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Best states for an industrial/organizational psychologist
Quoted expert
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an industrial/organizational psychologist and really want to work at Microsoft? Turns out, your chances to become an industrial/organizational psychologist are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for industrial/organizational psychologists, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for industrial/organizational psychologist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for industrial/organizational psychologists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Illinois is the best state, and Vancouver is the city with the highest pay for industrial/organizational psychologists.
10 best states for industrial/organizational psychologists in 2025
1. Illinois
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 431 Average annual salary: $108,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
2. Washington
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 197 Average annual salary: $110,682 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
3. Oklahoma
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $94,407 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. Wisconsin
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 196 Average annual salary: $96,524 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
5. Indiana
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 192 Average annual salary: $96,401 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
6. Idaho
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $105,994 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. New Mexico
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $104,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
8. Kansas
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $102,187 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
9. Iowa
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 145 Average annual salary: $89,306 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
10. Oregon
Total industrial/organizational psychologist jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $96,092 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Industrial/organizational psychologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an industrial/organizational psychologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an industrial/organizational psychologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $108,404 | $74,000 | 12,802,023 | 431 |
| 2 | Washington | $110,682 | $72,000 | 7,405,743 | 197 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $94,407 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 102 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $96,524 | $66,000 | 5,795,483 | 196 |
| 5 | Indiana | $96,401 | $66,000 | 6,666,818 | 192 |
| 6 | Idaho | $105,994 | $69,000 | 1,716,943 | 35 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $104,992 | $68,000 | 2,088,070 | 43 |
| 8 | Kansas | $102,187 | $68,000 | 2,913,123 | 62 |
| 9 | Iowa | $89,306 | $61,000 | 3,145,711 | 145 |
| 10 | Oregon | $96,092 | $63,000 | 4,142,776 | 112 |
| 11 | New York | $98,138 | $67,000 | 19,849,399 | 356 |
| 12 | Michigan | $98,654 | $67,000 | 9,962,311 | 169 |
| 13 | Nevada | $93,749 | $61,000 | 2,998,039 | 52 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $99,744 | $68,000 | 9,005,644 | 179 |
| 15 | California | $92,570 | $60,000 | 39,536,653 | 965 |
| 16 | Delaware | $83,833 | $57,000 | 961,939 | 47 |
| 17 | Texas | $95,653 | $61,000 | 28,304,596 | 389 |
| 18 | Georgia | $87,845 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 289 |
| 19 | Maine | $95,067 | $66,000 | 1,335,907 | 26 |
| 20 | Utah | $87,450 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 78 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $90,140 | $58,000 | 3,004,279 | 46 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $89,748 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 101 |
| 23 | Ohio | $80,196 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 281 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $83,222 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 90 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $83,205 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 54 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $82,343 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 25 |
| 27 | Maryland | $83,317 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 168 |
| 28 | Montana | $78,819 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 28 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $80,734 | $55,000 | 1,815,857 | 25 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $74,943 | $51,000 | 869,666 | 25 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $73,292 | $47,000 | 5,024,369 | 142 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $75,923 | $51,000 | 4,454,189 | 82 |
| 33 | Arizona | $75,806 | $50,000 | 7,016,270 | 148 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $79,553 | $55,000 | 1,342,795 | 35 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $74,084 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 23 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $73,941 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 283 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $73,291 | $50,000 | 1,920,076 | 55 |
| 38 | Alaska | $79,791 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 16 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $75,043 | $47,000 | 4,684,333 | 63 |
| 40 | Colorado | $77,624 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 121 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $81,172 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 161 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $67,431 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 17 |
| 43 | Missouri | $73,061 | $49,000 | 6,113,532 | 134 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $68,994 | $46,000 | 10,273,419 | 259 |
| 45 | Vermont | $76,691 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 14 |
| 46 | Virginia | $72,874 | $49,000 | 8,470,020 | 216 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $73,459 | $46,000 | 2,984,100 | 34 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $49,240 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 21 |
| 49 | Florida | $67,629 | $42,000 | 20,984,400 | 308 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $67,227 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 128 |
| 51 | Alabama | $63,392 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 77 |
Highest paying states for industrial/organizational psychologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Industrial/Organizational Psychologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $108,404 |
| 2 | Washington | $110,682 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $94,407 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $96,524 |
| 5 | Indiana | $96,401 |
| 6 | Idaho | $105,994 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $104,992 |
| 8 | Kansas | $102,187 |
| 9 | Iowa | $89,306 |
| 10 | Oregon | $96,092 |
| 11 | New York | $98,138 |
| 12 | Michigan | $98,654 |
| 13 | Nevada | $93,749 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $99,744 |
| 15 | California | $92,570 |
| 16 | Delaware | $83,833 |
| 17 | Texas | $95,653 |
| 18 | Georgia | $87,845 |
| 19 | Maine | $95,067 |
| 20 | Utah | $87,450 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $90,140 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $89,748 |
| 23 | Ohio | $80,196 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $83,222 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $83,205 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $82,343 |
| 27 | Maryland | $83,317 |
| 28 | Montana | $78,819 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $80,734 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $74,943 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $73,292 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $75,923 |
| 33 | Arizona | $75,806 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $79,553 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $74,084 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $73,941 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $73,291 |
| 38 | Alaska | $79,791 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $75,043 |
| 40 | Colorado | $77,624 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $81,172 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $67,431 |
| 43 | Missouri | $73,061 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $68,994 |
| 45 | Vermont | $76,691 |
| 46 | Virginia | $72,874 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $73,459 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $49,240 |
| 49 | Florida | $67,629 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $67,227 |
| 51 | Alabama | $63,392 |
Expert opinions on the best states for industrial/organizational psychologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for industrial/organizational psychologists to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, Agnes Scott College
Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.
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Updated January 8, 2025