Best states for a Manager

Q: What is the best state for managers?

The best state to be a manager is New Jersey based on manager salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for managers?

The highest paying state for managers is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for managers?

The worst state for managers is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted Expert

Patrick Scott Ph.D.

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to manager jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for manager jobs.

We figured that the best places for manager 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.New Jersey is the best state, and Fort Lee is the city with the highest pay for managers.

If you're looking for a Manager job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for managers in 2025

1. New Jersey
Total Manager Jobs: 14,725
Average Annual Salary: $98,845
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $61,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Manager Jobs in New Jersey
2. New York
Total Manager Jobs: 26,204
Average Annual Salary: $93,313
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $58,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $149,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Manager Jobs in New York
3. California
Total Manager Jobs: 64,658
Average Annual Salary: $90,017
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $52,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Manager Jobs in California
4. District of Columbia
Total Manager Jobs: 4,077
Average Annual Salary: $90,789
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $56,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $147,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Manager Jobs in District of Columbia
5. Washington
Total Manager Jobs: 16,351
Average Annual Salary: $84,552
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $49,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $143,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Manager Jobs in Washington
6. Connecticut
Total Manager Jobs: 5,724
Average Annual Salary: $94,909
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $59,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $151,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Manager Jobs in Connecticut
7. Oregon
Total Manager Jobs: 7,776
Average Annual Salary: $75,747
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $44,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $128,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Manager Jobs in Oregon
8. Massachusetts
Total Manager Jobs: 17,327
Average Annual Salary: $74,160
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $46,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Manager Jobs in Massachusetts
9. Hawaii
Total Manager Jobs: 1,359
Average Annual Salary: $94,282
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Manager Jobs in Hawaii
10. Pennsylvania
Total Manager Jobs: 18,521
Average Annual Salary: $75,622
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $46,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $122,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Manager Jobs in Pennsylvania

Manager JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a manager

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

Detailed list of the best states for a manager

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	New Jersey	$98,845	$61,000	9,005,644	14,725
2	New York	$93,313	$58,000	19,849,399	26,204
3	California	$90,017	$52,000	39,536,653	64,658
4	District of Columbia	$90,789	$56,000	693,972	4,077
5	Washington	$84,552	$49,000	7,405,743	16,351
6	Connecticut	$94,909	$59,000	3,588,184	5,724
7	Oregon	$75,747	$44,000	4,142,776	7,776
8	Massachusetts	$74,160	$46,000	6,859,819	17,327
9	Hawaii	$94,282	$62,000	1,427,538	1,359
10	Pennsylvania	$75,622	$46,000	12,805,537	18,521
11	Delaware	$75,107	$46,000	961,939	2,028
12	Virginia	$72,711	$44,000	8,470,020	16,515
13	Maryland	$73,499	$45,000	6,052,177	11,042
14	Nevada	$69,010	$40,000	2,998,039	3,553
15	Colorado	$70,708	$43,000	5,607,154	10,116
16	Illinois	$62,615	$39,000	12,802,023	23,257
17	North Carolina	$59,920	$37,000	10,273,419	19,163
18	Rhode Island	$68,328	$42,000	1,059,639	1,951
19	Ohio	$60,506	$37,000	11,658,609	17,620
20	Wisconsin	$64,293	$40,000	5,795,483	8,884
21	Michigan	$60,798	$37,000	9,962,311	13,189
22	Texas	$59,003	$36,000	28,304,596	36,498
23	South Dakota	$65,638	$41,000	869,666	1,030
24	Alaska	$69,121	$42,000	739,795	1,082
25	Arizona	$59,714	$36,000	7,016,270	10,083
26	Montana	$58,878	$36,000	1,050,493	2,018
27	Minnesota	$60,393	$37,000	5,576,606	11,055
28	New Hampshire	$61,330	$38,000	1,342,795	2,726
29	Indiana	$57,538	$35,000	6,666,818	10,978
30	Utah	$55,354	$33,000	3,101,833	5,703
31	Maine	$60,756	$38,000	1,335,907	1,773
32	Oklahoma	$57,295	$35,000	3,930,864	4,514
33	New Mexico	$58,210	$35,000	2,088,070	2,873
34	Wyoming	$56,055	$34,000	579,315	954
35	Louisiana	$52,989	$32,000	4,684,333	5,629
36	Georgia	$51,702	$32,000	10,429,379	19,071
37	Idaho	$56,987	$33,000	1,716,943	2,390
38	North Dakota	$55,614	$35,000	755,393	1,277
39	Alabama	$54,506	$34,000	4,874,747	6,887
40	Florida	$50,119	$31,000	20,984,400	27,813
41	Nebraska	$54,046	$34,000	1,920,076	3,011
42	Kentucky	$45,691	$28,000	4,454,189	6,509
43	Kansas	$50,972	$31,000	2,913,123	4,824
44	Tennessee	$50,854	$31,000	6,715,984	9,240
45	West Virginia	$50,649	$31,000	1,815,857	2,300
46	Vermont	$53,786	$34,000	623,657	1,041
47	Mississippi	$44,150	$27,000	2,984,100	3,717
48	Missouri	$47,992	$30,000	6,113,532	10,031
49	Iowa	$50,738	$32,000	3,145,711	5,054
50	South Carolina	$48,369	$30,000	5,024,369	7,072
51	Arkansas	$42,727	$26,000	3,004,279	4,426

