Best states for a transition specialist

Q: What is the best state for transition specialists?

The best state to be a transition specialist is District of Columbia based on transition specialist salaries and job opportunities.

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

The highest paying state for transition specialists is Georgia based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for transition specialists?

The worst state for transition specialists is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Stephanie Budhai Ph.D.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for transition specialists in the United States. Transition specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for transition specialists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of transition specialists in America is $74,000.

The median salary for transition specialists in District of Columbia is $73,674. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $32,707, which ranked worst for transition specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.District of Columbia is the best state, and Long Branch is the city with the highest pay for transition specialists.

10 best states for transition specialists in 2025

1. District of Columbia
Total transition specialist jobs: 170
Average annual salary: $73,674
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Transition specialist jobs in District of Columbia
2. Massachusetts
Total transition specialist jobs: 1,139
Average annual salary: $59,089
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Transition specialist jobs in Massachusetts
3. New Jersey
Total transition specialist jobs: 661
Average annual salary: $65,114
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1
Transition specialist jobs in New Jersey
4. Oregon
Total transition specialist jobs: 329
Average annual salary: $63,230
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Transition specialist jobs in Oregon
5. Washington
Total transition specialist jobs: 606
Average annual salary: $61,596
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Transition specialist jobs in Washington
6. Connecticut
Total transition specialist jobs: 289
Average annual salary: $59,200
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Transition specialist jobs in Connecticut
7. California
Total transition specialist jobs: 2,303
Average annual salary: $62,455
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Transition specialist jobs in California
8. New York
Total transition specialist jobs: 1,384
Average annual salary: $55,470
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Transition specialist jobs in New York
9. Delaware
Total transition specialist jobs: 121
Average annual salary: $53,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Transition specialist jobs in Delaware
10. Illinois
Total transition specialist jobs: 974
Average annual salary: $56,071
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Transition specialist jobs in Illinois

Transition specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a transition specialist

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

Detailed list of the best states for a transition specialist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$73,674	$39,000	693,972	170
2	Massachusetts	$59,089	$33,000	6,859,819	1,139
3	New Jersey	$65,114	$35,000	9,005,644	661
4	Oregon	$63,230	$35,000	4,142,776	329
5	Washington	$61,596	$35,000	7,405,743	606
6	Connecticut	$59,200	$32,000	3,588,184	289
7	California	$62,455	$35,000	39,536,653	2,303
8	New York	$55,470	$30,000	19,849,399	1,384
9	Delaware	$53,909	$28,000	961,939	121
10	Illinois	$56,071	$32,000	12,802,023	974
11	New Hampshire	$57,865	$33,000	1,342,795	134
12	Pennsylvania	$55,163	$29,000	12,805,537	865
13	Maine	$49,692	$29,000	1,335,907	113
14	Arizona	$49,506	$28,000	7,016,270	521
15	Minnesota	$49,643	$29,000	5,576,606	602
16	Alaska	$47,168	$30,000	739,795	132
17	Nevada	$48,612	$27,000	2,998,039	176
18	New Mexico	$54,301	$31,000	2,088,070	133
19	Colorado	$51,340	$30,000	5,607,154	470
20	Idaho	$49,169	$27,000	1,716,943	134
21	Michigan	$48,678	$27,000	9,962,311	605
22	Wisconsin	$48,958	$28,000	5,795,483	426
23	Virginia	$47,876	$25,000	8,470,020	798
24	North Dakota	$45,970	$28,000	755,393	76
25	Hawaii	$47,494	$35,000	1,427,538	109
26	Maryland	$46,218	$24,000	6,052,177	635
27	Arkansas	$43,290	$25,000	3,004,279	216
28	Florida	$42,631	$24,000	20,984,400	1,685
29	Iowa	$40,853	$24,000	3,145,711	420
30	Rhode Island	$47,165	$26,000	1,059,639	86
31	Vermont	$44,020	$25,000	623,657	60
32	Kansas	$41,943	$25,000	2,913,123	237
33	Wyoming	$38,548	$23,000	579,315	60
34	Mississippi	$43,184	$25,000	2,984,100	139
35	North Carolina	$40,705	$22,000	10,273,419	796
36	West Virginia	$40,141	$21,000	1,815,857	109
37	Ohio	$40,608	$22,000	11,658,609	711
38	Montana	$36,815	$21,000	1,050,493	124
39	Louisiana	$38,512	$22,000	4,684,333	261
40	Nebraska	$34,669	$21,000	1,920,076	242
41	Utah	$42,029	$23,000	3,101,833	206
42	Texas	$41,389	$24,000	28,304,596	1,396
43	Oklahoma	$36,192	$21,000	3,930,864	264
44	South Carolina	$39,452	$23,000	5,024,369	301
45	Kentucky	$38,214	$21,000	4,454,189	253
46	Alabama	$36,230	$21,000	4,874,747	289
47	Tennessee	$35,606	$21,000	6,715,984	371
48	Indiana	$33,860	$19,000	6,666,818	490
49	Missouri	$33,407	$19,000	6,113,532	414
50	Georgia	$30,819	$18,000	10,429,379	754
51	South Dakota	$32,707	$20,000	869,666	60

