Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a strategic consultant
Quoted expert
David Smith
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like strategic consultants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for strategic consultants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for strategic consultants -- where there are plenty of strategic consultant jobs to go around and strategic consultants get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for strategic consultants in New Jersey is $117,697. Compare that to the median salary in Kansas of $76,878, which ranked worst for strategic consultants, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that New Jersey is the best state for strategic consultant jobs, whereas Kansas is the worst.
10 best states for strategic consultants in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total strategic consultant jobs: 1,289 Average annual salary: $117,697 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
2. Connecticut
Total strategic consultant jobs: 455 Average annual salary: $115,777 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Texas
Total strategic consultant jobs: 2,273 Average annual salary: $121,572 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
4. New Hampshire
Total strategic consultant jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $109,669 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Rhode Island
Total strategic consultant jobs: 275 Average annual salary: $104,086 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
6. Massachusetts
Total strategic consultant jobs: 1,344 Average annual salary: $111,718 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
7. Illinois
Total strategic consultant jobs: 1,733 Average annual salary: $107,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
8. District of Columbia
Total strategic consultant jobs: 540 Average annual salary: $115,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 2.71
9. Oregon
Total strategic consultant jobs: 736 Average annual salary: $107,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
10. Washington
Total strategic consultant jobs: 697 Average annual salary: $114,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
Strategic consultant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a strategic consultant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a strategic consultant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $117,697 | $87,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,289 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $115,777 | $85,000 | 3,588,184 | 455 |
| 3 | Texas | $121,572 | $91,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,273 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $109,669 | $80,000 | 1,342,795 | 232 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $104,086 | $76,000 | 1,059,639 | 275 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $111,718 | $82,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,344 |
| 7 | Illinois | $107,438 | $81,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,733 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $115,582 | $85,000 | 693,972 | 540 |
| 9 | Oregon | $107,257 | $81,000 | 4,142,776 | 736 |
| 10 | Washington | $114,356 | $87,000 | 7,405,743 | 697 |
| 11 | California | $115,296 | $85,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,170 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $98,011 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 170 |
| 13 | New York | $108,530 | $80,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,764 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $100,850 | $75,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,157 |
| 15 | Alabama | $98,768 | $74,000 | 4,874,747 | 561 |
| 16 | Colorado | $111,676 | $84,000 | 5,607,154 | 473 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $103,804 | $79,000 | 5,576,606 | 812 |
| 18 | Michigan | $102,457 | $76,000 | 9,962,311 | 588 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $97,877 | $72,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,543 |
| 20 | Nevada | $100,076 | $74,000 | 2,998,039 | 248 |
| 21 | Georgia | $101,923 | $76,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,028 |
| 22 | Missouri | $101,608 | $77,000 | 6,113,532 | 568 |
| 23 | Maine | $101,938 | $75,000 | 1,335,907 | 102 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $96,018 | $72,000 | 3,930,864 | 452 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $98,496 | $73,000 | 1,815,857 | 107 |
| 26 | Maryland | $108,318 | $80,000 | 6,052,177 | 481 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $95,522 | $73,000 | 579,315 | 72 |
| 28 | Virginia | $98,143 | $73,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,273 |
| 29 | Arizona | $98,057 | $73,000 | 7,016,270 | 628 |
| 30 | Vermont | $93,322 | $68,000 | 623,657 | 153 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $96,081 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 188 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $96,315 | $72,000 | 5,795,483 | 469 |
| 33 | Indiana | $88,581 | $66,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,149 |
| 34 | Alaska | $99,720 | $83,000 | 739,795 | 66 |
| 35 | Utah | $89,248 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 493 |
| 36 | Delaware | $94,938 | $70,000 | 961,939 | 138 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $93,622 | $70,000 | 6,715,984 | 414 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $96,772 | $72,000 | 4,684,333 | 188 |
| 39 | Ohio | $90,887 | $67,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,006 |
| 40 | Florida | $92,383 | $68,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,591 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $87,517 | $65,000 | 2,984,100 | 267 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $94,121 | $71,000 | 5,024,369 | 287 |
| 43 | Montana | $85,153 | $66,000 | 1,050,493 | 160 |
| 44 | Idaho | $87,552 | $66,000 | 1,716,943 | 201 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $88,702 | $66,000 | 4,454,189 | 263 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $85,665 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 100 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $84,470 | $64,000 | 1,920,076 | 210 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $81,594 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 225 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $78,434 | $61,000 | 755,393 | 89 |
| 50 | Iowa | $84,016 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 234 |
| 51 | Kansas | $76,878 | $58,000 | 2,913,123 | 279 |
Highest paying states for strategic consultants
| Rank | State | Avg. Strategic Consultant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $117,697 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $115,777 |
| 3 | Texas | $121,572 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $109,669 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $104,086 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $111,718 |
| 7 | Illinois | $107,438 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $115,582 |
| 9 | Oregon | $107,257 |
| 10 | Washington | $114,356 |
| 11 | California | $115,296 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $98,011 |
| 13 | New York | $108,530 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $100,850 |
| 15 | Alabama | $98,768 |
| 16 | Colorado | $111,676 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $103,804 |
| 18 | Michigan | $102,457 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $97,877 |
| 20 | Nevada | $100,076 |
| 21 | Georgia | $101,923 |
| 22 | Missouri | $101,608 |
| 23 | Maine | $101,938 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $96,018 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $98,496 |
| 26 | Maryland | $108,318 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $95,522 |
| 28 | Virginia | $98,143 |
| 29 | Arizona | $98,057 |
| 30 | Vermont | $93,322 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $96,081 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $96,315 |
| 33 | Indiana | $88,581 |
| 34 | Alaska | $99,720 |
| 35 | Utah | $89,248 |
| 36 | Delaware | $94,938 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $93,622 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $96,772 |
| 39 | Ohio | $90,887 |
| 40 | Florida | $92,383 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $87,517 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $94,121 |
| 43 | Montana | $85,153 |
| 44 | Idaho | $87,552 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $88,702 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $85,665 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $84,470 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $81,594 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $78,434 |
| 50 | Iowa | $84,016 |
| 51 | Kansas | $76,878 |
Expert opinions on the best states for strategic consultants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for strategic consultants to find work opportunities?
David Smith
Consultant, Coach and Speaker, David J. Smith Consulting
My work tends to focus on those seeking careers in conflict-sensitive fields, such as conflict resolution, humanitarian work, local and international development, and peacebuilding. Those working in these areas are driven by the locus of the work, that is, where the needs are and those that need support. In some cases, this is within one's own community, and in others, overseas.
Strategic consultant best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for strategic consultant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025