Best states for a test specialist

Q: What is the best state for test specialists?

The best state to be a test specialist is New Hampshire based on test specialist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for test specialists?

The highest paying state for test specialists is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for test specialists?

The worst state for test specialists is Oklahoma, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a test specialist and really want to work at IBM? Turns out, your chances to become a test specialist are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of test specialists in America is $96,000.

We figured that the best places for test specialist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for test specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Columbia, MD is the best city in the country for test specialist jobs, where as New Hampshire is the best state in the country.

10 best states for test specialists in 2026

1. New Hampshire
Total test specialist jobs: 212
Average annual salary: $87,522
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Test specialist jobs in New Hampshire
2. Maryland
Total test specialist jobs: 955
Average annual salary: $88,957
Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1.4
Test specialist jobs in Maryland
3. Nevada
Total test specialist jobs: 217
Average annual salary: $85,884
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Test specialist jobs in Nevada
4. Washington
Total test specialist jobs: 841
Average annual salary: $85,966
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Test specialist jobs in Washington
5. Delaware
Total test specialist jobs: 141
Average annual salary: $83,423
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Test specialist jobs in Delaware
6. Wyoming
Total test specialist jobs: 86
Average annual salary: $77,965
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Test specialist jobs in Wyoming
7. Virginia
Total test specialist jobs: 1,354
Average annual salary: $82,394
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Test specialist jobs in Virginia
8. North Dakota
Total test specialist jobs: 112
Average annual salary: $76,085
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Test specialist jobs in North Dakota
9. Pennsylvania
Total test specialist jobs: 1,136
Average annual salary: $79,671
Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Test specialist jobs in Pennsylvania
10. Vermont
Total test specialist jobs: 113
Average annual salary: $77,401
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.37
Test specialist jobs in Vermont

Test specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a test specialist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a test specialist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Hampshire	$87,522	$69,000	1,342,795	212
2	Maryland	$88,957	$71,000	6,052,177	955
3	Nevada	$85,884	$66,000	2,998,039	217
4	Washington	$85,966	$66,000	7,405,743	841
5	Delaware	$83,423	$66,000	961,939	141
6	Wyoming	$77,965	$61,000	579,315	86
7	Virginia	$82,394	$65,000	8,470,020	1,354
8	North Dakota	$76,085	$61,000	755,393	112
9	Pennsylvania	$79,671	$63,000	12,805,537	1,136
10	Vermont	$77,401	$61,000	623,657	113
11	District of Columbia	$83,142	$66,000	693,972	259
12	California	$84,738	$64,000	39,536,653	4,155
13	Alaska	$81,249	$68,000	739,795	85
14	Massachusetts	$79,199	$63,000	6,859,819	1,209
15	New Jersey	$83,703	$66,000	9,005,644	795
16	Rhode Island	$75,011	$59,000	1,059,639	148
17	Iowa	$73,709	$59,000	3,145,711	403
18	Utah	$73,806	$57,000	3,101,833	544
19	Hawaii	$80,196	$65,000	1,427,538	107
20	Connecticut	$79,872	$63,000	3,588,184	331
21	Arkansas	$73,997	$59,000	3,004,279	249
22	South Dakota	$74,273	$59,000	869,666	100
23	North Carolina	$74,025	$59,000	10,273,419	1,030
24	Michigan	$73,393	$59,000	9,962,311	780
25	Texas	$74,359	$59,000	28,304,596	2,127
26	Montana	$74,751	$59,000	1,050,493	118
27	Colorado	$74,924	$59,000	5,607,154	745
28	New York	$79,038	$62,000	19,849,399	1,306
29	Oregon	$75,830	$57,000	4,142,776	490
30	Wisconsin	$73,254	$59,000	5,795,483	516
31	West Virginia	$73,098	$58,000	1,815,857	137
32	Kentucky	$73,431	$59,000	4,454,189	269
33	Nebraska	$72,382	$58,000	1,920,076	251
34	Minnesota	$74,333	$60,000	5,576,606	622
35	Ohio	$72,439	$58,000	11,658,609	917
36	Missouri	$73,901	$59,000	6,113,532	502
37	Illinois	$75,403	$60,000	12,802,023	998
38	Kansas	$73,024	$58,000	2,913,123	270
39	Idaho	$73,468	$56,000	1,716,943	156
40	Arizona	$72,025	$56,000	7,016,270	656
41	Indiana	$71,903	$58,000	6,666,818	570
42	Georgia	$73,112	$59,000	10,429,379	871
43	Mississippi	$72,297	$58,000	2,984,100	149
44	Tennessee	$71,487	$57,000	6,715,984	415
45	Florida	$70,705	$57,000	20,984,400	1,768
46	South Carolina	$72,369	$58,000	5,024,369	270
47	Maine	$71,913	$57,000	1,335,907	114
48	Alabama	$62,918	$51,000	4,874,747	475
49	New Mexico	$63,515	$50,000	2,088,070	203
50	Louisiana	$68,121	$55,000	4,684,333	268
51	Oklahoma	$67,275	$54,000	3,930,864	237

Highest paying states for test specialists

Rank	State	Avg. Test Specialist Salary
1	New Hampshire	$87,522
2	Maryland	$88,957
3	Nevada	$85,884
4	Washington	$85,966
5	Delaware	$83,423
6	Wyoming	$77,965
7	Virginia	$82,394
8	North Dakota	$76,085
9	Pennsylvania	$79,671
10	Vermont	$77,401
11	District of Columbia	$83,142
12	California	$84,738
13	Alaska	$81,249
14	Massachusetts	$79,199
15	New Jersey	$83,703
16	Rhode Island	$75,011
17	Iowa	$73,709
18	Utah	$73,806
19	Hawaii	$80,196
20	Connecticut	$79,872
21	Arkansas	$73,997
22	South Dakota	$74,273
23	North Carolina	$74,025
24	Michigan	$73,393
25	Texas	$74,359
26	Montana	$74,751
27	Colorado	$74,924
28	New York	$79,038
29	Oregon	$75,830
30	Wisconsin	$73,254
31	West Virginia	$73,098
32	Kentucky	$73,431
33	Nebraska	$72,382
34	Minnesota	$74,333
35	Ohio	$72,439
36	Missouri	$73,901
37	Illinois	$75,403
38	Kansas	$73,024
39	Idaho	$73,468
40	Arizona	$72,025
41	Indiana	$71,903
42	Georgia	$73,112
43	Mississippi	$72,297
44	Tennessee	$71,487
45	Florida	$70,705
46	South Carolina	$72,369
47	Maine	$71,913
48	Alabama	$62,918
49	New Mexico	$63,515
50	Louisiana	$68,121
51	Oklahoma	$67,275

Test specialist best states FAQs

What is the best state for test specialists?

What is the highest paying state for test specialists?

What is the worst state for test specialists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for test specialist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total test specialist jobs:	212
Average annual salary:	$87,522
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$69,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$109,000
Location Quotient:	1.12

Best states for a test specialist

10 best states for test specialists in 2026

1. New Hampshire

2. Maryland

3. Nevada

4. Washington

5. Delaware

6. Wyoming

7. Virginia

8. North Dakota

9. Pennsylvania

10. Vermont