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Best states for a head of human resources
Quoted expert
Sarah Kovalesky
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for heads of human resources? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for head of human resources jobs.Although there are abundant head of human resources jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Washington is the best state in the country for head of human resources jobs.
Washington is the best state for jobs for heads of human resources, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $184,038, while the median pay in Louisiana is $124,503.We found that Washington is the best state for head of human resources jobs, whereas Louisiana is the worst.
10 best states for heads of human resources in 2025
1. Washington
Total head of human resources jobs: 651 Average annual salary: $184,038 Lowest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $258,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Maine
Total head of human resources jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $188,662 Lowest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $261,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
3. Massachusetts
Total head of human resources jobs: 842 Average annual salary: $178,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Minnesota
Total head of human resources jobs: 489 Average annual salary: $187,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $262,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Rhode Island
Total head of human resources jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $169,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
6. Pennsylvania
Total head of human resources jobs: 879 Average annual salary: $180,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. New York
Total head of human resources jobs: 1,292 Average annual salary: $172,728 Lowest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
8. Delaware
Total head of human resources jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $162,740 Lowest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
9. North Carolina
Total head of human resources jobs: 740 Average annual salary: $164,166 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. Iowa
Total head of human resources jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $168,389 Lowest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
Head of human resources jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a head of human resources
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a head of human resources
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $184,038 | $131,000 | 7,405,743 | 651 |
| 2 | Maine | $188,662 | $135,000 | 1,335,907 | 102 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $178,243 | $126,000 | 6,859,819 | 842 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $187,418 | $133,000 | 5,576,606 | 489 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $169,033 | $117,000 | 1,059,639 | 107 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $180,422 | $127,000 | 12,805,537 | 879 |
| 7 | New York | $172,728 | $121,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,292 |
| 8 | Delaware | $162,740 | $112,000 | 961,939 | 127 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $164,166 | $111,000 | 10,273,419 | 740 |
| 10 | Iowa | $168,389 | $115,000 | 3,145,711 | 252 |
| 11 | Arizona | $162,670 | $109,000 | 7,016,270 | 483 |
| 12 | Alaska | $164,750 | $112,000 | 739,795 | 70 |
| 13 | Montana | $161,494 | $110,000 | 1,050,493 | 97 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $159,251 | $108,000 | 579,315 | 46 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $165,299 | $113,000 | 755,393 | 59 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $163,225 | $112,000 | 693,972 | 201 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $154,518 | $105,000 | 1,342,795 | 166 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $171,571 | $120,000 | 9,005,644 | 536 |
| 19 | Illinois | $157,585 | $106,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,028 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $159,154 | $109,000 | 3,588,184 | 277 |
| 21 | Texas | $154,816 | $101,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,466 |
| 22 | Utah | $154,479 | $104,000 | 3,101,833 | 230 |
| 23 | Georgia | $153,852 | $102,000 | 10,429,379 | 759 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $147,704 | $97,000 | 6,715,984 | 476 |
| 25 | Vermont | $153,209 | $104,000 | 623,657 | 66 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $152,147 | $102,000 | 1,815,857 | 102 |
| 27 | Alabama | $154,172 | $102,000 | 4,874,747 | 207 |
| 28 | Nevada | $149,494 | $99,000 | 2,998,039 | 159 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $152,843 | $102,000 | 869,666 | 59 |
| 30 | Oregon | $150,008 | $101,000 | 4,142,776 | 366 |
| 31 | Virginia | $154,154 | $104,000 | 8,470,020 | 703 |
| 32 | Kansas | $147,910 | $98,000 | 2,913,123 | 226 |
| 33 | California | $150,949 | $100,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,569 |
| 34 | Maryland | $160,092 | $109,000 | 6,052,177 | 429 |
| 35 | Indiana | $148,867 | $99,000 | 6,666,818 | 385 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $146,865 | $96,000 | 3,004,279 | 151 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $145,216 | $96,000 | 5,795,483 | 386 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $144,987 | $96,000 | 1,920,076 | 151 |
| 39 | Michigan | $142,690 | $95,000 | 9,962,311 | 538 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $141,987 | $91,000 | 2,984,100 | 149 |
| 41 | Colorado | $141,940 | $93,000 | 5,607,154 | 466 |
| 42 | Ohio | $138,223 | $91,000 | 11,658,609 | 726 |
| 43 | Florida | $144,131 | $91,000 | 20,984,400 | 932 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $145,706 | $95,000 | 2,088,070 | 116 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $144,241 | $94,000 | 3,930,864 | 169 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $136,726 | $89,000 | 4,454,189 | 262 |
| 47 | Idaho | $140,784 | $93,000 | 1,716,943 | 110 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $88,157 | $53,000 | 1,427,538 | 69 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $130,282 | $83,000 | 5,024,369 | 313 |
| 50 | Missouri | $132,770 | $86,000 | 6,113,532 | 390 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $124,503 | $77,000 | 4,684,333 | 177 |
Highest paying states for heads of human resources
| Rank | State | Avg. Head Of Human Resources Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $184,038 |
| 2 | Maine | $188,662 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $178,243 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $187,418 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $169,033 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $180,422 |
| 7 | New York | $172,728 |
| 8 | Delaware | $162,740 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $164,166 |
| 10 | Iowa | $168,389 |
| 11 | Arizona | $162,670 |
| 12 | Alaska | $164,750 |
| 13 | Montana | $161,494 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $159,251 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $165,299 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $163,225 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $154,518 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $171,571 |
| 19 | Illinois | $157,585 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $159,154 |
| 21 | Texas | $154,816 |
| 22 | Utah | $154,479 |
| 23 | Georgia | $153,852 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $147,704 |
| 25 | Vermont | $153,209 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $152,147 |
| 27 | Alabama | $154,172 |
| 28 | Nevada | $149,494 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $152,843 |
| 30 | Oregon | $150,008 |
| 31 | Virginia | $154,154 |
| 32 | Kansas | $147,910 |
| 33 | California | $150,949 |
| 34 | Maryland | $160,092 |
| 35 | Indiana | $148,867 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $146,865 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $145,216 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $144,987 |
| 39 | Michigan | $142,690 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $141,987 |
| 41 | Colorado | $141,940 |
| 42 | Ohio | $138,223 |
| 43 | Florida | $144,131 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $145,706 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $144,241 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $136,726 |
| 47 | Idaho | $140,784 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $88,157 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $130,282 |
| 50 | Missouri | $132,770 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $124,503 |
Expert opinions on the best states for heads of human resources
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Heads of human resources to find work opportunities?
Sarah Kovalesky
Career Coach, University of Utah
Location is a very personal factor in the job search. In my experience coaching with students, the biggest consideration in a location often has to do with expenses and cost of living when it comes to location. After that, family and proximity to things that are important to them are additional factors.
Head of human resources best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025