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Best states for a specialist
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Shannon Dill
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Are you thinking of becoming a specialist and really want to work at Apple? Turns out, your chances to become a specialist are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of specialists in America is $104,000.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for specialists. District of Columbia is the best state for specialists, where the median salary is $69,975.If you are currently seeking employment as a specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for specialists in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total specialist jobs: 1,881 Average annual salary: $69,975 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.87
2. Delaware
Total specialist jobs: 844 Average annual salary: $70,439 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
3. Massachusetts
Total specialist jobs: 6,030 Average annual salary: $62,747 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. New York
Total specialist jobs: 7,168 Average annual salary: $71,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
5. New Jersey
Total specialist jobs: 4,325 Average annual salary: $73,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
6. California
Total specialist jobs: 18,008 Average annual salary: $66,682 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Virginia
Total specialist jobs: 6,046 Average annual salary: $62,248 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
8. Pennsylvania
Total specialist jobs: 6,242 Average annual salary: $65,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Illinois
Total specialist jobs: 7,267 Average annual salary: $59,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
10. Texas
Total specialist jobs: 11,049 Average annual salary: $63,714 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
Specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $69,975 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 1,881 |
| 2 | Delaware | $70,439 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 844 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $62,747 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,030 |
| 4 | New York | $71,852 | $39,000 | 19,849,399 | 7,168 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $73,913 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,325 |
| 6 | California | $66,682 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 18,008 |
| 7 | Virginia | $62,248 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 6,046 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $65,019 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 6,242 |
| 9 | Illinois | $59,163 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 7,267 |
| 10 | Texas | $63,714 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 11,049 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $56,880 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,600 |
| 12 | Maryland | $55,047 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,588 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,192 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,750 |
| 14 | Michigan | $56,047 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,305 |
| 15 | Arizona | $49,064 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,229 |
| 16 | Nevada | $50,000 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,284 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,650 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 811 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $53,246 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 776 |
| 19 | Georgia | $51,834 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 5,686 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $49,320 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 740 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $49,649 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,123 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $47,466 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,278 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $47,467 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 4,257 |
| 24 | Ohio | $49,864 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 4,924 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $47,655 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,840 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $43,519 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 680 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $47,763 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,062 |
| 28 | Washington | $48,267 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,386 |
| 29 | Florida | $44,652 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 10,339 |
| 30 | Alaska | $43,100 | $28,000 | 739,795 | 679 |
| 31 | Indiana | $46,242 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,476 |
| 32 | Alabama | $46,539 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,249 |
| 33 | Vermont | $41,900 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 656 |
| 34 | Oregon | $44,265 | $24,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,573 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $43,561 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,051 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $39,933 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 502 |
| 37 | Utah | $41,092 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 2,341 |
| 38 | Iowa | $41,281 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,309 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $42,650 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,280 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $43,469 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,969 |
| 41 | Idaho | $40,604 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,315 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $42,203 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,472 |
| 43 | Montana | $38,852 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 1,000 |
| 44 | Colorado | $42,406 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,679 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $43,592 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,205 |
| 46 | Missouri | $42,565 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,308 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $40,044 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,466 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $39,757 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 639 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $42,400 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,610 |
| 50 | Maine | $38,829 | $22,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,011 |
| 51 | Kansas | $41,039 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,619 |
Highest paying states for specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $69,975 |
| 2 | Delaware | $70,439 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $62,747 |
| 4 | New York | $71,852 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $73,913 |
| 6 | California | $66,682 |
| 7 | Virginia | $62,248 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $65,019 |
| 9 | Illinois | $59,163 |
| 10 | Texas | $63,714 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $56,880 |
| 12 | Maryland | $55,047 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,192 |
| 14 | Michigan | $56,047 |
| 15 | Arizona | $49,064 |
| 16 | Nevada | $50,000 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $54,650 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $53,246 |
| 19 | Georgia | $51,834 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $49,320 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $49,649 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $47,466 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $47,467 |
| 24 | Ohio | $49,864 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $47,655 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $43,519 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $47,763 |
| 28 | Washington | $48,267 |
| 29 | Florida | $44,652 |
| 30 | Alaska | $43,100 |
| 31 | Indiana | $46,242 |
| 32 | Alabama | $46,539 |
| 33 | Vermont | $41,900 |
| 34 | Oregon | $44,265 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $43,561 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $39,933 |
| 37 | Utah | $41,092 |
| 38 | Iowa | $41,281 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $42,650 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $43,469 |
| 41 | Idaho | $40,604 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $42,203 |
| 43 | Montana | $38,852 |
| 44 | Colorado | $42,406 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $43,592 |
| 46 | Missouri | $42,565 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $40,044 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $39,757 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $42,400 |
| 50 | Maine | $38,829 |
| 51 | Kansas | $41,039 |
Expert opinions on the best states for specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for specialists to find work opportunities?
Shannon Dill
Principal Agent, University of Maryland Extension - Talbot County
I don't think I can highlight a particular area. Agriculture can be very regional, and parts of the country are known for producing certain products. There is agriculture research, education, and support nationwide at universities, USDA, and private industries. Depending on the type of agriculture and work of interest, there would be regions that offer more opportunities.
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Updated January 8, 2025