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Best states for a student technician
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
It seems like student technicians are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for student technicians aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Vermont is the best state for student technicians, while Vermont and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Vermont has a median salary of $32,645 and Vermont has the highest median salary among all 50 states for student technicians.
The median salary for student technicians in Vermont is $32,645. Compare that to the median salary in Louisiana of $21,803, which ranked worst for student technicians, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Vermont is the best state, and Burlington is the city with the highest pay for student technicians.
10 best states for student technicians in 2026
1. Vermont
Total student technician jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $32,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
2. Rhode Island
Total student technician jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $31,024 Lowest 10 percent earn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
3. New York
Total student technician jobs: 2,083 Average annual salary: $32,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
4. New Jersey
Total student technician jobs: 1,170 Average annual salary: $32,446 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. Massachusetts
Total student technician jobs: 1,383 Average annual salary: $31,431 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
6. Connecticut
Total student technician jobs: 486 Average annual salary: $32,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Virginia
Total student technician jobs: 1,624 Average annual salary: $28,736 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
8. Arizona
Total student technician jobs: 993 Average annual salary: $27,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $15,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
9. Maine
Total student technician jobs: 249 Average annual salary: $27,223 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
10. Colorado
Total student technician jobs: 927 Average annual salary: $29,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Student technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a student technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a student technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $32,645 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 161 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $31,024 | $18,000 | 1,059,639 | 205 |
| 3 | New York | $32,016 | $19,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,083 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $32,446 | $19,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,170 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $31,431 | $19,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,383 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $32,207 | $19,000 | 3,588,184 | 486 |
| 7 | Virginia | $28,736 | $17,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,624 |
| 8 | Arizona | $27,799 | $15,000 | 7,016,270 | 993 |
| 9 | Maine | $27,223 | $17,000 | 1,335,907 | 249 |
| 10 | Colorado | $29,004 | $16,000 | 5,607,154 | 927 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $29,696 | $17,000 | 693,972 | 373 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $28,794 | $17,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,603 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $28,259 | $16,000 | 4,454,189 | 519 |
| 14 | Nevada | $26,995 | $14,000 | 2,998,039 | 339 |
| 15 | Utah | $25,772 | $14,000 | 3,101,833 | 606 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $27,880 | $16,000 | 3,930,864 | 409 |
| 17 | Maryland | $28,381 | $16,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,014 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $27,213 | $16,000 | 1,342,795 | 262 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $26,924 | $16,000 | 5,576,606 | 990 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $27,104 | $15,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,410 |
| 21 | California | $30,625 | $16,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,451 |
| 22 | Illinois | $25,672 | $15,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,753 |
| 23 | Florida | $25,963 | $15,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,263 |
| 24 | Michigan | $25,755 | $15,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,039 |
| 25 | Ohio | $25,830 | $15,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,260 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $24,000 | $14,000 | 755,393 | 140 |
| 27 | Indiana | $23,772 | $14,000 | 6,666,818 | 982 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $24,509 | $14,000 | 6,715,984 | 840 |
| 29 | Delaware | $24,519 | $14,000 | 961,939 | 209 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $23,013 | $13,000 | 1,920,076 | 374 |
| 31 | Oregon | $26,013 | $14,000 | 4,142,776 | 560 |
| 32 | Iowa | $22,441 | $13,000 | 3,145,711 | 616 |
| 33 | Georgia | $24,458 | $14,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,368 |
| 34 | Washington | $26,133 | $14,000 | 7,405,743 | 783 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $21,792 | $18,000 | 1,427,538 | 129 |
| 36 | Missouri | $23,750 | $13,000 | 6,113,532 | 856 |
| 37 | Kansas | $23,047 | $13,000 | 2,913,123 | 426 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $22,207 | $12,000 | 579,315 | 93 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $22,699 | $13,000 | 5,795,483 | 800 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $22,688 | $13,000 | 1,815,857 | 190 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $21,639 | $12,000 | 2,984,100 | 327 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $22,216 | $13,000 | 5,024,369 | 663 |
| 43 | Alaska | $20,727 | $12,000 | 739,795 | 140 |
| 44 | Montana | $21,186 | $12,000 | 1,050,493 | 182 |
| 45 | Texas | $22,010 | $12,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,772 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $21,750 | $12,000 | 2,088,070 | 276 |
| 47 | Idaho | $21,431 | $12,000 | 1,716,943 | 223 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,742 | $12,000 | 4,874,747 | 582 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $21,544 | $12,000 | 3,004,279 | 330 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $21,481 | $12,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,803 | $12,000 | 4,684,333 | 334 |
Highest paying states for student technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Student Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $32,645 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $31,024 |
| 3 | New York | $32,016 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $32,446 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $31,431 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $32,207 |
| 7 | Virginia | $28,736 |
| 8 | Arizona | $27,799 |
| 9 | Maine | $27,223 |
| 10 | Colorado | $29,004 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $29,696 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $28,794 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $28,259 |
| 14 | Nevada | $26,995 |
| 15 | Utah | $25,772 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $27,880 |
| 17 | Maryland | $28,381 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $27,213 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $26,924 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $27,104 |
| 21 | California | $30,625 |
| 22 | Illinois | $25,672 |
| 23 | Florida | $25,963 |
| 24 | Michigan | $25,755 |
| 25 | Ohio | $25,830 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $24,000 |
| 27 | Indiana | $23,772 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $24,509 |
| 29 | Delaware | $24,519 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $23,013 |
| 31 | Oregon | $26,013 |
| 32 | Iowa | $22,441 |
| 33 | Georgia | $24,458 |
| 34 | Washington | $26,133 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $21,792 |
| 36 | Missouri | $23,750 |
| 37 | Kansas | $23,047 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $22,207 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $22,699 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $22,688 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $21,639 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $22,216 |
| 43 | Alaska | $20,727 |
| 44 | Montana | $21,186 |
| 45 | Texas | $22,010 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $21,750 |
| 47 | Idaho | $21,431 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,742 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $21,544 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $21,481 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,803 |
Expert opinions on the best states for student technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for student technicians to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
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Updated January 8, 2025