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Best states for a ranch hand
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a ranch hand and really want to work at Rocking? Turns out, your chances to become a ranch hand are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant ranch hand jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. North Dakota is the best state in the country for ranch hand jobs.
In order to get you the best states for ranch hands, 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 ranch hand, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for ranch hands in 2026
1. North Dakota
Total ranch hand jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $35,156 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 5.5
2. Nebraska
Total ranch hand jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $32,669 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 3.45
3. Iowa
Total ranch hand jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $31,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
4. Utah
Total ranch hand jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $31,087 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 2
5. Idaho
Total ranch hand jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $32,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
6. Kentucky
Total ranch hand jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $29,922 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 2.25
7. Maine
Total ranch hand jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Vermont
Total ranch hand jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. South Dakota
Total ranch hand jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $30,415 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
10. Connecticut
Total ranch hand jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $34,247 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 0.19
Ranch hand jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a ranch hand
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a ranch hand
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $35,156 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 8 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $32,669 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 12 |
| 3 | Iowa | $31,685 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 7 |
| 4 | Utah | $31,087 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 10 |
| 5 | Idaho | $32,675 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 2 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $29,922 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 13 |
| 7 | Maine | $33,586 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $33,845 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $30,415 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 1 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $34,247 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 1 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $29,397 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 16 |
| 12 | New York | $31,320 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 25 |
| 13 | California | $32,137 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 40 |
| 14 | Oregon | $29,652 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 8 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $28,751 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 19 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $31,188 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 7 |
| 17 | Missouri | $28,530 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 11 |
| 18 | Ohio | $28,961 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 10 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $31,460 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,361 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 21 | Delaware | $30,764 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 1 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $30,245 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 1 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $26,986 | $21,000 | 579,315 | 2 |
| 24 | Kansas | $29,164 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 2 |
| 25 | Illinois | $28,652 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 14 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $28,045 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 13 |
| 27 | Colorado | $28,457 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 9 |
| 28 | Nevada | $27,519 | $21,000 | 2,998,039 | 3 |
| 29 | Michigan | $27,201 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 5 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $27,177 | $22,000 | 693,972 | 5 |
| 31 | Montana | $25,423 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 76 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $24,429 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
| 33 | Washington | $26,845 | $20,000 | 7,405,743 | 12 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $27,174 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 1 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $29,432 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 36 | Arizona | $27,152 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 2 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $26,240 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 4 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $26,720 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $24,507 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 12 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $25,343 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $23,219 | $18,000 | 3,930,864 | 7 |
| 42 | Texas | $23,699 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 34 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,280 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 14 |
| 44 | Alaska | $21,627 | $18,000 | 739,795 | 3 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $24,929 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 1 |
| 46 | Alabama | $24,459 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 1 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,892 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 11 |
| 48 | Maryland | $25,015 | $20,000 | 6,052,177 | 3 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $22,988 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 3 |
| 50 | Indiana | $21,797 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 6 |
| 51 | Virginia | $21,369 | $17,000 | 8,470,020 | 6 |
Highest paying states for ranch hands
| Rank | State | Avg. Ranch Hand Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $35,156 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $32,669 |
| 3 | Iowa | $31,685 |
| 4 | Utah | $31,087 |
| 5 | Idaho | $32,675 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $29,922 |
| 7 | Maine | $33,586 |
| 8 | Vermont | $33,845 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $30,415 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $34,247 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $29,397 |
| 12 | New York | $31,320 |
| 13 | California | $32,137 |
| 14 | Oregon | $29,652 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $28,751 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $31,188 |
| 17 | Missouri | $28,530 |
| 18 | Ohio | $28,961 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $31,460 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,361 |
| 21 | Delaware | $30,764 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $30,245 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $26,986 |
| 24 | Kansas | $29,164 |
| 25 | Illinois | $28,652 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $28,045 |
| 27 | Colorado | $28,457 |
| 28 | Nevada | $27,519 |
| 29 | Michigan | $27,201 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $27,177 |
| 31 | Montana | $25,423 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $24,429 |
| 33 | Washington | $26,845 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $27,174 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $29,432 |
| 36 | Arizona | $27,152 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $26,240 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $26,720 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $24,507 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $25,343 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $23,219 |
| 42 | Texas | $23,699 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,280 |
| 44 | Alaska | $21,627 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $24,929 |
| 46 | Alabama | $24,459 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,892 |
| 48 | Maryland | $25,015 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $22,988 |
| 50 | Indiana | $21,797 |
| 51 | Virginia | $21,369 |
Ranch hand best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025