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Best states for a finance leader
Quoted expert
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and executive management careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to finance leader jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for finance leaders.In fact, our research shows that Maine is the best state for finance leaders in America. The best city in America for finance leaders with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
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 finance leaders.We found that the South is best for finance leaders, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for finance leader jobs, where as Maine is the best state in the country.
10 best states for finance leaders in 2025
1. Maine
Total finance leader jobs: 355 Average annual salary: $124,591 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.832. Oregon
Total finance leader jobs: 934 Average annual salary: $128,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.553. Pennsylvania
Total finance leader jobs: 2,699 Average annual salary: $120,778 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.594. Montana
Total finance leader jobs: 193 Average annual salary: $124,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.155. Washington
Total finance leader jobs: 2,013 Average annual salary: $123,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 1.896. Massachusetts
Total finance leader jobs: 2,602 Average annual salary: $120,663 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.947. Rhode Island
Total finance leader jobs: 255 Average annual salary: $115,131 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.448. South Dakota
Total finance leader jobs: 197 Average annual salary: $112,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.269. California
Total finance leader jobs: 4,775 Average annual salary: $127,238 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.1210. New York
Total finance leader jobs: 1,978 Average annual salary: $124,011 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
Finance leader jobsNear Ashburn, VA
How Zippia determines the best states to be a finance leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a finance leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $124,591 | $81,000 | 1,335,907 | 355 |
| 2 | Oregon | $128,683 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 934 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $120,778 | $79,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,699 |
| 4 | Montana | $124,525 | $84,000 | 1,050,493 | 193 |
| 5 | Washington | $123,743 | $84,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,013 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $120,663 | $79,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,602 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $115,131 | $75,000 | 1,059,639 | 255 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $112,059 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 197 |
| 9 | California | $127,238 | $86,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,775 |
| 10 | New York | $124,011 | $82,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,978 |
| 11 | Michigan | $115,855 | $76,000 | 9,962,311 | 944 |
| 12 | Nevada | $118,162 | $79,000 | 2,998,039 | 227 |
| 13 | Delaware | $115,485 | $76,000 | 961,939 | 215 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $118,225 | $78,000 | 3,588,184 | 544 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $121,535 | $80,000 | 9,005,644 | 973 |
| 16 | Vermont | $116,712 | $76,000 | 623,657 | 88 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $110,702 | $73,000 | 5,795,483 | 787 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $114,701 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 552 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $109,332 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 303 |
| 20 | Alabama | $109,126 | $72,000 | 4,874,747 | 483 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $110,981 | $73,000 | 4,684,333 | 299 |
| 22 | Texas | $110,193 | $72,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,419 |
| 23 | Indiana | $109,628 | $72,000 | 6,666,818 | 592 |
| 24 | Arizona | $110,326 | $73,000 | 7,016,270 | 719 |
| 25 | Maryland | $112,049 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 923 |
| 26 | Alaska | $103,667 | $78,000 | 739,795 | 206 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $101,700 | $69,000 | 755,393 | 243 |
| 28 | Idaho | $110,016 | $74,000 | 1,716,943 | 179 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $109,172 | $71,000 | 4,454,189 | 317 |
| 30 | Virginia | $110,066 | $72,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,326 |
| 31 | Ohio | $107,282 | $70,000 | 11,658,609 | 891 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $105,921 | $69,000 | 1,815,857 | 103 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $104,992 | $69,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,120 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $107,411 | $70,000 | 1,342,795 | 182 |
| 35 | Georgia | $105,031 | $69,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,275 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $107,363 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 119 |
| 37 | Florida | $103,786 | $67,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,131 |
| 38 | Kansas | $105,172 | $69,000 | 2,913,123 | 194 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $102,479 | $68,000 | 5,576,606 | 941 |
| 40 | Illinois | $101,213 | $66,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,877 |
| 41 | Colorado | $101,329 | $67,000 | 5,607,154 | 926 |
| 42 | Utah | $95,411 | $64,000 | 3,101,833 | 538 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $89,392 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 108 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $83,546 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 440 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $96,955 | $63,000 | 6,715,984 | 603 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $100,360 | $66,000 | 5,024,369 | 367 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $97,441 | $64,000 | 2,984,100 | 184 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $68,465 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 142 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $96,280 | $63,000 | 3,004,279 | 186 |
| 50 | Iowa | $94,577 | $62,000 | 3,145,711 | 349 |
| 51 | Missouri | $90,338 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 646 |
Highest paying states for finance leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Finance Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $124,591 |
| 2 | Oregon | $128,683 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $120,778 |
| 4 | Montana | $124,525 |
| 5 | Washington | $123,743 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $120,663 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $115,131 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $112,059 |
| 9 | California | $127,238 |
| 10 | New York | $124,011 |
| 11 | Michigan | $115,855 |
| 12 | Nevada | $118,162 |
| 13 | Delaware | $115,485 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $118,225 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $121,535 |
| 16 | Vermont | $116,712 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $110,702 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $114,701 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $109,332 |
| 20 | Alabama | $109,126 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $110,981 |
| 22 | Texas | $110,193 |
| 23 | Indiana | $109,628 |
| 24 | Arizona | $110,326 |
| 25 | Maryland | $112,049 |
| 26 | Alaska | $103,667 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $101,700 |
| 28 | Idaho | $110,016 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $109,172 |
| 30 | Virginia | $110,066 |
| 31 | Ohio | $107,282 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $105,921 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $104,992 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $107,411 |
| 35 | Georgia | $105,031 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $107,363 |
| 37 | Florida | $103,786 |
| 38 | Kansas | $105,172 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $102,479 |
| 40 | Illinois | $101,213 |
| 41 | Colorado | $101,329 |
| 42 | Utah | $95,411 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $89,392 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $83,546 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $96,955 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $100,360 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $97,441 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $68,465 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $96,280 |
| 50 | Iowa | $94,577 |
| 51 | Missouri | $90,338 |
Expert opinions on the best states for finance leaders
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for finance leaders to find work opportunities?
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.
Professor of Finance, Loyola University Maryland
Many students think of finance and think of Wall Street. There certainly are opportunities in New York and Chicago, but I urge students to broaden their search. In finding your first career opportunity, treat it as if it is a three-credit course, and put that amount of time into job searching each week. I don't think of job hunting as where to search but of how to search. Develop a strong LinkedIn profile, and post articles to your page; look at firms in your area, consider firms in cities that are growing; access your alumni network; network with family and friends. Don't limit your search to a handful of firms. In this economy, you need to cast a broad net and be open to opportunities that present themselves. Apply broadly, and be open-minded.
Finance leader best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025