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Best states for a human resources associate
Quoted expert
Jamie Belinne
- 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 human resources associates in the United States. Human resources associate 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 human resources associates.Our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state in the country for human resources associates.
The median salary for human resources associates in District of Columbia is $83,769. Compare that to the median salary in Idaho of $41,424, which ranked worst for human resources associates, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a human resources associate, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for human resources associates in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total human resources associate jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $83,769 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
2. New York
Total human resources associate jobs: 1,032 Average annual salary: $72,651 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Delaware
Total human resources associate jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $63,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
4. North Carolina
Total human resources associate jobs: 648 Average annual salary: $64,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. Washington
Total human resources associate jobs: 549 Average annual salary: $63,908 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
6. Connecticut
Total human resources associate jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $67,094 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Virginia
Total human resources associate jobs: 610 Average annual salary: $65,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
8. New Jersey
Total human resources associate jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $70,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
9. Massachusetts
Total human resources associate jobs: 680 Average annual salary: $58,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
10. Michigan
Total human resources associate jobs: 500 Average annual salary: $59,070 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
Human resources associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a human resources associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a human resources associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $83,769 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 202 |
| 2 | New York | $72,651 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,032 |
| 3 | Delaware | $63,529 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 109 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $64,413 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 648 |
| 5 | Washington | $63,908 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 549 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $67,094 | $47,000 | 3,588,184 | 221 |
| 7 | Virginia | $65,637 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 610 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $70,582 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 445 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $58,750 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 680 |
| 10 | Michigan | $59,070 | $40,000 | 9,962,311 | 500 |
| 11 | California | $61,682 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,160 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $57,912 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 753 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $57,013 | $39,000 | 5,795,483 | 358 |
| 14 | Illinois | $53,410 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 897 |
| 15 | Alaska | $56,623 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $57,259 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 75 |
| 17 | Maryland | $63,481 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 370 |
| 18 | Oregon | $53,124 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 312 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $54,331 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 57 |
| 20 | Ohio | $51,808 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 644 |
| 21 | Nevada | $50,506 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 150 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $51,311 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 474 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $51,735 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 75 |
| 24 | Alabama | $52,685 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 188 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $48,819 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 130 |
| 26 | Colorado | $50,613 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 385 |
| 27 | Texas | $49,921 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,207 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $48,614 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 217 |
| 29 | Georgia | $48,358 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 683 |
| 30 | Vermont | $46,856 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 59 |
| 31 | Indiana | $49,808 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 344 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $47,085 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 67 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $48,048 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 60 |
| 34 | Kansas | $46,643 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 198 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $47,740 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 127 |
| 36 | Maine | $45,835 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 90 |
| 37 | Arizona | $44,582 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 444 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $47,267 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 270 |
| 39 | Iowa | $47,598 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 211 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $49,022 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 94 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,557 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 354 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $46,090 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 135 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $42,461 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 44 |
| 44 | Montana | $37,938 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 100 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $44,078 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 137 |
| 46 | Utah | $43,732 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 193 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $45,484 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 155 |
| 48 | Florida | $45,913 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 845 |
| 49 | Missouri | $44,210 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 334 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,090 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 157 |
| 51 | Idaho | $41,424 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 91 |
Highest paying states for human resources associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Human Resources Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $83,769 |
| 2 | New York | $72,651 |
| 3 | Delaware | $63,529 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $64,413 |
| 5 | Washington | $63,908 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $67,094 |
| 7 | Virginia | $65,637 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $70,582 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $58,750 |
| 10 | Michigan | $59,070 |
| 11 | California | $61,682 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $57,912 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $57,013 |
| 14 | Illinois | $53,410 |
| 15 | Alaska | $56,623 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $57,259 |
| 17 | Maryland | $63,481 |
| 18 | Oregon | $53,124 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $54,331 |
| 20 | Ohio | $51,808 |
| 21 | Nevada | $50,506 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $51,311 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $51,735 |
| 24 | Alabama | $52,685 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $48,819 |
| 26 | Colorado | $50,613 |
| 27 | Texas | $49,921 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $48,614 |
| 29 | Georgia | $48,358 |
| 30 | Vermont | $46,856 |
| 31 | Indiana | $49,808 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $47,085 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $48,048 |
| 34 | Kansas | $46,643 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $47,740 |
| 36 | Maine | $45,835 |
| 37 | Arizona | $44,582 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $47,267 |
| 39 | Iowa | $47,598 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $49,022 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,557 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $46,090 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $42,461 |
| 44 | Montana | $37,938 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $44,078 |
| 46 | Utah | $43,732 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $45,484 |
| 48 | Florida | $45,913 |
| 49 | Missouri | $44,210 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,090 |
| 51 | Idaho | $41,424 |
Expert opinions on the best states for human resources associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for human resources associates to find work opportunities?
Jamie Belinne
Assistant Dean, University of Houston
In the field of business communications? If anything, this experience has made jobs less location-dependent. In the past, there were geographic hotbeds for different areas, but that won't be as true in the future, as virtual workers are given more opportunities to prioritize the quality of life over physical presence in an office.
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Updated January 8, 2025