728 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $55,537 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,535 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $53,384 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 175 |
| 15 | Washington | $63,101 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 471 |
| 16 | Maryland | $63,479 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 440 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $59,616 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 80 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $54,549 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,673 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $63,064 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 196 |
| 20 | Montana | $58,721 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 75 |
| 21 | Iowa | $54,167 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 486 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $53,789 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 453 |
| 23 | Nevada | $52,807 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 297 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $50,742 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 843 |
| 25 | Missouri | $53,078 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 724 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $49,585 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 334 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $48,145 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 165 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $48,647 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 315 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $58,290 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 346 |
| 30 | Colorado | $54,505 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 382 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $50,434 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 69 |
| 32 | Georgia | $48,096 | $29,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,473 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $48,751 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 238 |
| 34 | Alaska | $40,171 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 176 |
| 35 | Arizona | $48,723 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 451 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $43,397 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 143 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $44,206 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 770 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $46,774 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 379 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $52,055 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 538 |
| 40 | Texas | $48,926 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,300 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $41,214 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 221 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,508 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 597 |
| 43 | Oregon | $50,198 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 262 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,917 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 471 |
| 45 | Florida | $36,792 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,319 |
| 46 | Utah | $46,229 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 205 |
| 47 | Idaho | $44,052 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 112 |
| 48 | Maine | $43,468 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 80 |
| 49 | Vermont | $40,857 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 59 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,405 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 367 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $40,443 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 440 |
Highest paying states for economic development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Economic Development Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $61,308 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $80,080 |
| 3 | Illinois | $61,642 |
| 4 | Virginia | $68,322 |
| 5 | Kansas | $58,284 |
| 6 | Delaware | $63,407 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $74,097 |
| 8 | New York | $67,986 |
| 9 | Ohio | $58,301 |
| 10 | Michigan | $56,221 |
| 11 | Indiana | $57,536 |
| 12 | California | $72,259 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $55,537 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $53,384 |
| 15 | Washington | $63,101 |
| 16 | Maryland | $63,479 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $59,616 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $54,549 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $63,064 |
| 20 | Montana | $58,721 |
| 21 | Iowa | $54,167 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $53,789 |
| 23 | Nevada | $52,807 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $50,742 |
| 25 | Missouri | $53,078 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $49,585 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $48,145 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $48,647 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $58,290 |
| 30 | Colorado | $54,505 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $50,434 |
| 32 | Georgia | $48,096 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $48,751 |
| 34 | Alaska | $40,171 |
| 35 | Arizona | $48,723 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $43,397 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $44,206 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $46,774 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $52,055 |
| 40 | Texas | $48,926 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $41,214 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,508 |
| 43 | Oregon | $50,198 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,917 |
| 45 | Florida | $36,792 |
| 46 | Utah | $46,229 |
| 47 | Idaho | $44,052 |
| 48 | Maine | $43,468 |
| 49 | Vermont | $40,857 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,405 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $40,443 |
Expert opinions on the best states for economic development specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for economic development specialists to find work opportunities?
C. Jeffrey Waddoups Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
The demand for graduates in economics will remain as long as employers need intelligent analytical workers with good communication skills. There is no place in particular where such skills are needed more than any other site.
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Updated January 8, 2025