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Best states for a finance professional
Quoted expert
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for finance professionals in the United States. Finance professional positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for finance professionals.Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for finance professionals.
The median salary for finance professionals in New York is $102,684. Compare that to the median salary in Nevada of $35,777, which ranked worst for finance professionals, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a finance professional, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for finance professionals in 2026
1. New York
Total finance professional jobs: 2,714 Average annual salary: $102,684 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
2. Massachusetts
Total finance professional jobs: 2,067 Average annual salary: $82,758 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. North Dakota
Total finance professional jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $65,397 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
4. District of Columbia
Total finance professional jobs: 368 Average annual salary: $79,240 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
5. Delaware
Total finance professional jobs: 341 Average annual salary: $67,547 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
6. Maine
Total finance professional jobs: 272 Average annual salary: $69,927 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. Connecticut
Total finance professional jobs: 690 Average annual salary: $71,012 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. Virginia
Total finance professional jobs: 1,750 Average annual salary: $76,075 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Washington
Total finance professional jobs: 1,334 Average annual salary: $70,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Rhode Island
Total finance professional jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $64,295 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
Finance professional jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a finance professional
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a finance professional
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $102,684 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,714 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $82,758 | $49,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,067 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $65,397 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 268 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $79,240 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 368 |
| 5 | Delaware | $67,547 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 341 |
| 6 | Maine | $69,927 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 272 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $71,012 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 690 |
| 8 | Virginia | $76,075 | $42,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,750 |
| 9 | Washington | $70,595 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,334 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $64,295 | $38,000 | 1,059,639 | 247 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $70,489 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 236 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $66,484 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,595 |
| 13 | Illinois | $64,570 | $35,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,302 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $59,543 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,542 |
| 15 | Michigan | $62,173 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,298 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $61,230 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,622 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $55,448 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,735 |
| 18 | Ohio | $59,036 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,671 |
| 19 | Kansas | $52,761 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 970 |
| 20 | Georgia | $59,569 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,607 |
| 21 | Texas | $55,190 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,553 |
| 22 | California | $56,324 | $31,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,464 |
| 23 | Maryland | $54,591 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,242 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $59,002 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 240 |
| 25 | Florida | $55,422 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,737 |
| 26 | Indiana | $52,857 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,204 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $56,285 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 665 |
| 28 | Oregon | $55,294 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 701 |
| 29 | Vermont | $55,088 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 130 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $50,524 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,271 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $55,036 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 483 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $52,530 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 993 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $54,842 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 440 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $42,187 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,315 |
| 35 | Alabama | $53,253 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 644 |
| 36 | Idaho | $53,497 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 240 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $40,947 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 148 |
| 38 | Montana | $38,972 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 586 |
| 39 | Colorado | $46,836 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,149 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,832 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,143 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $52,901 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 259 |
| 42 | Iowa | $47,563 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 602 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $48,653 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 336 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $38,353 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 172 |
| 45 | Missouri | $44,163 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 964 |
| 46 | Utah | $34,009 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 742 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $41,854 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 171 |
| 48 | Arizona | $42,310 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 947 |
| 49 | Alaska | $36,366 | $21,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $38,810 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 330 |
| 51 | Nevada | $35,777 | $19,000 | 2,998,039 | 330 |
Highest paying states for finance professionals
| Rank | State | Avg. Finance Professional Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $102,684 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $82,758 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $65,397 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $79,240 |
| 5 | Delaware | $67,547 |
| 6 | Maine | $69,927 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $71,012 |
| 8 | Virginia | $76,075 |
| 9 | Washington | $70,595 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $64,295 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $70,489 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $66,484 |
| 13 | Illinois | $64,570 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $59,543 |
| 15 | Michigan | $62,173 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $61,230 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $55,448 |
| 18 | Ohio | $59,036 |
| 19 | Kansas | $52,761 |
| 20 | Georgia | $59,569 |
| 21 | Texas | $55,190 |
| 22 | California | $56,324 |
| 23 | Maryland | $54,591 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $59,002 |
| 25 | Florida | $55,422 |
| 26 | Indiana | $52,857 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $56,285 |
| 28 | Oregon | $55,294 |
| 29 | Vermont | $55,088 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $50,524 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $55,036 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $52,530 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $54,842 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $42,187 |
| 35 | Alabama | $53,253 |
| 36 | Idaho | $53,497 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $40,947 |
| 38 | Montana | $38,972 |
| 39 | Colorado | $46,836 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,832 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $52,901 |
| 42 | Iowa | $47,563 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $48,653 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $38,353 |
| 45 | Missouri | $44,163 |
| 46 | Utah | $34,009 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $41,854 |
| 48 | Arizona | $42,310 |
| 49 | Alaska | $36,366 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $38,810 |
| 51 | Nevada | $35,777 |
Expert opinions on the best states for finance professionals
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for finance professionals 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025