Best states for a manufacturer

Q: What is the best state for manufacturers?

The best state to be a manufacturer is New Hampshire based on manufacturer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for manufacturers?

The highest paying state for manufacturers is Florida based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for manufacturers?

The worst state for manufacturers is Florida, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming a manufacturer and really want to work at ManpowerGroup? Turns out, your chances to become a manufacturer are better in some states than others.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 manufacturer jobs.

In order to get you the best states for manufacturers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.New Hampshire is the best state, and Gillette is the city with the highest pay for manufacturers.

10 best states for manufacturers in 2025

1. New Hampshire
Total manufacturer jobs: 154
Average annual salary: $41,650
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Manufacturer jobs in New Hampshire
2. Minnesota
Total manufacturer jobs: 588
Average annual salary: $39,324
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
1.86
Manufacturer jobs in Minnesota
3. Wisconsin
Total manufacturer jobs: 611
Average annual salary: $36,710
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
2.32
Manufacturer jobs in Wisconsin
4. Maine
Total manufacturer jobs: 117
Average annual salary: $38,465
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Manufacturer jobs in Maine
5. Massachusetts
Total manufacturer jobs: 424
Average annual salary: $41,616
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Manufacturer jobs in Massachusetts
6. North Dakota
Total manufacturer jobs: 31
Average annual salary: $42,984
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Manufacturer jobs in North Dakota
7. Connecticut
Total manufacturer jobs: 189
Average annual salary: $37,599
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Manufacturer jobs in Connecticut
8. Wyoming
Total manufacturer jobs: 16
Average annual salary: $45,750
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.56
Manufacturer jobs in Wyoming
9. Iowa
Total manufacturer jobs: 327
Average annual salary: $33,300
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.89
Manufacturer jobs in Iowa
10. Kansas
Total manufacturer jobs: 165
Average annual salary: $35,063
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Manufacturer jobs in Kansas

Manufacturer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a manufacturer

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

Detailed list of the best states for a manufacturer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Hampshire	$41,650	$32,000	1,342,795	154
2	Minnesota	$39,324	$30,000	5,576,606	588
3	Wisconsin	$36,710	$28,000	5,795,483	611
4	Maine	$38,465	$30,000	1,335,907	117
5	Massachusetts	$41,616	$32,000	6,859,819	424
6	North Dakota	$42,984	$33,000	755,393	31
7	Connecticut	$37,599	$28,000	3,588,184	189
8	Wyoming	$45,750	$34,000	579,315	16
9	Iowa	$33,300	$25,000	3,145,711	327
10	Kansas	$35,063	$26,000	2,913,123	165
11	Washington	$36,391	$26,000	7,405,743	248
12	Rhode Island	$35,844	$27,000	1,059,639	39
13	Nebraska	$32,348	$24,000	1,920,076	141
14	Illinois	$33,469	$25,000	12,802,023	723
15	Vermont	$32,773	$25,000	623,657	71
16	Michigan	$31,977	$24,000	9,962,311	454
17	New Jersey	$36,535	$27,000	9,005,644	214
18	Indiana	$30,674	$23,000	6,666,818	662
19	Ohio	$30,890	$23,000	11,658,609	801
20	Colorado	$35,644	$27,000	5,607,154	158
21	Oregon	$33,040	$24,000	4,142,776	161
22	California	$34,939	$24,000	39,536,653	1,136
23	Montana	$33,213	$25,000	1,050,493	17
24	Arizona	$31,856	$23,000	7,016,270	201
25	District of Columbia	$38,062	$28,000	693,972	5
26	Pennsylvania	$30,670	$22,000	12,805,537	653
27	South Dakota	$30,451	$23,000	869,666	44
28	Utah	$30,675	$23,000	3,101,833	188
29	Idaho	$31,326	$23,000	1,716,943	56
30	Mississippi	$30,668	$22,000	2,984,100	118
31	New York	$34,465	$25,000	19,849,399	345
32	Delaware	$32,223	$23,000	961,939	35
33	Maryland	$32,066	$24,000	6,052,177	238
34	Nevada	$30,910	$22,000	2,998,039	67
35	Missouri	$28,831	$22,000	6,113,532	349
36	Louisiana	$30,788	$22,000	4,684,333	93
37	Kentucky	$28,080	$21,000	4,454,189	303
38	Texas	$30,859	$22,000	28,304,596	635
39	Tennessee	$28,164	$21,000	6,715,984	342
40	Hawaii	$33,663	$26,000	1,427,538	4
41	North Carolina	$27,720	$20,000	10,273,419	597
42	Oklahoma	$29,826	$22,000	3,930,864	68
43	Alaska	$30,659	$24,000	739,795	5
44	South Carolina	$27,667	$20,000	5,024,369	178
45	Georgia	$26,316	$19,000	10,429,379	610
46	Virginia	$29,339	$22,000	8,470,020	204
47	Alabama	$26,168	$19,000	4,874,747	171
48	New Mexico	$27,658	$20,000	2,088,070	39
49	Arkansas	$25,446	$19,000	3,004,279	89
50	West Virginia	$26,677	$20,000	1,815,857	27
51	Florida	$23,190	$17,000	20,984,400	514

Highest paying states for manufacturers

Rank	State	Avg. Manufacturer Salary
1	New Hampshire	$41,650
2	Minnesota	$39,324
3	Wisconsin	$36,710
4	Maine	$38,465
5	Massachusetts	$41,616
6	North Dakota	$42,984
7	Connecticut	$37,599
8	Wyoming	$45,750
9	Iowa	$33,300
10	Kansas	$35,063
11	Washington	$36,391
12	Rhode Island	$35,844
13	Nebraska	$32,348
14	Illinois	$33,469
15	Vermont	$32,773
16	Michigan	$31,977
17	New Jersey	$36,535
18	Indiana	$30,674
19	Ohio	$30,890
20	Colorado	$35,644
21	Oregon	$33,040
22	California	$34,939
23	Montana	$33,213
24	Arizona	$31,856
25	District of Columbia	$38,062
26	Pennsylvania	$30,670
27	South Dakota	$30,451
28	Utah	$30,675
29	Idaho	$31,326
30	Mississippi	$30,668
31	New York	$34,465
32	Delaware	$32,223
33	Maryland	$32,066
34	Nevada	$30,910
35	Missouri	$28,831
36	Louisiana	$30,788
37	Kentucky	$28,080
38	Texas	$30,859
39	Tennessee	$28,164
40	Hawaii	$33,663
41	North Carolina	$27,720
42	Oklahoma	$29,826
43	Alaska	$30,659
44	South Carolina	$27,667
45	Georgia	$26,316
46	Virginia	$29,339
47	Alabama	$26,168
48	New Mexico	$27,658
49	Arkansas	$25,446
50	West Virginia	$26,677
51	Florida	$23,190

Manufacturer best states FAQs

What is the best state for manufacturers?

What is the highest paying state for manufacturers?

What is the worst state for manufacturers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for manufacturer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total manufacturer jobs:	154
Average annual salary:	$41,650
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$53,000
Location Quotient:	1.85

Best states for a manufacturer

10 best states for manufacturers in 2025

1. New Hampshire

2. Minnesota

3. Wisconsin

4. Maine

5. Massachusetts

6. North Dakota

7. Connecticut

8. Wyoming

9. Iowa

10. Kansas