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Best states for an entrepreneur
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Randy Myer
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Entrepreneur opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for entrepreneurs, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for entrepreneurs.In fact, our research shows that Michigan is the best state for entrepreneurs in America. The best city in America for entrepreneurs with the highest pay is New York, NY.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for entrepreneurs. Michigan is the best state for entrepreneurs, where the median salary is $81,879.If you are currently seeking employment as an entrepreneur, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for entrepreneurs in 2026
1. Michigan
Total entrepreneur jobs: 3,494 Average annual salary: $81,879 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. New York
Total entrepreneur jobs: 2,375 Average annual salary: $107,291 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 0.54
3. South Dakota
Total entrepreneur jobs: 1,688 Average annual salary: $69,927 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 4.57
4. Wisconsin
Total entrepreneur jobs: 2,568 Average annual salary: $74,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. Connecticut
Total entrepreneur jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $103,815 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 0.05
6. Virginia
Total entrepreneur jobs: 2,987 Average annual salary: $81,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
7. Washington
Total entrepreneur jobs: 1,923 Average annual salary: $81,373 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
8. District of Columbia
Total entrepreneur jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $97,984 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 0.09
9. Illinois
Total entrepreneur jobs: 3,069 Average annual salary: $78,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
10. Ohio
Total entrepreneur jobs: 2,710 Average annual salary: $75,667 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
Entrepreneur jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an entrepreneur
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an entrepreneur
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $81,879 | $45,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,494 |
| 2 | New York | $107,291 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,375 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $69,927 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 1,688 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $74,203 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,568 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $103,815 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 60 |
| 6 | Virginia | $81,722 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,987 |
| 7 | Washington | $81,373 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,923 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $97,984 | $55,000 | 693,972 | 51 |
| 9 | Illinois | $78,756 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,069 |
| 10 | Ohio | $75,667 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,710 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $87,436 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 125 |
| 12 | Delaware | $77,593 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 189 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $77,742 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 25 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $67,051 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 4,067 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $82,278 | $47,000 | 6,859,819 | 134 |
| 16 | Alabama | $61,935 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 3,818 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $60,923 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 1,842 |
| 18 | California | $79,251 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,007 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $61,260 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,120 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $66,029 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,483 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $65,103 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,463 |
| 22 | Oregon | $68,851 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,663 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,731 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 372 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $59,803 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,152 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $57,507 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 3,466 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,696 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,762 |
| 27 | Alaska | $70,000 | $42,000 | 739,795 | 4 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $56,766 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,733 |
| 29 | Texas | $59,639 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,732 |
| 30 | Iowa | $54,380 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,272 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $53,218 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,892 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $62,008 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 32 |
| 33 | Colorado | $60,518 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,447 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $51,428 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 2,083 |
| 35 | Maine | $60,691 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 39 |
| 36 | Indiana | $55,328 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,316 |
| 37 | Missouri | $50,312 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 5,149 |
| 38 | Arizona | $57,612 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 766 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $51,819 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 291 |
| 40 | Kansas | $47,508 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 3,686 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $49,548 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,418 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $49,023 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,210 |
| 43 | Idaho | $48,113 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,099 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $43,497 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 3,697 |
| 45 | Vermont | $56,370 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 19 |
| 46 | Nevada | $52,062 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 254 |
| 47 | Utah | $44,016 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 926 |
| 48 | Montana | $49,013 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 59 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $36,275 | $19,000 | 2,984,100 | 890 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,747 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 872 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $36,208 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 2 |
Highest paying states for entrepreneurs
| Rank | State | Avg. Entrepreneur Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $81,879 |
| 2 | New York | $107,291 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $69,927 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $74,203 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $103,815 |
| 6 | Virginia | $81,722 |
| 7 | Washington | $81,373 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $97,984 |
| 9 | Illinois | $78,756 |
| 10 | Ohio | $75,667 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $87,436 |
| 12 | Delaware | $77,593 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $77,742 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $67,051 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $82,278 |
| 16 | Alabama | $61,935 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $60,923 |
| 18 | California | $79,251 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $61,260 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $66,029 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $65,103 |
| 22 | Oregon | $68,851 |
| 23 | Maryland | $76,731 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $59,803 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $57,507 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,696 |
| 27 | Alaska | $70,000 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $56,766 |
| 29 | Texas | $59,639 |
| 30 | Iowa | $54,380 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $53,218 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $62,008 |
| 33 | Colorado | $60,518 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $51,428 |
| 35 | Maine | $60,691 |
| 36 | Indiana | $55,328 |
| 37 | Missouri | $50,312 |
| 38 | Arizona | $57,612 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $51,819 |
| 40 | Kansas | $47,508 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $49,548 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $49,023 |
| 43 | Idaho | $48,113 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $43,497 |
| 45 | Vermont | $56,370 |
| 46 | Nevada | $52,062 |
| 47 | Utah | $44,016 |
| 48 | Montana | $49,013 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $36,275 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,747 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $36,208 |
Expert opinions on the best states for entrepreneurs
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for entrepreneurs to find work opportunities?
Randy Myer
Professor of the Practice, University of North Carolina
The major technology centers in the country are driving innovation and new companies. Job growth is most prevalent in young companies, and most of those start in hubs like Austin, TX or Raleigh Durham, NC. Yes, Silicon Valley is a major hub but so expensive, and CA is in trouble at so many levels, pick a hub that still knows how to manage growth
Entrepreneur best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025