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Best states for a network manager
Quoted expert
Peter Dordal Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for network managers in the United States. Network manager positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for network managers.Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for network managers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for network managers.California is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for network managers.
10 best states for network managers in 2026
1. California
Total network manager jobs: 1,615 Average annual salary: $122,458 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. Washington
Total network manager jobs: 392 Average annual salary: $113,988 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. Massachusetts
Total network manager jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $113,240 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
4. South Dakota
Total network manager jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $103,018 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
5. Nevada
Total network manager jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $103,587 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
6. Oregon
Total network manager jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $101,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. Utah
Total network manager jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $95,406 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
8. Rhode Island
Total network manager jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $100,904 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. New Hampshire
Total network manager jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $99,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
10. Arizona
Total network manager jobs: 301 Average annual salary: $96,304 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Network manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a network manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a network manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $122,458 | $83,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,615 |
| 2 | Washington | $113,988 | $79,000 | 7,405,743 | 392 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $113,240 | $80,000 | 6,859,819 | 405 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $103,018 | $73,000 | 869,666 | 44 |
| 5 | Nevada | $103,587 | $70,000 | 2,998,039 | 89 |
| 6 | Oregon | $101,673 | $70,000 | 4,142,776 | 216 |
| 7 | Utah | $95,406 | $65,000 | 3,101,833 | 175 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $100,904 | $71,000 | 1,059,639 | 47 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $99,422 | $70,000 | 1,342,795 | 73 |
| 10 | Arizona | $96,304 | $65,000 | 7,016,270 | 301 |
| 11 | Virginia | $97,985 | $69,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,196 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $101,949 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 297 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $104,505 | $74,000 | 9,005,644 | 305 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $97,664 | $69,000 | 3,588,184 | 185 |
| 15 | Maine | $97,741 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 41 |
| 16 | Idaho | $95,435 | $66,000 | 1,716,943 | 57 |
| 17 | Maryland | $94,920 | $67,000 | 6,052,177 | 891 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $90,754 | $64,000 | 10,273,419 | 462 |
| 19 | Alaska | $93,071 | $70,000 | 739,795 | 94 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $91,480 | $62,000 | 2,088,070 | 87 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $95,481 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 104 |
| 22 | Vermont | $91,239 | $64,000 | 623,657 | 50 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $93,609 | $66,000 | 4,454,189 | 109 |
| 24 | Georgia | $91,551 | $64,000 | 10,429,379 | 412 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $93,136 | $65,000 | 3,930,864 | 82 |
| 26 | Iowa | $89,045 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 144 |
| 27 | Texas | $88,793 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 881 |
| 28 | Delaware | $89,536 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 67 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $87,333 | $61,000 | 12,805,537 | 451 |
| 30 | Colorado | $85,950 | $60,000 | 5,607,154 | 481 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $84,613 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 64 |
| 32 | Ohio | $86,357 | $60,000 | 11,658,609 | 318 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $87,458 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 69 |
| 34 | Missouri | $88,302 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 194 |
| 35 | Alabama | $83,735 | $58,000 | 4,874,747 | 201 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $88,509 | $60,000 | 4,684,333 | 78 |
| 37 | New York | $86,975 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 547 |
| 38 | Montana | $87,859 | $61,000 | 1,050,493 | 35 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $84,464 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 182 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $85,418 | $59,000 | 5,795,483 | 196 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $79,884 | $55,000 | 579,315 | 32 |
| 42 | Indiana | $83,258 | $59,000 | 6,666,818 | 229 |
| 43 | Michigan | $84,780 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 222 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $83,993 | $59,000 | 1,920,076 | 75 |
| 45 | Illinois | $78,934 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 573 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $82,820 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 242 |
| 47 | Florida | $73,242 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 734 |
| 48 | Kansas | $82,160 | $58,000 | 2,913,123 | 87 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $81,393 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 148 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $78,996 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 31 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $77,737 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 59 |
Highest paying states for network managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Network Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $122,458 |
| 2 | Washington | $113,988 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $113,240 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $103,018 |
| 5 | Nevada | $103,587 |
| 6 | Oregon | $101,673 |
| 7 | Utah | $95,406 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $100,904 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $99,422 |
| 10 | Arizona | $96,304 |
| 11 | Virginia | $97,985 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $101,949 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $104,505 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $97,664 |
| 15 | Maine | $97,741 |
| 16 | Idaho | $95,435 |
| 17 | Maryland | $94,920 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $90,754 |
| 19 | Alaska | $93,071 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $91,480 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $95,481 |
| 22 | Vermont | $91,239 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $93,609 |
| 24 | Georgia | $91,551 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $93,136 |
| 26 | Iowa | $89,045 |
| 27 | Texas | $88,793 |
| 28 | Delaware | $89,536 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $87,333 |
| 30 | Colorado | $85,950 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $84,613 |
| 32 | Ohio | $86,357 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $87,458 |
| 34 | Missouri | $88,302 |
| 35 | Alabama | $83,735 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $88,509 |
| 37 | New York | $86,975 |
| 38 | Montana | $87,859 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $84,464 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $85,418 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $79,884 |
| 42 | Indiana | $83,258 |
| 43 | Michigan | $84,780 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $83,993 |
| 45 | Illinois | $78,934 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $82,820 |
| 47 | Florida | $73,242 |
| 48 | Kansas | $82,160 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $81,393 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $78,996 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $77,737 |
Expert opinions on the best states for network managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for network managers to find work opportunities?
Peter Dordal Ph.D.
Director for Information Technology, Loyola University Chicago
For software developers, yes, there are advantages in working in places where there is a high concentration of other developers. But for students interested in applying IT to business, there are opportunities everywhere.
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Updated January 8, 2025