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Best states for a living specialist
Quoted expert
Dr. Thomas Uhle
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a living specialist and really want to work at Lowe's Companies? Turns out, your chances to become a living specialist are better in some states than others.Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for living specialists.
New York is the best state for jobs for living specialists, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in New York is $47,219, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $30,513.We found that New York is the best state for living specialist jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for living specialists in 2026
1. New York
Total living specialist jobs: 1,374 Average annual salary: $47,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
2. Alaska
Total living specialist jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $44,191 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 2.12
3. District of Columbia
Total living specialist jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $47,937 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
4. North Carolina
Total living specialist jobs: 875 Average annual salary: $43,210 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Connecticut
Total living specialist jobs: 301 Average annual salary: $44,347 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1
6. Illinois
Total living specialist jobs: 1,070 Average annual salary: $43,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
7. Wisconsin
Total living specialist jobs: 514 Average annual salary: $40,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. New Hampshire
Total living specialist jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $44,562 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
9. New Jersey
Total living specialist jobs: 684 Average annual salary: $43,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. North Dakota
Total living specialist jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $42,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Living specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a living specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a living specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $47,219 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,374 |
| 2 | Alaska | $44,191 | $37,000 | 739,795 | 161 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $47,937 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 202 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $43,210 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 875 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $44,347 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 301 |
| 6 | Illinois | $43,013 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,070 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $40,204 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 514 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $44,562 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 132 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $43,966 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 684 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $42,382 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 73 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $41,162 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 110 |
| 12 | Washington | $40,822 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 723 |
| 13 | Nevada | $40,847 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 178 |
| 14 | Delaware | $39,970 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 126 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $42,624 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 141 |
| 16 | Maine | $36,892 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 186 |
| 17 | Virginia | $40,940 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 860 |
| 18 | Oregon | $40,010 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 409 |
| 19 | Iowa | $36,525 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 427 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $37,894 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 682 |
| 21 | Florida | $38,046 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,581 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $40,486 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 113 |
| 23 | Vermont | $36,652 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 83 |
| 24 | Ohio | $38,444 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 733 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $36,717 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 973 |
| 26 | California | $41,750 | $31,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,314 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $34,318 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 67 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $34,925 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 237 |
| 29 | Colorado | $37,662 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 525 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $36,446 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 155 |
| 31 | Maryland | $36,840 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 631 |
| 32 | Montana | $34,646 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 123 |
| 33 | Idaho | $35,855 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 142 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $33,596 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,419 |
| 35 | Michigan | $34,021 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 688 |
| 36 | Arizona | $33,403 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 634 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,645 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 322 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $32,478 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 254 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $33,710 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 308 |
| 40 | Kansas | $33,290 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 268 |
| 41 | Missouri | $34,162 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 515 |
| 42 | Indiana | $32,678 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 581 |
| 43 | Texas | $33,492 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,637 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $31,307 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 118 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $31,584 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 423 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $31,506 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 266 |
| 47 | Utah | $32,724 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 232 |
| 48 | Georgia | $28,684 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 864 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $30,290 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 69 |
| 50 | Alabama | $30,106 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 312 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,513 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 219 |
Highest paying states for living specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Living Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $47,219 |
| 2 | Alaska | $44,191 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $47,937 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $43,210 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $44,347 |
| 6 | Illinois | $43,013 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $40,204 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $44,562 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $43,966 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $42,382 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $41,162 |
| 12 | Washington | $40,822 |
| 13 | Nevada | $40,847 |
| 14 | Delaware | $39,970 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $42,624 |
| 16 | Maine | $36,892 |
| 17 | Virginia | $40,940 |
| 18 | Oregon | $40,010 |
| 19 | Iowa | $36,525 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $37,894 |
| 21 | Florida | $38,046 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $40,486 |
| 23 | Vermont | $36,652 |
| 24 | Ohio | $38,444 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $36,717 |
| 26 | California | $41,750 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $34,318 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $34,925 |
| 29 | Colorado | $37,662 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $36,446 |
| 31 | Maryland | $36,840 |
| 32 | Montana | $34,646 |
| 33 | Idaho | $35,855 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $33,596 |
| 35 | Michigan | $34,021 |
| 36 | Arizona | $33,403 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,645 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $32,478 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $33,710 |
| 40 | Kansas | $33,290 |
| 41 | Missouri | $34,162 |
| 42 | Indiana | $32,678 |
| 43 | Texas | $33,492 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $31,307 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $31,584 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $31,506 |
| 47 | Utah | $32,724 |
| 48 | Georgia | $28,684 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $30,290 |
| 50 | Alabama | $30,106 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,513 |
Expert opinions on the best states for living specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for living specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas Uhle
Teacher Education Program, Miami Dade College
Especially due to the pandemic, there is a teacher shortage in many areas of the country. Work opportunities are available for qualified graduates. At Miami Dade College, we work very closely with Miami Dade County Public Schools to ensure that our graduates are able to secure a position upon graduation. Larger cities tend to have larger school districts and therefore a wider range of positions available. Having a background in Exceptional Student Education should increase the likelihood of finding a job no matter where the graduate wants to go.
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Updated January 8, 2025