Best states for a program lead

Q: What is the best state for program leads?

The best state to be a program lead is New York based on program lead salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for program leads is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for program leads?

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

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It seems like program leads are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for program leads aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of program leads in America is $171,000.

We figured that the best places for program lead jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.New York is the best state, and Southampton is the city with the highest pay for program leads.

10 best states for program leads in 2026

1. New York
Total program lead jobs: 1,645
Average annual salary: $125,240
Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Program lead jobs in New York
2. Michigan
Total program lead jobs: 1,665
Average annual salary: $99,285
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000
Location Quotient:
2.37
Program lead jobs in Michigan
3. West Virginia
Total program lead jobs: 152
Average annual salary: $112,542
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Program lead jobs in West Virginia
4. Nebraska
Total program lead jobs: 441
Average annual salary: $95,971
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000
Location Quotient:
2.18
Program lead jobs in Nebraska
5. Connecticut
Total program lead jobs: 405
Average annual salary: $106,299
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Program lead jobs in Connecticut
6. New Hampshire
Total program lead jobs: 205
Average annual salary: $103,224
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Program lead jobs in New Hampshire
7. Delaware
Total program lead jobs: 152
Average annual salary: $102,437
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Program lead jobs in Delaware
8. District of Columbia
Total program lead jobs: 83
Average annual salary: $127,201
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $207,000
Location Quotient:
0.54
Program lead jobs in District of Columbia
9. New Jersey
Total program lead jobs: 789
Average annual salary: $105,192
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Program lead jobs in New Jersey
10. Massachusetts
Total program lead jobs: 162
Average annual salary: $115,816
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000
Location Quotient:
0.19
Program lead jobs in Massachusetts

Program lead jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a program lead

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

Detailed list of the best states for a program lead

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$125,240	$79,000	19,849,399	1,645
2	Michigan	$99,285	$57,000	9,962,311	1,665
3	West Virginia	$112,542	$64,000	1,815,857	152
4	Nebraska	$95,971	$51,000	1,920,076	441
5	Connecticut	$106,299	$66,000	3,588,184	405
6	New Hampshire	$103,224	$64,000	1,342,795	205
7	Delaware	$102,437	$61,000	961,939	152
8	District of Columbia	$127,201	$77,000	693,972	83
9	New Jersey	$105,192	$64,000	9,005,644	789
10	Massachusetts	$115,816	$72,000	6,859,819	162
11	Rhode Island	$109,327	$68,000	1,059,639	22
12	Pennsylvania	$99,648	$60,000	12,805,537	977
13	North Carolina	$96,477	$52,000	10,273,419	766
14	Maine	$96,003	$59,000	1,335,907	140
15	Vermont	$104,019	$64,000	623,657	17
16	North Dakota	$80,721	$43,000	755,393	159
17	South Dakota	$77,734	$40,000	869,666	205
18	Illinois	$89,815	$49,000	12,802,023	1,086
19	Minnesota	$77,411	$41,000	5,576,606	1,646
20	Maryland	$102,521	$60,000	6,052,177	84
21	Mississippi	$82,005	$42,000	2,984,100	174
22	Ohio	$80,867	$44,000	11,658,609	781
23	Wisconsin	$79,531	$43,000	5,795,483	497
24	Montana	$64,445	$33,000	1,050,493	288
25	Missouri	$66,688	$33,000	6,113,532	1,045
26	Virginia	$87,942	$49,000	8,470,020	147
27	Wyoming	$79,213	$40,000	579,315	15
28	Nevada	$63,982	$30,000	2,998,039	460
29	Kentucky	$76,328	$39,000	4,454,189	253
30	Oregon	$69,081	$33,000	4,142,776	504
31	Arizona	$68,372	$33,000	7,016,270	663
32	Indiana	$74,907	$39,000	6,666,818	450
33	South Carolina	$71,311	$36,000	5,024,369	336
34	Georgia	$68,383	$34,000	10,429,379	861
35	Idaho	$60,358	$29,000	1,716,943	392
36	Washington	$73,490	$37,000	7,405,743	149
37	Oklahoma	$57,599	$28,000	3,930,864	529
38	Colorado	$62,227	$30,000	5,607,154	668
39	Tennessee	$64,455	$32,000	6,715,984	400
40	Kansas	$54,208	$26,000	2,913,123	496
41	Iowa	$63,871	$32,000	3,145,711	263
42	New Mexico	$48,839	$24,000	2,088,070	395
43	Texas	$61,258	$30,000	28,304,596	1,832
44	Alaska	$52,330	$30,000	739,795	113
45	Arkansas	$47,409	$23,000	3,004,279	510
46	Hawaii	$31,082	$24,000	1,427,538	209
47	Alabama	$52,491	$26,000	4,874,747	409
48	Utah	$46,364	$22,000	3,101,833	376
49	California	$62,419	$29,000	39,536,653	406
50	Florida	$50,693	$26,000	20,984,400	1,266
51	Louisiana	$41,524	$20,000	4,684,333	230

Highest paying states for program leads

Rank	State	Avg. Program Lead Salary
1	New York	$125,240
2	Michigan	$99,285
3	West Virginia	$112,542
4	Nebraska	$95,971
5	Connecticut	$106,299
6	New Hampshire	$103,224
7	Delaware	$102,437
8	District of Columbia	$127,201
9	New Jersey	$105,192
10	Massachusetts	$115,816
11	Rhode Island	$109,327
12	Pennsylvania	$99,648
13	North Carolina	$96,477
14	Maine	$96,003
15	Vermont	$104,019
16	North Dakota	$80,721
17	South Dakota	$77,734
18	Illinois	$89,815
19	Minnesota	$77,411
20	Maryland	$102,521
21	Mississippi	$82,005
22	Ohio	$80,867
23	Wisconsin	$79,531
24	Montana	$64,445
25	Missouri	$66,688
26	Virginia	$87,942
27	Wyoming	$79,213
28	Nevada	$63,982
29	Kentucky	$76,328
30	Oregon	$69,081
31	Arizona	$68,372
32	Indiana	$74,907
33	South Carolina	$71,311
34	Georgia	$68,383
35	Idaho	$60,358
36	Washington	$73,490
37	Oklahoma	$57,599
38	Colorado	$62,227
39	Tennessee	$64,455
40	Kansas	$54,208
41	Iowa	$63,871
42	New Mexico	$48,839
43	Texas	$61,258
44	Alaska	$52,330
45	Arkansas	$47,409
46	Hawaii	$31,082
47	Alabama	$52,491
48	Utah	$46,364
49	California	$62,419
50	Florida	$50,693
51	Louisiana	$41,524

Program lead best states FAQs

What is the best state for program leads?

What is the highest paying state for program leads?

What is the worst state for program leads?

Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.

Search for program lead jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs

Total program lead jobs:	1,645
Average annual salary:	$125,240
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$79,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$198,000
Location Quotient:	1.41

Best states for a program lead

10 best states for program leads in 2026

1. New York

2. Michigan

3. West Virginia

4. Nebraska

5. Connecticut

6. New Hampshire

7. Delaware

8. District of Columbia

9. New Jersey

10. Massachusetts