Best states for a program assistant

Q: What is the best state for program assistants?

The best state to be a program assistant is Connecticut based on program assistant salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for program assistants?

The highest paying state for program assistants is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for program assistants?

The worst state for program assistants is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to program assistant 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 program assistant jobs.

The median salary for program assistants in Connecticut is $42,124. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $28,103, which ranked worst for program assistants, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a program assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for program assistants in 2025

1. Connecticut
Total program assistant jobs: 675
Average annual salary: $42,124
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Program assistant jobs in Connecticut
2. North Dakota
Total program assistant jobs: 228
Average annual salary: $36,270
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Program assistant jobs in North Dakota
3. District of Columbia
Total program assistant jobs: 317
Average annual salary: $48,181
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Program assistant jobs in District of Columbia
4. Colorado
Total program assistant jobs: 1,194
Average annual salary: $37,564
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Program assistant jobs in Colorado
5. Wisconsin
Total program assistant jobs: 996
Average annual salary: $36,326
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Program assistant jobs in Wisconsin
6. New York
Total program assistant jobs: 3,171
Average annual salary: $38,294
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
Program assistant jobs in New York
7. Minnesota
Total program assistant jobs: 1,746
Average annual salary: $34,818
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.62
Program assistant jobs in Minnesota
8. Ohio
Total program assistant jobs: 1,774
Average annual salary: $34,752
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Program assistant jobs in Ohio
9. Oregon
Total program assistant jobs: 829
Average annual salary: $34,955
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Program assistant jobs in Oregon
10. New Jersey
Total program assistant jobs: 1,517
Average annual salary: $36,510
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Program assistant jobs in New Jersey

Program assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a program assistant

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

Detailed list of the best states for a program assistant

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Connecticut	$42,124	$30,000	3,588,184	675
2	North Dakota	$36,270	$29,000	755,393	228
3	District of Columbia	$48,181	$35,000	693,972	317
4	Colorado	$37,564	$29,000	5,607,154	1,194
5	Wisconsin	$36,326	$28,000	5,795,483	996
6	New York	$38,294	$27,000	19,849,399	3,171
7	Minnesota	$34,818	$27,000	5,576,606	1,746
8	Ohio	$34,752	$26,000	11,658,609	1,774
9	Oregon	$34,955	$27,000	4,142,776	829
10	New Jersey	$36,510	$26,000	9,005,644	1,517
11	Nevada	$34,678	$26,000	2,998,039	337
12	Texas	$33,975	$26,000	28,304,596	3,386
13	Pennsylvania	$33,224	$24,000	12,805,537	1,999
14	Rhode Island	$33,140	$23,000	1,059,639	245
15	North Carolina	$34,412	$26,000	10,273,419	1,302
16	New Mexico	$33,529	$26,000	2,088,070	339
17	Illinois	$34,187	$26,000	12,802,023	2,012
18	New Hampshire	$32,904	$23,000	1,342,795	342
19	California	$39,612	$30,000	39,536,653	3,233
20	Arizona	$33,046	$25,000	7,016,270	1,052
21	Maine	$33,098	$24,000	1,335,907	216
22	Massachusetts	$35,361	$25,000	6,859,819	1,437
23	Florida	$33,310	$24,000	20,984,400	2,730
24	Hawaii	$32,851	$27,000	1,427,538	206
25	Idaho	$31,825	$25,000	1,716,943	293
26	Iowa	$31,963	$25,000	3,145,711	532
27	Delaware	$33,096	$23,000	961,939	219
28	Kansas	$32,554	$25,000	2,913,123	403
29	Tennessee	$31,198	$24,000	6,715,984	817
30	South Carolina	$32,218	$24,000	5,024,369	670
31	Alaska	$31,189	$27,000	739,795	182
32	West Virginia	$30,147	$22,000	1,815,857	272
33	Michigan	$30,716	$23,000	9,962,311	1,368
34	Oklahoma	$32,163	$25,000	3,930,864	382
35	Washington	$35,064	$28,000	7,405,743	861
36	Nebraska	$31,168	$24,000	1,920,076	379
37	Vermont	$32,376	$24,000	623,657	115
38	Indiana	$30,974	$23,000	6,666,818	928
39	Kentucky	$30,915	$23,000	4,454,189	502
40	Wyoming	$30,786	$24,000	579,315	93
41	Maryland	$33,461	$24,000	6,052,177	817
42	Montana	$29,499	$23,000	1,050,493	237
43	Utah	$29,373	$23,000	3,101,833	594
44	Mississippi	$30,516	$23,000	2,984,100	315
45	Missouri	$30,933	$24,000	6,113,532	694
46	Louisiana	$30,222	$23,000	4,684,333	447
47	Virginia	$31,899	$23,000	8,470,020	1,099
48	Georgia	$30,031	$22,000	10,429,379	1,571
49	Alabama	$29,683	$22,000	4,874,747	616
50	South Dakota	$28,053	$22,000	869,666	166
51	Arkansas	$28,103	$21,000	3,004,279	388

Highest paying states for program assistants

Rank	State	Avg. Program Assistant Salary
1	Connecticut	$42,124
2	North Dakota	$36,270
3	District of Columbia	$48,181
4	Colorado	$37,564
5	Wisconsin	$36,326
6	New York	$38,294
7	Minnesota	$34,818
8	Ohio	$34,752
9	Oregon	$34,955
10	New Jersey	$36,510
11	Nevada	$34,678
12	Texas	$33,975
13	Pennsylvania	$33,224
14	Rhode Island	$33,140
15	North Carolina	$34,412
16	New Mexico	$33,529
17	Illinois	$34,187
18	New Hampshire	$32,904
19	California	$39,612
20	Arizona	$33,046
21	Maine	$33,098
22	Massachusetts	$35,361
23	Florida	$33,310
24	Hawaii	$32,851
25	Idaho	$31,825
26	Iowa	$31,963
27	Delaware	$33,096
28	Kansas	$32,554
29	Tennessee	$31,198
30	South Carolina	$32,218
31	Alaska	$31,189
32	West Virginia	$30,147
33	Michigan	$30,716
34	Oklahoma	$32,163
35	Washington	$35,064
36	Nebraska	$31,168
37	Vermont	$32,376
38	Indiana	$30,974
39	Kentucky	$30,915
40	Wyoming	$30,786
41	Maryland	$33,461
42	Montana	$29,499
43	Utah	$29,373
44	Mississippi	$30,516
45	Missouri	$30,933
46	Louisiana	$30,222
47	Virginia	$31,899
48	Georgia	$30,031
49	Alabama	$29,683
50	South Dakota	$28,053
51	Arkansas	$28,103

Expert opinions on the best states for program assistants

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for program assistants to find work opportunities?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom
Coordinator of M.Ed. Special Education, Frostburg State University
Special education teachers are needed everywhere. Urban areas have more openings; however, rural areas struggle to find qualified candidates because their number is limited. We are not producing enough teachers in the United States, and we have a real crisis in special education.

Program assistant best states FAQs

What is the best state for program assistants?

What is the highest paying state for program assistants?

What is the worst state for program assistants?

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Search for program assistant jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total program assistant jobs:	675
Average annual salary:	$42,124
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$58,000
Location Quotient:	1.26

Best states for a program assistant

10 best states for program assistants in 2025

1. Connecticut

2. North Dakota

3. District of Columbia

4. Colorado

5. Wisconsin

6. New York

7. Minnesota

8. Ohio

9. Oregon

10. New Jersey