Highest paying states for transition specialists

Rank	State	Avg. Transition Specialist Salary
1	District of Columbia	$73,674
2	Massachusetts	$59,089
3	New Jersey	$65,114
4	Oregon	$63,230
5	Washington	$61,596
6	Connecticut	$59,200
7	California	$62,455
8	New York	$55,470
9	Delaware	$53,909
10	Illinois	$56,071
11	New Hampshire	$57,865
12	Pennsylvania	$55,163
13	Maine	$49,692
14	Arizona	$49,506
15	Minnesota	$49,643
16	Alaska	$47,168
17	Nevada	$48,612
18	New Mexico	$54,301
19	Colorado	$51,340
20	Idaho	$49,169
21	Michigan	$48,678
22	Wisconsin	$48,958
23	Virginia	$47,876
24	North Dakota	$45,970
25	Hawaii	$47,494
26	Maryland	$46,218
27	Arkansas	$43,290
28	Florida	$42,631
29	Iowa	$40,853
30	Rhode Island	$47,165
31	Vermont	$44,020
32	Kansas	$41,943
33	Wyoming	$38,548
34	Mississippi	$43,184
35	North Carolina	$40,705
36	West Virginia	$40,141
37	Ohio	$40,608
38	Montana	$36,815
39	Louisiana	$38,512
40	Nebraska	$34,669
41	Utah	$42,029
42	Texas	$41,389
43	Oklahoma	$36,192
44	South Carolina	$39,452
45	Kentucky	$38,214
46	Alabama	$36,230
47	Tennessee	$35,606
48	Indiana	$33,860
49	Missouri	$33,407
50	Georgia	$30,819
51	South Dakota	$32,707

Expert opinions on the best states for transition specialists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for transition specialists to find work opportunities?
Stephanie Budhai Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Education, Neumann University
There are so many opportunities, all across the country, for a career in special education. In addition to being a special education teacher in a school setting, hospitals, social service agencies, and public service agencies all need trained professionals to support and help develop those with disabilities and learning challenges. Business and government agencies may hire trained special educators as they may have employees who may identify as neurodiverse. There are also employment options working with adjudicated youth and the prison system as an outstanding educator and intervention specialist.

Transition specialist best states FAQs

What is the best state for transition specialists?

What is the highest paying state for transition specialists?

What is the worst state for transition specialists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for transition specialist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total transition specialist jobs:	170
Average annual salary:	$73,674
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$39,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$138,000
Location Quotient:	1.21

Best states for a transition specialist

10 best states for transition specialists in 2025

1. District of Columbia

2. Massachusetts

3. New Jersey

4. Oregon

5. Washington

6. Connecticut

7. California

8. New York

9. Delaware

10. Illinois