Best states for an extension agent

Q: What is the best state for extension agents?

The best state to be an extension agent is Pennsylvania based on extension agent salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for extension agents?

The highest paying state for extension agents is Oregon based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for extension agents?

The worst state for extension agents is Louisiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming an extension agent and really want to work at Peace Corps? Turns out, your chances to become an extension agent are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for extension agents. We found that Pennsylvania is the best state in the nation for extension agents, and people in Scranton earn the most in the field.

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 extension agents.Pennsylvania is the best state, and Scranton is the city with the highest pay for extension agents.

10 best states for extension agents in 2026

1. Pennsylvania
Total extension agent jobs: 1,326
Average annual salary: $57,281
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Extension agent jobs in Pennsylvania
2. Michigan
Total extension agent jobs: 857
Average annual salary: $49,736
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Extension agent jobs in Michigan
3. Rhode Island
Total extension agent jobs: 130
Average annual salary: $49,765
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.3
Extension agent jobs in Rhode Island
4. Tennessee
Total extension agent jobs: 526
Average annual salary: $48,940
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Extension agent jobs in Tennessee
5. Vermont
Total extension agent jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $44,920
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Extension agent jobs in Vermont
6. Delaware
Total extension agent jobs: 145
Average annual salary: $44,672
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Extension agent jobs in Delaware
7. Alabama
Total extension agent jobs: 461
Average annual salary: $43,013
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Extension agent jobs in Alabama
8. West Virginia
Total extension agent jobs: 93
Average annual salary: $48,991
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Extension agent jobs in West Virginia
9. Georgia
Total extension agent jobs: 660
Average annual salary: $48,385
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Extension agent jobs in Georgia
10. Alaska
Total extension agent jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $51,649
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0.09
Extension agent jobs in Alaska

Extension agent jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an extension agent

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

Detailed list of the best states for an extension agent

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Pennsylvania	$57,281	$31,000	12,805,537	1,326
2	Michigan	$49,736	$28,000	9,962,311	857
3	Rhode Island	$49,765	$27,000	1,059,639	130
4	Tennessee	$48,940	$28,000	6,715,984	526
5	Vermont	$44,920	$25,000	623,657	96
6	Delaware	$44,672	$24,000	961,939	145
7	Alabama	$43,013	$24,000	4,874,747	461
8	West Virginia	$48,991	$27,000	1,815,857	93
9	Georgia	$48,385	$27,000	10,429,379	660
10	Alaska	$51,649	$28,000	739,795	6
11	District of Columbia	$54,582	$29,000	693,972	67
12	Virginia	$49,310	$26,000	8,470,020	558
13	Arizona	$40,158	$21,000	7,016,270	801
14	Wyoming	$39,456	$22,000	579,315	77
15	Maryland	$48,735	$26,000	6,052,177	393
16	Wisconsin	$40,900	$24,000	5,795,483	481
17	Massachusetts	$42,903	$23,000	6,859,819	869
18	New Hampshire	$40,310	$22,000	1,342,795	171
19	Illinois	$43,702	$25,000	12,802,023	811
20	New York	$44,279	$23,000	19,849,399	972
21	Maine	$41,258	$23,000	1,335,907	91
22	Ohio	$36,514	$20,000	11,658,609	1,192
23	North Dakota	$38,803	$24,000	755,393	75
24	Iowa	$40,632	$24,000	3,145,711	69
25	California	$43,512	$22,000	39,536,653	2,532
26	Missouri	$35,925	$21,000	6,113,532	747
27	Nevada	$37,502	$19,000	2,998,039	231
28	Nebraska	$35,554	$21,000	1,920,076	281
29	Indiana	$38,611	$22,000	6,666,818	500
30	Oklahoma	$37,281	$21,000	3,930,864	290
31	Kentucky	$40,400	$23,000	4,454,189	13
32	New Jersey	$43,183	$23,000	9,005,644	462
33	Arkansas	$34,679	$20,000	3,004,279	274
34	South Carolina	$35,537	$20,000	5,024,369	371
35	Colorado	$35,375	$20,000	5,607,154	580
36	Connecticut	$37,026	$19,000	3,588,184	218
37	Utah	$31,413	$17,000	3,101,833	371
38	Hawaii	$35,281	$23,000	1,427,538	68
39	South Dakota	$32,080	$19,000	869,666	94
40	North Carolina	$35,006	$19,000	10,273,419	459
41	Kansas	$34,207	$19,000	2,913,123	229
42	Minnesota	$35,403	$21,000	5,576,606	393
43	Mississippi	$34,698	$19,000	2,984,100	34
44	Montana	$29,838	$17,000	1,050,493	130
45	New Mexico	$33,003	$17,000	2,088,070	147
46	Texas	$32,796	$18,000	28,304,596	1,531
47	Oregon	$27,148	$14,000	4,142,776	480
48	Washington	$33,314	$18,000	7,405,743	531
49	Florida	$30,042	$16,000	20,984,400	1,377
50	Idaho	$28,636	$15,000	1,716,943	157
51	Louisiana	$31,473	$17,000	4,684,333	38

Highest paying states for extension agents

Rank	State	Avg. Extension Agent Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$57,281
2	Michigan	$49,736
3	Rhode Island	$49,765
4	Tennessee	$48,940
5	Vermont	$44,920
6	Delaware	$44,672
7	Alabama	$43,013
8	West Virginia	$48,991
9	Georgia	$48,385
10	Alaska	$51,649
11	District of Columbia	$54,582
12	Virginia	$49,310
13	Arizona	$40,158
14	Wyoming	$39,456
15	Maryland	$48,735
16	Wisconsin	$40,900
17	Massachusetts	$42,903
18	New Hampshire	$40,310
19	Illinois	$43,702
20	New York	$44,279
21	Maine	$41,258
22	Ohio	$36,514
23	North Dakota	$38,803
24	Iowa	$40,632
25	California	$43,512
26	Missouri	$35,925
27	Nevada	$37,502
28	Nebraska	$35,554
29	Indiana	$38,611
30	Oklahoma	$37,281
31	Kentucky	$40,400
32	New Jersey	$43,183
33	Arkansas	$34,679
34	South Carolina	$35,537
35	Colorado	$35,375
36	Connecticut	$37,026
37	Utah	$31,413
38	Hawaii	$35,281
39	South Dakota	$32,080
40	North Carolina	$35,006
41	Kansas	$34,207
42	Minnesota	$35,403
43	Mississippi	$34,698
44	Montana	$29,838
45	New Mexico	$33,003
46	Texas	$32,796
47	Oregon	$27,148
48	Washington	$33,314
49	Florida	$30,042
50	Idaho	$28,636
51	Louisiana	$31,473

Extension agent best states FAQs

What is the best state for extension agents?

What is the highest paying state for extension agents?

What is the worst state for extension agents?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

Search for extension agent jobs

Zippia Careers
Education, Training, and Library Industry
Extension Agent
Best states for Extension Agents

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs

Total extension agent jobs:	1,326
Average annual salary:	$57,281
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.39

Best states for an extension agent

10 best states for extension agents in 2026

1. Pennsylvania

2. Michigan

3. Rhode Island

4. Tennessee

5. Vermont

6. Delaware

7. Alabama

8. West Virginia

9. Georgia

10. Alaska