Best states for a functional lead

Q: What is the best state for functional leads?

The best state to be a functional lead is New Mexico based on functional lead salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for functional leads?

The highest paying state for functional leads is Tennessee based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for functional leads?

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

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for functional leads in the United States. Functional lead 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 functional leads.We wanted to look at the best states for functional leads -- where there are plenty of functional lead jobs to go around and functional leads get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

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 functional leads.We found that the Midwest is best for functional leads, and the Northeast is the worst. Sunnyvale, CA is the best city in the country for functional lead jobs, where as New Mexico is the best state in the country.

10 best states for functional leads in 2025

1. New Mexico
Total functional lead jobs: 270
Average annual salary: $129,649
Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000
Location Quotient:
2.84
Functional lead jobs in New Mexico
2. Nevada
Total functional lead jobs: 393
Average annual salary: $113,107
Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Location Quotient:
3.88
Functional lead jobs in Nevada
3. New Hampshire
Total functional lead jobs: 97
Average annual salary: $120,644
Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Functional lead jobs in New Hampshire
4. Oregon
Total functional lead jobs: 215
Average annual salary: $126,107
Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Functional lead jobs in Oregon
5. California
Total functional lead jobs: 1,428
Average annual salary: $137,047
Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Functional lead jobs in California
6. Rhode Island
Total functional lead jobs: 131
Average annual salary: $108,991
Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000
Location Quotient:
2.23
Functional lead jobs in Rhode Island
7. Massachusetts
Total functional lead jobs: 391
Average annual salary: $114,373
Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Functional lead jobs in Massachusetts
8. Ohio
Total functional lead jobs: 458
Average annual salary: $104,502
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Functional lead jobs in Ohio
9. Arizona
Total functional lead jobs: 242
Average annual salary: $108,005
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Functional lead jobs in Arizona
10. District of Columbia
Total functional lead jobs: 184
Average annual salary: $120,581
Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000
Location Quotient:
2.26
Functional lead jobs in District of Columbia

Functional lead jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a functional lead

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

Detailed list of the best states for a functional lead

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Mexico	$129,649	$93,000	2,088,070	270
2	Nevada	$113,107	$80,000	2,998,039	393
3	New Hampshire	$120,644	$91,000	1,342,795	97
4	Oregon	$126,107	$91,000	4,142,776	215
5	California	$137,047	$98,000	39,536,653	1,428
6	Rhode Island	$108,991	$81,000	1,059,639	131
7	Massachusetts	$114,373	$86,000	6,859,819	391
8	Ohio	$104,502	$77,000	11,658,609	458
9	Arizona	$108,005	$77,000	7,016,270	242
10	District of Columbia	$120,581	$88,000	693,972	184
11	Texas	$107,908	$78,000	28,304,596	754
12	Idaho	$101,336	$73,000	1,716,943	283
13	Utah	$101,770	$73,000	3,101,833	256
14	New Jersey	$108,087	$80,000	9,005,644	463
15	Pennsylvania	$101,730	$75,000	12,805,537	559
16	Virginia	$107,966	$79,000	8,470,020	424
17	Arkansas	$98,661	$72,000	3,004,279	369
18	Illinois	$104,246	$77,000	12,802,023	533
19	Georgia	$103,854	$76,000	10,429,379	356
20	Delaware	$105,630	$78,000	961,939	39
21	Maine	$104,367	$79,000	1,335,907	33
22	Oklahoma	$96,329	$70,000	3,930,864	374
23	Minnesota	$100,770	$76,000	5,576,606	289
24	Connecticut	$101,491	$75,000	3,588,184	174
25	Washington	$103,782	$76,000	7,405,743	249
26	Maryland	$105,343	$77,000	6,052,177	215
27	Florida	$100,070	$73,000	20,984,400	640
28	Nebraska	$94,495	$70,000	1,920,076	287
29	Iowa	$100,085	$74,000	3,145,711	85
30	Wisconsin	$97,092	$73,000	5,795,483	215
31	North Carolina	$97,166	$71,000	10,273,419	393
32	Mississippi	$99,923	$73,000	2,984,100	31
33	New York	$103,178	$76,000	19,849,399	479
34	Montana	$93,965	$70,000	1,050,493	199
35	Alaska	$92,253	$75,000	739,795	129
36	West Virginia	$93,586	$69,000	1,815,857	62
37	Alabama	$97,001	$71,000	4,874,747	90
38	Hawaii	$96,350	$74,000	1,427,538	59
39	South Carolina	$97,647	$72,000	5,024,369	113
40	Louisiana	$96,067	$70,000	4,684,333	108
41	Michigan	$95,017	$71,000	9,962,311	222
42	South Dakota	$89,176	$67,000	869,666	130
43	Kansas	$90,152	$66,000	2,913,123	412
44	Wyoming	$93,421	$69,000	579,315	20
45	North Dakota	$91,877	$70,000	755,393	38
46	Vermont	$90,552	$68,000	623,657	54
47	Indiana	$91,694	$68,000	6,666,818	195
48	Missouri	$91,003	$67,000	6,113,532	203
49	Kentucky	$90,567	$66,000	4,454,189	121
50	Colorado	$91,906	$67,000	5,607,154	179
51	Tennessee	$85,444	$63,000	6,715,984	188

Highest paying states for functional leads

Rank	State	Avg. Functional Lead Salary
1	New Mexico	$129,649
2	Nevada	$113,107
3	New Hampshire	$120,644
4	Oregon	$126,107
5	California	$137,047
6	Rhode Island	$108,991
7	Massachusetts	$114,373
8	Ohio	$104,502
9	Arizona	$108,005
10	District of Columbia	$120,581
11	Texas	$107,908
12	Idaho	$101,336
13	Utah	$101,770
14	New Jersey	$108,087
15	Pennsylvania	$101,730
16	Virginia	$107,966
17	Arkansas	$98,661
18	Illinois	$104,246
19	Georgia	$103,854
20	Delaware	$105,630
21	Maine	$104,367
22	Oklahoma	$96,329
23	Minnesota	$100,770
24	Connecticut	$101,491
25	Washington	$103,782
26	Maryland	$105,343
27	Florida	$100,070
28	Nebraska	$94,495
29	Iowa	$100,085
30	Wisconsin	$97,092
31	North Carolina	$97,166
32	Mississippi	$99,923
33	New York	$103,178
34	Montana	$93,965
35	Alaska	$92,253
36	West Virginia	$93,586
37	Alabama	$97,001
38	Hawaii	$96,350
39	South Carolina	$97,647
40	Louisiana	$96,067
41	Michigan	$95,017
42	South Dakota	$89,176
43	Kansas	$90,152
44	Wyoming	$93,421
45	North Dakota	$91,877
46	Vermont	$90,552
47	Indiana	$91,694
48	Missouri	$91,003
49	Kentucky	$90,567
50	Colorado	$91,906
51	Tennessee	$85,444

Functional lead best states FAQs

What is the best state for functional leads?

What is the highest paying state for functional leads?

What is the worst state for functional leads?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for functional lead jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total functional lead jobs:	270
Average annual salary:	$129,649
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$93,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$179,000
Location Quotient:	2.84

Best states for a functional lead

10 best states for functional leads in 2025

1. New Mexico

2. Nevada

3. New Hampshire

4. Oregon

5. California

6. Rhode Island

7. Massachusetts

8. Ohio

9. Arizona

10. District of Columbia