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Best states for a proposal writer
Quoted expert
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.
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Proposal writer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for proposal writers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for proposal writers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of proposal writers in America is $97,000.
District of Columbia is the best state for jobs for proposal writers, and Iowa is the worst. The most common pay in District of Columbia is $102,634, while the median pay in Iowa is $51,752.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for proposal writer jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.
10 best states for proposal writers in 2025
1. District of Columbia
Total proposal writer jobs: 235 Average annual salary: $102,634 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 4.42
2. Virginia
Total proposal writer jobs: 625 Average annual salary: $88,056 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 2.09
3. New York
Total proposal writer jobs: 797 Average annual salary: $81,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
4. Maryland
Total proposal writer jobs: 381 Average annual salary: $82,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
5. Massachusetts
Total proposal writer jobs: 389 Average annual salary: $74,713 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
6. California
Total proposal writer jobs: 1,166 Average annual salary: $77,744 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
7. Arizona
Total proposal writer jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $79,297 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
8. North Carolina
Total proposal writer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $72,086 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Connecticut
Total proposal writer jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $74,505 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Vermont
Total proposal writer jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $69,314 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
Proposal writer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a proposal writer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a proposal writer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $102,634 | $68,000 | 693,972 | 235 |
| 2 | Virginia | $88,056 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 625 |
| 3 | New York | $81,108 | $55,000 | 19,849,399 | 797 |
| 4 | Maryland | $82,199 | $55,000 | 6,052,177 | 381 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $74,713 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 389 |
| 6 | California | $77,744 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,166 |
| 7 | Arizona | $79,297 | $53,000 | 7,016,270 | 142 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $72,086 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 296 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $74,505 | $50,000 | 3,588,184 | 100 |
| 10 | Vermont | $69,314 | $49,000 | 623,657 | 33 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $73,566 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 263 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $70,888 | $49,000 | 1,342,795 | 44 |
| 13 | Michigan | $71,210 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 157 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $69,561 | $46,000 | 12,805,537 | 291 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $62,167 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 34 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $65,579 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 39 |
| 17 | Texas | $66,376 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 522 |
| 18 | Illinois | $66,052 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 372 |
| 19 | Delaware | $66,154 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 38 |
| 20 | Oregon | $62,251 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 211 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $64,142 | $48,000 | 755,393 | 22 |
| 22 | Nevada | $61,700 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 82 |
| 23 | Georgia | $65,740 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 217 |
| 24 | Washington | $62,532 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 249 |
| 25 | Ohio | $63,978 | $43,000 | 11,658,609 | 179 |
| 26 | Florida | $63,733 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 397 |
| 27 | Colorado | $62,219 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 192 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $59,675 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 109 |
| 29 | Alaska | $53,528 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 39 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,825 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 125 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $57,308 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 112 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $56,388 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 52 |
| 33 | Missouri | $57,741 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 141 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $58,663 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 159 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $60,612 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 36 |
| 36 | Montana | $56,389 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 34 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $56,432 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 25 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $56,535 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 79 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,809 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 25 |
| 40 | Alabama | $56,262 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 69 |
| 41 | Kansas | $54,836 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 65 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $51,470 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 71 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $54,066 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 48 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $54,278 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 52 |
| 45 | Maine | $54,741 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 18 |
| 46 | Idaho | $50,584 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 41 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,735 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 21 |
| 48 | Indiana | $51,985 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 115 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $52,131 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 59 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $52,836 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 24 |
| 51 | Iowa | $51,752 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 54 |
Highest paying states for proposal writers
| Rank | State | Avg. Proposal Writer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $102,634 |
| 2 | Virginia | $88,056 |
| 3 | New York | $81,108 |
| 4 | Maryland | $82,199 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $74,713 |
| 6 | California | $77,744 |
| 7 | Arizona | $79,297 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $72,086 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $74,505 |
| 10 | Vermont | $69,314 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $73,566 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $70,888 |
| 13 | Michigan | $71,210 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $69,561 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $62,167 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $65,579 |
| 17 | Texas | $66,376 |
| 18 | Illinois | $66,052 |
| 19 | Delaware | $66,154 |
| 20 | Oregon | $62,251 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $64,142 |
| 22 | Nevada | $61,700 |
| 23 | Georgia | $65,740 |
| 24 | Washington | $62,532 |
| 25 | Ohio | $63,978 |
| 26 | Florida | $63,733 |
| 27 | Colorado | $62,219 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $59,675 |
| 29 | Alaska | $53,528 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,825 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $57,308 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $56,388 |
| 33 | Missouri | $57,741 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $58,663 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $60,612 |
| 36 | Montana | $56,389 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $56,432 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $56,535 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,809 |
| 40 | Alabama | $56,262 |
| 41 | Kansas | $54,836 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $51,470 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $54,066 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $54,278 |
| 45 | Maine | $54,741 |
| 46 | Idaho | $50,584 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,735 |
| 48 | Indiana | $51,985 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $52,131 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $52,836 |
| 51 | Iowa | $51,752 |
Expert opinions on the best states for proposal writers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for proposal writers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Mercer University
Major metropolitan areas are more likely to have greater concentrations of business, industry, and primary research institutions that might be looking to use graduates with these skill sets - but other areas and regions will also have demonstrated need for individuals with these skills. However, the coronavirus pandemic has seriously curtailed many hiring initiatives during 2020. Given the uncertain budgetary climate, it probably will continue to be a challenging employment climate in the coming months.
I think that it is essential that recent and soon-to-be graduates consider non-traditional sources of careers. Instead of solely focusing on graduate school education and obtaining a university faculty position after your Ph.D., individuals interested in neuroscience would be well-served to consider other career paths. Over the recent past, this typically meant positions in industry, biotech, or big pharma. However, even those areas have now seen an abundance of quality applicants.
It has been evident that individuals need to explore science-related, non-research careers. Places where individuals typically do not look for positions - non-profits, social policy organizations, government positions, business management and consulting, science writing/communication, K-12 education, even law firms often need researchers and data analysts. Thus the importance of developing an extensive and flexible skillset.
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Updated January 8, 2025