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Best states for a personnel manager
Quoted expert
Sarah Kovalesky
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Are you thinking of becoming a personnel manager and really want to work at United States Army Corps of Engineers? Turns out, your chances to become a personnel manager are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Connecticut is the best state for personnel managers in America. The best city in America for personnel managers with the highest pay is Stamford, CT.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for personnel managers. Connecticut is the best state for personnel managers, where the median salary is $64,115.Connecticut is the best state, and New London is the city with the highest pay for personnel managers.
10 best states for personnel managers in 2025
1. Connecticut
Total personnel manager jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $64,115 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. Nevada
Total personnel manager jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $63,165 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
3. Illinois
Total personnel manager jobs: 712 Average annual salary: $54,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
4. Arizona
Total personnel manager jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $58,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. California
Total personnel manager jobs: 1,690 Average annual salary: $60,196 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. New York
Total personnel manager jobs: 845 Average annual salary: $56,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
7. Massachusetts
Total personnel manager jobs: 433 Average annual salary: $56,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1
8. New Jersey
Total personnel manager jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $55,531 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. Rhode Island
Total personnel manager jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $57,605 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
10. Pennsylvania
Total personnel manager jobs: 599 Average annual salary: $49,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
Personnel manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a personnel manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a personnel manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $64,115 | $44,000 | 3,588,184 | 179 |
| 2 | Nevada | $63,165 | $42,000 | 2,998,039 | 108 |
| 3 | Illinois | $54,567 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 712 |
| 4 | Arizona | $58,799 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 274 |
| 5 | California | $60,196 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,690 |
| 6 | New York | $56,493 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 845 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $56,280 | $39,000 | 6,859,819 | 433 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $55,531 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 426 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $57,605 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 42 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $49,918 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 599 |
| 11 | Delaware | $54,432 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 54 |
| 12 | Virginia | $53,675 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 457 |
| 13 | Michigan | $50,594 | $36,000 | 9,962,311 | 333 |
| 14 | Florida | $51,483 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 700 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $53,562 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 152 |
| 16 | Ohio | $47,530 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 481 |
| 17 | Maryland | $50,519 | $35,000 | 6,052,177 | 345 |
| 18 | Iowa | $49,451 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 110 |
| 19 | Colorado | $51,372 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 253 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $54,527 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 40 |
| 21 | Maine | $50,433 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 36 |
| 22 | Oregon | $50,441 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 176 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $49,302 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 62 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $46,808 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 48 |
| 25 | Utah | $47,556 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 120 |
| 26 | Alabama | $46,973 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 128 |
| 27 | Alaska | $45,273 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 49 |
| 28 | Indiana | $45,857 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 280 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $47,916 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 9 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $48,507 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 44 |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,277 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 538 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $46,296 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 416 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $45,242 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 228 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $47,918 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 246 |
| 35 | Missouri | $45,374 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 293 |
| 36 | Texas | $45,487 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 963 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,139 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 201 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,793 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 105 |
| 39 | Montana | $46,123 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 42 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $45,875 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 102 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $45,443 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 75 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $45,246 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 55 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $44,868 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 23 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $41,176 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 133 |
| 45 | Washington | $43,565 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 360 |
| 46 | Vermont | $45,575 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 20 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $41,416 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 140 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $43,213 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 21 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $43,573 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 75 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,398 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 169 |
| 51 | Idaho | $42,007 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 36 |
Highest paying states for personnel managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Personnel Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $64,115 |
| 2 | Nevada | $63,165 |
| 3 | Illinois | $54,567 |
| 4 | Arizona | $58,799 |
| 5 | California | $60,196 |
| 6 | New York | $56,493 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $56,280 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $55,531 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $57,605 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $49,918 |
| 11 | Delaware | $54,432 |
| 12 | Virginia | $53,675 |
| 13 | Michigan | $50,594 |
| 14 | Florida | $51,483 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $53,562 |
| 16 | Ohio | $47,530 |
| 17 | Maryland | $50,519 |
| 18 | Iowa | $49,451 |
| 19 | Colorado | $51,372 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $54,527 |
| 21 | Maine | $50,433 |
| 22 | Oregon | $50,441 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $49,302 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $46,808 |
| 25 | Utah | $47,556 |
| 26 | Alabama | $46,973 |
| 27 | Alaska | $45,273 |
| 28 | Indiana | $45,857 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $47,916 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $48,507 |
| 31 | Georgia | $46,277 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $46,296 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $45,242 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $47,918 |
| 35 | Missouri | $45,374 |
| 36 | Texas | $45,487 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,139 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,793 |
| 39 | Montana | $46,123 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $45,875 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $45,443 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $45,246 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $44,868 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $41,176 |
| 45 | Washington | $43,565 |
| 46 | Vermont | $45,575 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $41,416 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $43,213 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $43,573 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,398 |
| 51 | Idaho | $42,007 |
Expert opinions on the best states for personnel managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for personnel managers to find work opportunities?
Sarah Kovalesky
Career Coach, University of Utah
Location is a very personal factor in the job search. In my experience coaching with students, the biggest consideration in a location often has to do with expenses and cost of living when it comes to location. After that, family and proximity to things that are important to them are additional factors.
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Updated January 8, 2025