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Best states for a manager
Quoted expert
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to manager jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for manager jobs.
We figured that the best places for manager 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.New Jersey is the best state, and Fort Lee is the city with the highest pay for managers.
10 best states for managers in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total manager jobs: 14,725 Average annual salary: $98,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
2. New York
Total manager jobs: 26,204 Average annual salary: $93,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. California
Total manager jobs: 64,658 Average annual salary: $90,017 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
4. District of Columbia
Total manager jobs: 4,077 Average annual salary: $90,789 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
5. Washington
Total manager jobs: 16,351 Average annual salary: $84,552 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Connecticut
Total manager jobs: 5,724 Average annual salary: $94,909 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
7. Oregon
Total manager jobs: 7,776 Average annual salary: $75,747 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
8. Massachusetts
Total manager jobs: 17,327 Average annual salary: $74,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Hawaii
Total manager jobs: 1,359 Average annual salary: $94,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
10. Pennsylvania
Total manager jobs: 18,521 Average annual salary: $75,622 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
Manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $98,845 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 14,725 |
| 2 | New York | $93,313 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 26,204 |
| 3 | California | $90,017 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 64,658 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $90,789 | $56,000 | 693,972 | 4,077 |
| 5 | Washington | $84,552 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 16,351 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $94,909 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 5,724 |
| 7 | Oregon | $75,747 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 7,776 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $74,160 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 17,327 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $94,282 | $62,000 | 1,427,538 | 1,359 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $75,622 | $46,000 | 12,805,537 | 18,521 |
| 11 | Delaware | $75,107 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 2,028 |
| 12 | Virginia | $72,711 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 16,515 |
| 13 | Maryland | $73,499 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 11,042 |
| 14 | Nevada | $69,010 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 3,553 |
| 15 | Colorado | $70,708 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 10,116 |
| 16 | Illinois | $62,615 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 23,257 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $59,920 | $37,000 | 10,273,419 | 19,163 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $68,328 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 1,951 |
| 19 | Ohio | $60,506 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 17,620 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $64,293 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 8,884 |
| 21 | Michigan | $60,798 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 13,189 |
| 22 | Texas | $59,003 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 36,498 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $65,638 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 1,030 |
| 24 | Alaska | $69,121 | $42,000 | 739,795 | 1,082 |
| 25 | Arizona | $59,714 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 10,083 |
| 26 | Montana | $58,878 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 2,018 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $60,393 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 11,055 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $61,330 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 2,726 |
| 29 | Indiana | $57,538 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 10,978 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,354 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 5,703 |
| 31 | Maine | $60,756 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,773 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $57,295 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 4,514 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $58,210 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,873 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $56,055 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 954 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $52,989 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 5,629 |
| 36 | Georgia | $51,702 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 19,071 |
| 37 | Idaho | $56,987 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 2,390 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $55,614 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 1,277 |
| 39 | Alabama | $54,506 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 6,887 |
| 40 | Florida | $50,119 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 27,813 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $54,046 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 3,011 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $45,691 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 6,509 |
| 43 | Kansas | $50,972 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 4,824 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $50,854 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 9,240 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $50,649 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 2,300 |
| 46 | Vermont | $53,786 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 1,041 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $44,150 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 3,717 |
| 48 | Missouri | $47,992 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 10,031 |
| 49 | Iowa | $50,738 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 5,054 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $48,369 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 7,072 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,727 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 4,426 |
Highest paying states for managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $98,845 |
| 2 | New York | $93,313 |
| 3 | California | $90,017 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $90,789 |
| 5 | Washington | $84,552 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $94,909 |
| 7 | Oregon | $75,747 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $74,160 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $94,282 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $75,622 |
| 11 | Delaware | $75,107 |
| 12 | Virginia | $72,711 |
| 13 | Maryland | $73,499 |
| 14 | Nevada | $69,010 |
| 15 | Colorado | $70,708 |
| 16 | Illinois | $62,615 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $59,920 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $68,328 |
| 19 | Ohio | $60,506 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $64,293 |
| 21 | Michigan | $60,798 |
| 22 | Texas | $59,003 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $65,638 |
| 24 | Alaska | $69,121 |
| 25 | Arizona | $59,714 |
| 26 | Montana | $58,878 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $60,393 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $61,330 |
| 29 | Indiana | $57,538 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,354 |
| 31 | Maine | $60,756 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $57,295 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $58,210 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $56,055 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $52,989 |
| 36 | Georgia | $51,702 |
| 37 | Idaho | $56,987 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $55,614 |
| 39 | Alabama | $54,506 |
| 40 | Florida | $50,119 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $54,046 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $45,691 |
| 43 | Kansas | $50,972 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $50,854 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $50,649 |
| 46 | Vermont | $53,786 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $44,150 |
| 48 | Missouri | $47,992 |
| 49 | Iowa | $50,738 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $48,369 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,727 |
Expert opinions on the best states for managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for managers to find work opportunities?
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University
We have had success in placing our candidates from the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University in all portions of the country. Small towns, to large cities, to graduate programs, and beyond are all able to benefit from the skills learned by these majors.
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Updated January 8, 2025