Best states for an environmental assistant

Q: What is the best state for environmental assistants?

The best state to be an environmental assistant is California based on environmental assistant salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for environmental assistants?

The highest paying state for environmental assistants is Tennessee based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for environmental assistants?

The worst state for environmental assistants is Tennessee, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like environmental assistants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for environmental assistants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for environmental assistants.

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 environmental assistants.We found that the South is best for environmental assistants, and the West is the worst. Fresno, CA is the best city in the country for environmental assistant jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.

10 best states for environmental assistants in 2026

1. California
Total environmental assistant jobs: 1,291
Average annual salary: $45,008
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Environmental assistant jobs in California
2. Nevada
Total environmental assistant jobs: 91
Average annual salary: $41,418
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Environmental assistant jobs in Nevada
3. Wyoming
Total environmental assistant jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $35,606
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Environmental assistant jobs in Wyoming
4. North Dakota
Total environmental assistant jobs: 80
Average annual salary: $33,616
Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
2.17
Environmental assistant jobs in North Dakota
5. Washington
Total environmental assistant jobs: 332
Average annual salary: $36,702
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Environmental assistant jobs in Washington
6. Virginia
Total environmental assistant jobs: 356
Average annual salary: $39,060
Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Environmental assistant jobs in Virginia
7. New York
Total environmental assistant jobs: 571
Average annual salary: $39,200
Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Environmental assistant jobs in New York
8. Minnesota
Total environmental assistant jobs: 296
Average annual salary: $33,959
Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Environmental assistant jobs in Minnesota
9. Alaska
Total environmental assistant jobs: 84
Average annual salary: $33,210
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
2.54
Environmental assistant jobs in Alaska
10. Oregon
Total environmental assistant jobs: 112
Average annual salary: $39,932
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Environmental assistant jobs in Oregon

Environmental assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an environmental assistant

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an environmental assistant

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$45,008	$26,000	39,536,653	1,291
2	Nevada	$41,418	$24,000	2,998,039	91
3	Wyoming	$35,606	$24,000	579,315	32
4	North Dakota	$33,616	$21,000	755,393	80
5	Washington	$36,702	$22,000	7,405,743	332
6	Virginia	$39,060	$19,000	8,470,020	356
7	New York	$39,200	$17,000	19,849,399	571
8	Minnesota	$33,959	$20,000	5,576,606	296
9	Alaska	$33,210	$22,000	739,795	84
10	Oregon	$39,932	$24,000	4,142,776	112
11	West Virginia	$30,840	$16,000	1,815,857	90
12	Idaho	$33,114	$20,000	1,716,943	72
13	Wisconsin	$31,253	$18,000	5,795,483	292
14	Texas	$34,998	$22,000	28,304,596	669
15	Ohio	$30,532	$16,000	11,658,609	572
16	Montana	$30,988	$20,000	1,050,493	59
17	Massachusetts	$35,195	$15,000	6,859,819	424
18	New Jersey	$36,049	$16,000	9,005,644	334
19	Delaware	$38,243	$17,000	961,939	20
20	Iowa	$30,299	$18,000	3,145,711	167
21	District of Columbia	$37,864	$18,000	693,972	69
22	Pennsylvania	$32,714	$15,000	12,805,537	427
23	Michigan	$31,210	$16,000	9,962,311	328
24	Arkansas	$31,096	$21,000	3,004,279	94
25	Hawaii	$39,279	$33,000	1,427,538	38
26	Rhode Island	$33,602	$14,000	1,059,639	46
27	Vermont	$33,344	$16,000	623,657	27
28	Utah	$31,449	$20,000	3,101,833	110
29	Arizona	$32,105	$20,000	7,016,270	197
30	Maine	$28,880	$14,000	1,335,907	112
31	New Hampshire	$31,742	$14,000	1,342,795	66
32	North Carolina	$31,282	$17,000	10,273,419	309
33	Mississippi	$30,351	$19,000	2,984,100	74
34	Connecticut	$29,020	$12,000	3,588,184	200
35	New Mexico	$30,163	$20,000	2,088,070	69
36	Illinois	$31,081	$18,000	12,802,023	422
37	Maryland	$35,694	$16,000	6,052,177	207
38	Missouri	$30,658	$19,000	6,113,532	201
39	Colorado	$29,487	$20,000	5,607,154	218
40	Kentucky	$28,548	$16,000	4,454,189	135
41	Nebraska	$27,238	$17,000	1,920,076	103
42	Kansas	$28,604	$19,000	2,913,123	108
43	South Dakota	$29,511	$18,000	869,666	30
44	Louisiana	$29,710	$18,000	4,684,333	99
45	Alabama	$29,009	$18,000	4,874,747	106
46	South Carolina	$29,100	$17,000	5,024,369	121
47	Indiana	$27,579	$15,000	6,666,818	230
48	Florida	$26,495	$15,000	20,984,400	654
49	Oklahoma	$26,989	$18,000	3,930,864	89
50	Georgia	$26,537	$16,000	10,429,379	334
51	Tennessee	$25,535	$16,000	6,715,984	165

Highest paying states for environmental assistants

Rank	State	Avg. Environmental Assistant Salary
1	California	$45,008
2	Nevada	$41,418
3	Wyoming	$35,606
4	North Dakota	$33,616
5	Washington	$36,702
6	Virginia	$39,060
7	New York	$39,200
8	Minnesota	$33,959
9	Alaska	$33,210
10	Oregon	$39,932
11	West Virginia	$30,840
12	Idaho	$33,114
13	Wisconsin	$31,253
14	Texas	$34,998
15	Ohio	$30,532
16	Montana	$30,988
17	Massachusetts	$35,195
18	New Jersey	$36,049
19	Delaware	$38,243
20	Iowa	$30,299
21	District of Columbia	$37,864
22	Pennsylvania	$32,714
23	Michigan	$31,210
24	Arkansas	$31,096
25	Hawaii	$39,279
26	Rhode Island	$33,602
27	Vermont	$33,344
28	Utah	$31,449
29	Arizona	$32,105
30	Maine	$28,880
31	New Hampshire	$31,742
32	North Carolina	$31,282
33	Mississippi	$30,351
34	Connecticut	$29,020
35	New Mexico	$30,163
36	Illinois	$31,081
37	Maryland	$35,694
38	Missouri	$30,658
39	Colorado	$29,487
40	Kentucky	$28,548
41	Nebraska	$27,238
42	Kansas	$28,604
43	South Dakota	$29,511
44	Louisiana	$29,710
45	Alabama	$29,009
46	South Carolina	$29,100
47	Indiana	$27,579
48	Florida	$26,495
49	Oklahoma	$26,989
50	Georgia	$26,537
51	Tennessee	$25,535

Environmental assistant best states FAQs

What is the best state for environmental assistants?

What is the highest paying state for environmental assistants?

What is the worst state for environmental assistants?

Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.

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Environmental Assistant
Best states for Environmental Assistants

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total environmental assistant jobs:	1,291
Average annual salary:	$45,008
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$26,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$77,000
Location Quotient:	1.11

Best states for an environmental assistant

10 best states for environmental assistants in 2026

1. California

2. Nevada

3. Wyoming

4. North Dakota

5. Washington

6. Virginia

7. New York

8. Minnesota

9. Alaska

10. Oregon