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Best states for a human resources generalist/manager
Quoted expert
Jamie Belinne
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and executive management careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to human resources generalist/manager jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for human resources generalist/managers.Although there are abundant human resources generalist/manager jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Arizona is the best state in the country for human resources generalist/manager jobs.
In order to get you the best states for human resources generalist/managers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Arizona is the best state, and Longview is the city with the highest pay for human resources generalist/managers.
10 best states for human resources generalist/managers in 2026
1. Arizona
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 461 Average annual salary: $85,195 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Washington
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 561 Average annual salary: $89,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
3. New York
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 1,005 Average annual salary: $89,145 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Oregon
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $85,147 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
5. Delaware
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $81,115 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Nevada
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $78,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
7. Illinois
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 897 Average annual salary: $81,275 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
8. Pennsylvania
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 784 Average annual salary: $79,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Rhode Island
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $81,485 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. Ohio
Total human resources generalist/manager jobs: 651 Average annual salary: $79,887 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
Human resources generalist/manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a human resources generalist/manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a human resources generalist/manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $85,195 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 461 |
| 2 | Washington | $89,701 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 561 |
| 3 | New York | $89,145 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,005 |
| 4 | Oregon | $85,147 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 320 |
| 5 | Delaware | $81,115 | $56,000 | 961,939 | 104 |
| 6 | Nevada | $78,934 | $55,000 | 2,998,039 | 165 |
| 7 | Illinois | $81,275 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 897 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $79,930 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 784 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $81,485 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 78 |
| 10 | Ohio | $79,887 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 651 |
| 11 | Michigan | $79,542 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 493 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $80,705 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 693 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $79,837 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 229 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $76,113 | $53,000 | 5,795,483 | 373 |
| 15 | Iowa | $78,618 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 215 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $75,417 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 628 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $78,375 | $54,000 | 693,972 | 193 |
| 18 | Maryland | $82,393 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 379 |
| 19 | Virginia | $78,517 | $54,000 | 8,470,020 | 633 |
| 20 | Montana | $71,985 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 98 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $74,900 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 464 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $71,349 | $50,000 | 579,315 | 46 |
| 23 | California | $76,734 | $53,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,307 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $75,083 | $52,000 | 1,815,857 | 77 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $70,626 | $49,000 | 6,715,984 | 383 |
| 26 | Maine | $73,719 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 80 |
| 27 | Missouri | $74,321 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 342 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $70,637 | $48,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $77,664 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 465 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $70,183 | $49,000 | 1,342,795 | 134 |
| 31 | Indiana | $71,497 | $50,000 | 6,666,818 | 359 |
| 32 | Kansas | $68,153 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 210 |
| 33 | Alabama | $71,940 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 198 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $72,328 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 99 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $63,248 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 36 | Vermont | $66,666 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 65 |
| 37 | Utah | $69,692 | $49,000 | 3,101,833 | 202 |
| 38 | Georgia | $68,982 | $46,000 | 10,429,379 | 706 |
| 39 | Colorado | $69,456 | $49,000 | 5,607,154 | 403 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $68,468 | $47,000 | 3,004,279 | 154 |
| 41 | Alaska | $65,277 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 64 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $68,003 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 57 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $65,695 | $46,000 | 4,454,189 | 223 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $64,746 | $46,000 | 1,920,076 | 150 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $65,468 | $44,000 | 2,984,100 | 128 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $68,311 | $45,000 | 4,684,333 | 151 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $67,047 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 157 |
| 48 | Texas | $63,108 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,235 |
| 49 | Idaho | $64,462 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 96 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $60,324 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 263 |
| 51 | Florida | $60,204 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 843 |
Highest paying states for human resources generalist/managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Human Resources Generalist/Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $85,195 |
| 2 | Washington | $89,701 |
| 3 | New York | $89,145 |
| 4 | Oregon | $85,147 |
| 5 | Delaware | $81,115 |
| 6 | Nevada | $78,934 |
| 7 | Illinois | $81,275 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $79,930 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $81,485 |
| 10 | Ohio | $79,887 |
| 11 | Michigan | $79,542 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $80,705 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $79,837 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $76,113 |
| 15 | Iowa | $78,618 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $75,417 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $78,375 |
| 18 | Maryland | $82,393 |
| 19 | Virginia | $78,517 |
| 20 | Montana | $71,985 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $74,900 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $71,349 |
| 23 | California | $76,734 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $75,083 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $70,626 |
| 26 | Maine | $73,719 |
| 27 | Missouri | $74,321 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $70,637 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $77,664 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $70,183 |
| 31 | Indiana | $71,497 |
| 32 | Kansas | $68,153 |
| 33 | Alabama | $71,940 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $72,328 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $63,248 |
| 36 | Vermont | $66,666 |
| 37 | Utah | $69,692 |
| 38 | Georgia | $68,982 |
| 39 | Colorado | $69,456 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $68,468 |
| 41 | Alaska | $65,277 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $68,003 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $65,695 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $64,746 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $65,468 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $68,311 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $67,047 |
| 48 | Texas | $63,108 |
| 49 | Idaho | $64,462 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $60,324 |
| 51 | Florida | $60,204 |
Expert opinions on the best states for human resources generalist/managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for human resources generalist/managers 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