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Best states for a generalist
Quoted expert
Bettina Matthias Ph.D.
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It seems like generalists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for generalists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for generalists in America. The best city in America for generalists with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
In order to get you the best states for generalists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that California is the best state for generalist jobs, whereas Kentucky is the worst.
10 best states for generalists in 2026
1. California
Total generalist jobs: 528 Average annual salary: $58,709 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
2. Connecticut
Total generalist jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $52,707 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
3. Arizona
Total generalist jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $53,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Oregon
Total generalist jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $51,408 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
5. Ohio
Total generalist jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $49,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. Alaska
Total generalist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $53,554 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
7. New York
Total generalist jobs: 194 Average annual salary: $52,469 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
8. Montana
Total generalist jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $45,797 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
9. Washington
Total generalist jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $48,315 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
10. Iowa
Total generalist jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $43,423 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
Generalist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a generalist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a generalist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $58,709 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 528 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $52,707 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 58 |
| 3 | Arizona | $53,700 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 91 |
| 4 | Oregon | $51,408 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 83 |
| 5 | Ohio | $49,913 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 157 |
| 6 | Alaska | $53,554 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 12 |
| 7 | New York | $52,469 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 194 |
| 8 | Montana | $45,797 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 28 |
| 9 | Washington | $48,315 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 113 |
| 10 | Iowa | $43,423 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 58 |
| 11 | Nevada | $44,186 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 39 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $49,093 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 12 |
| 13 | Michigan | $44,033 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 113 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $50,508 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 84 |
| 15 | Utah | $44,880 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 39 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $42,726 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 95 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $44,925 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 92 |
| 18 | Illinois | $44,865 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 177 |
| 19 | Delaware | $47,826 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 8 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $46,984 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 25 |
| 21 | Virginia | $45,505 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 100 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $40,689 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 216 |
| 23 | Texas | $42,819 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 225 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $44,035 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 5 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $43,343 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 3 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $44,130 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 116 |
| 27 | Indiana | $40,609 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 88 |
| 28 | Maine | $42,033 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 11 |
| 29 | Maryland | $44,262 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 66 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $45,206 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $40,929 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 9 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $41,700 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 18 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $39,274 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 25 |
| 34 | Vermont | $39,185 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 12 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $39,483 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 114 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,568 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 37 |
| 37 | Idaho | $42,165 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 4 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,018 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 8 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,833 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 24 |
| 40 | Colorado | $41,075 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 58 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $39,228 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 5 |
| 42 | Georgia | $36,959 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 163 |
| 43 | Missouri | $37,762 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 68 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $37,072 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 53 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,640 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 22 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $37,983 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 11 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $36,155 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 61 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,714 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 33 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $36,812 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 20 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,591 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 177 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $34,930 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 31 |
Highest paying states for generalists
| Rank | State | Avg. Generalist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $58,709 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $52,707 |
| 3 | Arizona | $53,700 |
| 4 | Oregon | $51,408 |
| 5 | Ohio | $49,913 |
| 6 | Alaska | $53,554 |
| 7 | New York | $52,469 |
| 8 | Montana | $45,797 |
| 9 | Washington | $48,315 |
| 10 | Iowa | $43,423 |
| 11 | Nevada | $44,186 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $49,093 |
| 13 | Michigan | $44,033 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $50,508 |
| 15 | Utah | $44,880 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $42,726 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $44,925 |
| 18 | Illinois | $44,865 |
| 19 | Delaware | $47,826 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $46,984 |
| 21 | Virginia | $45,505 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $40,689 |
| 23 | Texas | $42,819 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $44,035 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $43,343 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $44,130 |
| 27 | Indiana | $40,609 |
| 28 | Maine | $42,033 |
| 29 | Maryland | $44,262 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $45,206 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $40,929 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $41,700 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $39,274 |
| 34 | Vermont | $39,185 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $39,483 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,568 |
| 37 | Idaho | $42,165 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,018 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,833 |
| 40 | Colorado | $41,075 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $39,228 |
| 42 | Georgia | $36,959 |
| 43 | Missouri | $37,762 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $37,072 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,640 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $37,983 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $36,155 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,714 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $36,812 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,591 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $34,930 |
Expert opinions on the best states for generalists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for generalists to find work opportunities?
Bettina Matthias Ph.D.
Professor of German and Maurice R. Greenberg Professor of Language and Linguistics Director, German Summer Language School, Middlebury College
Many students move to Boston and New York to find work in the finance and consulting sector (German is still a perfect language for those careers), which will likely not change too much, though telecommuting and home-office jobs might become more prevalent. For teaching, there are jobs across the country right now. Those students who double-major in German and Environmental Studies often go to states with green economies and energy sector(s).
But there is no one-size-fits-all answer. German is a major that most students do in conjunction with another major; their career paths are thus very varied, and some of those will be more prone to pandemic-related repercussions than others.
Generalist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025