Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an expert
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming an expert and really want to work at Apple? Turns out, your chances to become an expert are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for experts in America. The best city in America for experts with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
We figured that the best places for expert jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as an expert, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for experts in 2026
1. California
Total expert jobs: 1,072 Average annual salary: $118,020 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
2. District of Columbia
Total expert jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $108,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 3.14
3. Oregon
Total expert jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $102,540 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Delaware
Total expert jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $94,692 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
5. Rhode Island
Total expert jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $97,139 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. New York
Total expert jobs: 278 Average annual salary: $111,556 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
7. Washington
Total expert jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $105,155 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
8. Alaska
Total expert jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $90,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
9. Pennsylvania
Total expert jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $96,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
10. Hawaii
Total expert jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $96,294 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 4.15
Expert jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an expert
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an expert
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,020 | $66,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,072 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $108,701 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 135 |
| 3 | Oregon | $102,540 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 143 |
| 4 | Delaware | $94,692 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 46 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $97,139 | $61,000 | 1,059,639 | 30 |
| 6 | New York | $111,556 | $70,000 | 19,849,399 | 278 |
| 7 | Washington | $105,155 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 143 |
| 8 | Alaska | $90,370 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 20 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $96,118 | $59,000 | 12,805,537 | 218 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $96,294 | $53,000 | 1,427,538 | 89 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $98,191 | $61,000 | 6,859,819 | 167 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $92,643 | $57,000 | 9,005,644 | 198 |
| 13 | Maine | $89,419 | $56,000 | 1,335,907 | 31 |
| 14 | Virginia | $86,369 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 591 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $82,326 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 253 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $79,599 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 17 | Idaho | $79,032 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 52 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $81,938 | $45,000 | 5,024,369 | 98 |
| 19 | Texas | $81,439 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 435 |
| 20 | Michigan | $80,762 | $48,000 | 9,962,311 | 173 |
| 21 | Illinois | $86,879 | $49,000 | 12,802,023 | 199 |
| 22 | Ohio | $77,520 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 247 |
| 23 | Nevada | $75,896 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 54 |
| 24 | Arizona | $75,910 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 168 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $84,941 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 65 |
| 26 | Georgia | $76,714 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 245 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $75,535 | $39,000 | 3,004,279 | 55 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $80,506 | $50,000 | 1,342,795 | 36 |
| 29 | Vermont | $83,102 | $51,000 | 623,657 | 12 |
| 30 | Missouri | $77,954 | $41,000 | 6,113,532 | 82 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $76,094 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 11 |
| 32 | Maryland | $76,652 | $46,000 | 6,052,177 | 225 |
| 33 | Utah | $67,631 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 127 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $74,211 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 41 |
| 35 | Colorado | $72,613 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 142 |
| 36 | Montana | $71,388 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 26 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $70,013 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 128 |
| 38 | Indiana | $72,763 | $41,000 | 6,666,818 | 110 |
| 39 | Florida | $68,676 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 464 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $69,043 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 51 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $73,011 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 12 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $72,024 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 29 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $74,872 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 76 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $73,071 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 60 |
| 45 | Alabama | $64,377 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 198 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $69,385 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 37 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $70,367 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 58 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $65,851 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 13 |
| 49 | Iowa | $69,651 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 30 |
| 50 | Kansas | $65,810 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 49 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $62,809 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 62 |
Highest paying states for experts
| Rank | State | Avg. Expert Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,020 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $108,701 |
| 3 | Oregon | $102,540 |
| 4 | Delaware | $94,692 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $97,139 |
| 6 | New York | $111,556 |
| 7 | Washington | $105,155 |
| 8 | Alaska | $90,370 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $96,118 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $96,294 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $98,191 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $92,643 |
| 13 | Maine | $89,419 |
| 14 | Virginia | $86,369 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $82,326 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $79,599 |
| 17 | Idaho | $79,032 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $81,938 |
| 19 | Texas | $81,439 |
| 20 | Michigan | $80,762 |
| 21 | Illinois | $86,879 |
| 22 | Ohio | $77,520 |
| 23 | Nevada | $75,896 |
| 24 | Arizona | $75,910 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $84,941 |
| 26 | Georgia | $76,714 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $75,535 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $80,506 |
| 29 | Vermont | $83,102 |
| 30 | Missouri | $77,954 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $76,094 |
| 32 | Maryland | $76,652 |
| 33 | Utah | $67,631 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $74,211 |
| 35 | Colorado | $72,613 |
| 36 | Montana | $71,388 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $70,013 |
| 38 | Indiana | $72,763 |
| 39 | Florida | $68,676 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $69,043 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $73,011 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $72,024 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $74,872 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $73,071 |
| 45 | Alabama | $64,377 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $69,385 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $70,367 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $65,851 |
| 49 | Iowa | $69,651 |
| 50 | Kansas | $65,810 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $62,809 |
Search for expert jobs
Updated January 8, 2025