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Best states for a social services specialist
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for social services specialists? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for social services specialist jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for social services specialists. We found that New Mexico is the best state in the nation for social services specialists, and people in Las Cruces earn the most in the field.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for social services specialists.If you are currently seeking employment as a social services specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for social services specialists in 2026
1. New Mexico
Total social services specialist jobs: 470 Average annual salary: $57,432 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
2. Nevada
Total social services specialist jobs: 474 Average annual salary: $54,840 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
3. District of Columbia
Total social services specialist jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $59,909 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. North Carolina
Total social services specialist jobs: 2,059 Average annual salary: $54,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
5. New York
Total social services specialist jobs: 3,628 Average annual salary: $51,809 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. New Jersey
Total social services specialist jobs: 1,788 Average annual salary: $53,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Connecticut
Total social services specialist jobs: 746 Average annual salary: $52,872 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
8. North Dakota
Total social services specialist jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $50,643 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Arizona
Total social services specialist jobs: 1,423 Average annual salary: $49,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Washington
Total social services specialist jobs: 1,911 Average annual salary: $50,131 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
Social services specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a social services specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a social services specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $57,432 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 470 |
| 2 | Nevada | $54,840 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 474 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $59,909 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 396 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $54,320 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,059 |
| 5 | New York | $51,809 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,628 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $53,773 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,788 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $52,872 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 746 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $50,643 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 214 |
| 9 | Arizona | $49,409 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,423 |
| 10 | Washington | $50,131 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,911 |
| 11 | Oregon | $49,852 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,073 |
| 12 | Iowa | $46,620 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,002 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $48,125 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 303 |
| 14 | Michigan | $47,397 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,832 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $49,708 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 385 |
| 16 | Florida | $49,221 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,623 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $46,863 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,844 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $50,487 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 712 |
| 19 | California | $53,147 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,528 |
| 20 | Ohio | $49,010 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,915 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $45,212 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 625 |
| 22 | Virginia | $51,000 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,987 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $48,128 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 255 |
| 24 | Delaware | $49,796 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 259 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,268 | $36,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,320 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $45,423 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,679 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $47,367 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 423 |
| 28 | Idaho | $44,418 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 440 |
| 29 | Alaska | $44,643 | $37,000 | 739,795 | 228 |
| 30 | Maryland | $46,082 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,680 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $43,280 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 141 |
| 32 | Texas | $46,315 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,100 |
| 33 | Illinois | $45,977 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,668 |
| 34 | Montana | $41,886 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 318 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $42,254 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 573 |
| 36 | Utah | $42,747 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 738 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $43,444 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 713 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $41,297 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 737 |
| 39 | Maine | $38,437 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 473 |
| 40 | Indiana | $41,404 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,413 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $39,801 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 333 |
| 42 | Kansas | $43,057 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 575 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $40,474 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,184 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $37,227 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,080 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $37,898 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 250 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $39,668 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 652 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $39,243 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 952 |
| 48 | Vermont | $39,202 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 159 |
| 49 | Missouri | $38,508 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,171 |
| 50 | Alabama | $38,809 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 631 |
| 51 | Georgia | $36,692 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,158 |
Highest paying states for social services specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Social Services Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $57,432 |
| 2 | Nevada | $54,840 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $59,909 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $54,320 |
| 5 | New York | $51,809 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $53,773 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $52,872 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $50,643 |
| 9 | Arizona | $49,409 |
| 10 | Washington | $50,131 |
| 11 | Oregon | $49,852 |
| 12 | Iowa | $46,620 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $48,125 |
| 14 | Michigan | $47,397 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $49,708 |
| 16 | Florida | $49,221 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $46,863 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $50,487 |
| 19 | California | $53,147 |
| 20 | Ohio | $49,010 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $45,212 |
| 22 | Virginia | $51,000 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $48,128 |
| 24 | Delaware | $49,796 |
| 25 | Colorado | $49,268 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $45,423 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $47,367 |
| 28 | Idaho | $44,418 |
| 29 | Alaska | $44,643 |
| 30 | Maryland | $46,082 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $43,280 |
| 32 | Texas | $46,315 |
| 33 | Illinois | $45,977 |
| 34 | Montana | $41,886 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $42,254 |
| 36 | Utah | $42,747 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $43,444 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $41,297 |
| 39 | Maine | $38,437 |
| 40 | Indiana | $41,404 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $39,801 |
| 42 | Kansas | $43,057 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $40,474 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $37,227 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $37,898 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $39,668 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $39,243 |
| 48 | Vermont | $39,202 |
| 49 | Missouri | $38,508 |
| 50 | Alabama | $38,809 |
| 51 | Georgia | $36,692 |
Expert opinions on the best states for social services specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for social services specialists to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
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Updated January 8, 2025