Highest paying states for managers

Rank	State	Avg. Manager Salary
1	New Jersey	$98,845
2	New York	$93,313
3	California	$90,017
4	District of Columbia	$90,789
5	Washington	$84,552
6	Connecticut	$94,909
7	Oregon	$75,747
8	Massachusetts	$74,160
9	Hawaii	$94,282
10	Pennsylvania	$75,622
11	Delaware	$75,107
12	Virginia	$72,711
13	Maryland	$73,499
14	Nevada	$69,010
15	Colorado	$70,708
16	Illinois	$62,615
17	North Carolina	$59,920
18	Rhode Island	$68,328
19	Ohio	$60,506
20	Wisconsin	$64,293
21	Michigan	$60,798
22	Texas	$59,003
23	South Dakota	$65,638
24	Alaska	$69,121
25	Arizona	$59,714
26	Montana	$58,878
27	Minnesota	$60,393
28	New Hampshire	$61,330
29	Indiana	$57,538
30	Utah	$55,354
31	Maine	$60,756
32	Oklahoma	$57,295
33	New Mexico	$58,210
34	Wyoming	$56,055
35	Louisiana	$52,989
36	Georgia	$51,702
37	Idaho	$56,987
38	North Dakota	$55,614
39	Alabama	$54,506
40	Florida	$50,119
41	Nebraska	$54,046
42	Kentucky	$45,691
43	Kansas	$50,972
44	Tennessee	$50,854
45	West Virginia	$50,649
46	Vermont	$53,786
47	Mississippi	$44,150
48	Missouri	$47,992
49	Iowa	$50,738
50	South Carolina	$48,369
51	Arkansas	$42,727

Expert opinions on the best states for managers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Managers to find work opportunities?
P
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University
We have had success in placing our candidates from the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University in all portions of the country. Small towns, to large cities, to graduate programs, and beyond are all able to benefit from the skills learned by these majors.

Best states for a Manager

If you're looking for a Manager job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for managers in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. New York

3. California

4. District of Columbia

5. Washington

6. Connecticut

7. Oregon

8. Massachusetts

9. Hawaii

10. Pennsylvania

Manager JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a manager

Detailed list of the best states for a manager

Highest paying states for managers

Expert opinions on the best states for managers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Managers to find work opportunities?

Manager best states FAQs

What is the best state for managers?

What is the highest paying state for managers?

What is the worst state for managers?

Search for manager jobs

Total Manager Jobs:	14,725
Average Annual Salary:	$98,845
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$61,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$159,000
Location Quotient:	1.03