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Best states for a leader
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like leaders are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for leaders aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for leaders. We found that Maine is the best state in the nation for leaders, and people in South Portland earn the most in the field.
Maine is the best state for jobs for leaders, and Utah is the worst. The most common pay in Maine is $107,828, while the median pay in Utah is $53,190.If you are currently seeking employment as a leader, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for leaders in 2026
1. Maine
Total leader jobs: 359 Average annual salary: $107,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
2. Connecticut
Total leader jobs: 882 Average annual salary: $102,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. Texas
Total leader jobs: 6,257 Average annual salary: $85,680 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
4. Delaware
Total leader jobs: 324 Average annual salary: $98,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. New York
Total leader jobs: 3,117 Average annual salary: $103,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. Michigan
Total leader jobs: 2,040 Average annual salary: $89,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
7. Ohio
Total leader jobs: 3,011 Average annual salary: $82,488 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Louisiana
Total leader jobs: 950 Average annual salary: $84,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. Massachusetts
Total leader jobs: 1,898 Average annual salary: $104,599 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. New Jersey
Total leader jobs: 1,805 Average annual salary: $101,643 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Leader jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $107,828 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 359 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $102,385 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 882 |
| 3 | Texas | $85,680 | $45,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,257 |
| 4 | Delaware | $98,258 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 324 |
| 5 | New York | $103,282 | $64,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,117 |
| 6 | Michigan | $89,516 | $51,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,040 |
| 7 | Ohio | $82,488 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,011 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $84,817 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 950 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $104,599 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,898 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $101,643 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,805 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $98,747 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 267 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $94,283 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 426 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $80,183 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,716 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $104,361 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 315 |
| 15 | California | $94,566 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,717 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $88,157 | $52,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,673 |
| 17 | Virginia | $82,458 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,750 |
| 18 | Maryland | $89,752 | $51,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,604 |
| 19 | Illinois | $83,416 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,085 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $79,934 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 388 |
| 21 | Alabama | $74,906 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,333 |
| 22 | Arizona | $81,652 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,478 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $74,207 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,880 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $82,111 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,584 |
| 25 | Indiana | $73,550 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,894 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $73,588 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,311 |
| 27 | Vermont | $80,545 | $51,000 | 623,657 | 216 |
| 28 | Georgia | $76,227 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,761 |
| 29 | Alaska | $93,599 | $67,000 | 739,795 | 150 |
| 30 | Washington | $83,241 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,417 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $70,285 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,084 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $77,479 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 262 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $69,711 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 175 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $67,769 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 757 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $76,793 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 175 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $76,552 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 211 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $66,743 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 2,083 |
| 38 | Nevada | $70,220 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 571 |
| 39 | Florida | $73,323 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,157 |
| 40 | Missouri | $68,353 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,658 |
| 41 | Kansas | $65,466 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 785 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $64,087 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 846 |
| 43 | Oregon | $72,919 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 878 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $68,797 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 409 |
| 45 | Iowa | $62,998 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,027 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $62,774 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 661 |
| 47 | Idaho | $64,590 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 352 |
| 48 | Colorado | $63,949 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,327 |
| 49 | Montana | $60,758 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 220 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $61,656 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 383 |
| 51 | Utah | $53,190 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 696 |
Highest paying states for leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $107,828 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $102,385 |
| 3 | Texas | $85,680 |
| 4 | Delaware | $98,258 |
| 5 | New York | $103,282 |
| 6 | Michigan | $89,516 |
| 7 | Ohio | $82,488 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $84,817 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $104,599 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $101,643 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $98,747 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $94,283 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $80,183 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $104,361 |
| 15 | California | $94,566 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $88,157 |
| 17 | Virginia | $82,458 |
| 18 | Maryland | $89,752 |
| 19 | Illinois | $83,416 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $79,934 |
| 21 | Alabama | $74,906 |
| 22 | Arizona | $81,652 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $74,207 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $82,111 |
| 25 | Indiana | $73,550 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $73,588 |
| 27 | Vermont | $80,545 |
| 28 | Georgia | $76,227 |
| 29 | Alaska | $93,599 |
| 30 | Washington | $83,241 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $70,285 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $77,479 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $69,711 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $67,769 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $76,793 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $76,552 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $66,743 |
| 38 | Nevada | $70,220 |
| 39 | Florida | $73,323 |
| 40 | Missouri | $68,353 |
| 41 | Kansas | $65,466 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $64,087 |
| 43 | Oregon | $72,919 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $68,797 |
| 45 | Iowa | $62,998 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $62,774 |
| 47 | Idaho | $64,590 |
| 48 | Colorado | $63,949 |
| 49 | Montana | $60,758 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $61,656 |
| 51 | Utah | $53,190 |
Leader best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025