Best states for a lead planner

Q: What is the best state for lead planners?

The best state to be a lead planner is Hawaii based on lead planner salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for lead planners?

The highest paying state for lead planners is Wyoming based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for lead planners?

The worst state for lead planners is Wyoming, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like lead planners are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for lead planners aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Hawaii is the best state in the country for lead planners.

We figured that the best places for lead planner jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a lead planner, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for lead planners in 2026

1. Hawaii
Total lead planner jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $78,343
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Lead planner jobs in Hawaii
2. New Mexico
Total lead planner jobs: 225
Average annual salary: $57,230
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
3.66
Lead planner jobs in New Mexico
3. California
Total lead planner jobs: 846
Average annual salary: $80,230
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Lead planner jobs in California
4. Idaho
Total lead planner jobs: 232
Average annual salary: $55,771
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
4.51
Lead planner jobs in Idaho
5. Texas
Total lead planner jobs: 367
Average annual salary: $60,520
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
0.58
Lead planner jobs in Texas
6. Arkansas
Total lead planner jobs: 299
Average annual salary: $51,992
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
3.65
Lead planner jobs in Arkansas
7. New York
Total lead planner jobs: 380
Average annual salary: $58,929
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Lead planner jobs in New York
8. Michigan
Total lead planner jobs: 1,133
Average annual salary: $51,467
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
4.67
Lead planner jobs in Michigan
9. Nevada
Total lead planner jobs: 351
Average annual salary: $52,757
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
5.36
Lead planner jobs in Nevada
10. Virginia
Total lead planner jobs: 267
Average annual salary: $56,104
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Lead planner jobs in Virginia

Lead planner jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead planner

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a lead planner

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Hawaii	$78,343	$65,000	1,427,538	32
2	New Mexico	$57,230	$37,000	2,088,070	225
3	California	$80,230	$50,000	39,536,653	846
4	Idaho	$55,771	$35,000	1,716,943	232
5	Texas	$60,520	$37,000	28,304,596	367
6	Arkansas	$51,992	$34,000	3,004,279	299
7	New York	$58,929	$39,000	19,849,399	380
8	Michigan	$51,467	$35,000	9,962,311	1,133
9	Nevada	$52,757	$32,000	2,998,039	351
10	Virginia	$56,104	$36,000	8,470,020	267
11	New Hampshire	$53,155	$36,000	1,342,795	46
12	Alaska	$55,969	$45,000	739,795	114
13	Arizona	$54,463	$34,000	7,016,270	124
14	Georgia	$54,953	$35,000	10,429,379	184
15	Pennsylvania	$50,141	$33,000	12,805,537	279
16	West Virginia	$53,693	$36,000	1,815,857	6
17	Florida	$53,367	$33,000	20,984,400	272
18	Connecticut	$50,075	$33,000	3,588,184	99
19	Maryland	$50,697	$33,000	6,052,177	189
20	Massachusetts	$50,931	$34,000	6,859,819	205
21	Louisiana	$53,162	$33,000	4,684,333	20
22	District of Columbia	$53,179	$34,000	693,972	44
23	Illinois	$49,676	$34,000	12,802,023	246
24	Oklahoma	$47,050	$31,000	3,930,864	323
25	North Carolina	$48,814	$32,000	10,273,419	197
26	Ohio	$49,029	$33,000	11,658,609	157
27	Kentucky	$48,934	$33,000	4,454,189	56
28	Oregon	$48,596	$31,000	4,142,776	80
29	Kansas	$43,338	$29,000	2,913,123	329
30	South Carolina	$45,980	$29,000	5,024,369	104
31	Alabama	$45,890	$29,000	4,874,747	80
32	Washington	$48,153	$30,000	7,405,743	135
33	Minnesota	$45,212	$32,000	5,576,606	132
34	Colorado	$45,529	$31,000	5,607,154	149
35	Indiana	$45,380	$31,000	6,666,818	104
36	Tennessee	$44,538	$29,000	6,715,984	103
37	Nebraska	$41,124	$28,000	1,920,076	255
38	South Dakota	$40,854	$28,000	869,666	109
39	Wisconsin	$43,381	$30,000	5,795,483	117
40	New Jersey	$47,868	$31,000	9,005,644	125
41	Montana	$41,252	$27,000	1,050,493	148
42	Mississippi	$44,706	$29,000	2,984,100	25
43	Maine	$44,813	$32,000	1,335,907	10
44	North Dakota	$42,141	$30,000	755,393	16
45	Utah	$41,022	$26,000	3,101,833	62
46	Delaware	$42,653	$27,000	961,939	17
47	Iowa	$39,913	$27,000	3,145,711	63
48	Missouri	$41,217	$28,000	6,113,532	69
49	Rhode Island	$39,208	$26,000	1,059,639	10
50	Vermont	$37,451	$26,000	623,657	7
51	Wyoming	$29,505	$20,000	579,315	1

Highest paying states for lead planners

Rank	State	Avg. Lead Planner Salary
1	Hawaii	$78,343
2	New Mexico	$57,230
3	California	$80,230
4	Idaho	$55,771
5	Texas	$60,520
6	Arkansas	$51,992
7	New York	$58,929
8	Michigan	$51,467
9	Nevada	$52,757
10	Virginia	$56,104
11	New Hampshire	$53,155
12	Alaska	$55,969
13	Arizona	$54,463
14	Georgia	$54,953
15	Pennsylvania	$50,141
16	West Virginia	$53,693
17	Florida	$53,367
18	Connecticut	$50,075
19	Maryland	$50,697
20	Massachusetts	$50,931
21	Louisiana	$53,162
22	District of Columbia	$53,179
23	Illinois	$49,676
24	Oklahoma	$47,050
25	North Carolina	$48,814
26	Ohio	$49,029
27	Kentucky	$48,934
28	Oregon	$48,596
29	Kansas	$43,338
30	South Carolina	$45,980
31	Alabama	$45,890
32	Washington	$48,153
33	Minnesota	$45,212
34	Colorado	$45,529
35	Indiana	$45,380
36	Tennessee	$44,538
37	Nebraska	$41,124
38	South Dakota	$40,854
39	Wisconsin	$43,381
40	New Jersey	$47,868
41	Montana	$41,252
42	Mississippi	$44,706
43	Maine	$44,813
44	North Dakota	$42,141
45	Utah	$41,022
46	Delaware	$42,653
47	Iowa	$39,913
48	Missouri	$41,217
49	Rhode Island	$39,208
50	Vermont	$37,451
51	Wyoming	$29,505

Lead planner best states FAQs

What is the best state for lead planners?

What is the highest paying state for lead planners?

What is the worst state for lead planners?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

Search for lead planner jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

Total lead planner jobs:	32
Average annual salary:	$78,343
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$94,000
Location Quotient:	1.22

Best states for a lead planner

10 best states for lead planners in 2026

1. Hawaii

2. New Mexico

3. California

4. Idaho

5. Texas

6. Arkansas

7. New York

8. Michigan

9. Nevada

10. Virginia