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Best states for a payroll analyst
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like payroll analysts are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for payroll analysts aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Connecticut is the best state in the country for payroll analysts.
In order to get you the best states for payroll analysts, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a payroll analyst, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for payroll analysts in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total payroll analyst jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $63,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
2. New Jersey
Total payroll analyst jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $64,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
3. Illinois
Total payroll analyst jobs: 340 Average annual salary: $60,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. District of Columbia
Total payroll analyst jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $64,081 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 2.51
5. Massachusetts
Total payroll analyst jobs: 281 Average annual salary: $62,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. Alaska
Total payroll analyst jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $62,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
7. Utah
Total payroll analyst jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $59,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
8. Washington
Total payroll analyst jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $66,041 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
9. Nebraska
Total payroll analyst jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $59,718 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
10. New Hampshire
Total payroll analyst jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $60,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
Payroll analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a payroll analyst
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a payroll analyst
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $63,582 | $44,000 | 3,588,184 | 101 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $64,637 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 211 |
| 3 | Illinois | $60,526 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 340 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,081 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 116 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $62,457 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 281 |
| 6 | Alaska | $62,199 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 32 |
| 7 | Utah | $59,377 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 82 |
| 8 | Washington | $66,041 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 137 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $59,718 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 52 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $60,700 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 36 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $61,192 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 8 |
| 12 | Colorado | $58,177 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 202 |
| 13 | Nevada | $56,599 | $39,000 | 2,998,039 | 57 |
| 14 | New York | $58,005 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 457 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $54,347 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 32 |
| 16 | California | $59,513 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,001 |
| 17 | Maryland | $56,916 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 283 |
| 18 | Vermont | $58,318 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 17 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $56,637 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 170 |
| 20 | Oregon | $57,798 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 100 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $57,569 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 110 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $56,926 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 24 |
| 23 | Kansas | $54,635 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 73 |
| 24 | Virginia | $55,300 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 417 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $54,247 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 30 |
| 26 | Texas | $52,970 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 537 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $54,290 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 233 |
| 28 | Michigan | $53,768 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 167 |
| 29 | Idaho | $50,916 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 48 |
| 30 | Arizona | $50,687 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 245 |
| 31 | Georgia | $51,279 | $36,000 | 10,429,379 | 264 |
| 32 | Ohio | $50,080 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 237 |
| 33 | Delaware | $52,488 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 28 |
| 34 | Montana | $50,039 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 30 |
| 35 | Indiana | $50,344 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 151 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $47,080 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 41 |
| 37 | Iowa | $50,672 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 65 |
| 38 | Maine | $52,177 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 17 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $50,270 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 67 |
| 40 | Florida | $46,483 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 468 |
| 41 | Missouri | $44,933 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 156 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $45,802 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 245 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $48,029 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 31 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $48,172 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 37 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $42,828 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 128 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $44,519 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 33 |
| 47 | Alabama | $37,280 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 105 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $44,950 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 40 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $40,461 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 56 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $41,574 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 12 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $37,400 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 60 |
Highest paying states for payroll analysts
| Rank | State | Avg. Payroll Analyst Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $63,582 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $64,637 |
| 3 | Illinois | $60,526 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,081 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $62,457 |
| 6 | Alaska | $62,199 |
| 7 | Utah | $59,377 |
| 8 | Washington | $66,041 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $59,718 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $60,700 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $61,192 |
| 12 | Colorado | $58,177 |
| 13 | Nevada | $56,599 |
| 14 | New York | $58,005 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $54,347 |
| 16 | California | $59,513 |
| 17 | Maryland | $56,916 |
| 18 | Vermont | $58,318 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $56,637 |
| 20 | Oregon | $57,798 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $57,569 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $56,926 |
| 23 | Kansas | $54,635 |
| 24 | Virginia | $55,300 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $54,247 |
| 26 | Texas | $52,970 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $54,290 |
| 28 | Michigan | $53,768 |
| 29 | Idaho | $50,916 |
| 30 | Arizona | $50,687 |
| 31 | Georgia | $51,279 |
| 32 | Ohio | $50,080 |
| 33 | Delaware | $52,488 |
| 34 | Montana | $50,039 |
| 35 | Indiana | $50,344 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $47,080 |
| 37 | Iowa | $50,672 |
| 38 | Maine | $52,177 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $50,270 |
| 40 | Florida | $46,483 |
| 41 | Missouri | $44,933 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $45,802 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $48,029 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $48,172 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $42,828 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $44,519 |
| 47 | Alabama | $37,280 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $44,950 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $40,461 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $41,574 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $37,400 |
Payroll analyst best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025