Occupation Salaries by State 2026
Last reviewed · Methodology
Median annual wages for the 20 most-searched US occupations across all 50 states, derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 and adjusted by state wage patterns. Click any occupation to see per-state breakdowns with take-home pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes.
Occupations
20
tracked
States
50 + DC
all 51 jurisdictions
Pages
1,020
state × occupation
Highest National Median
$145,760
Lawyer (BLS 2024)
Top 5 highest-paying occupations (national median)
All occupations, by category
Technology
Software Developer
Designs, builds, and maintains software applications, systems, and operating systems. One of the fastest-growing and highest-paid US occupations.
$132,270
national median
Top state (California): $165,338
Data Scientist
Develops and implements a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information for business decision-making.
$108,020
national median
Top state (California): $135,025
Web Developer or Digital Interface Designer
Designs and creates websites and web applications, including the visual layout, user interface, and underlying functionality.
$90,930
national median
Top state (California): $113,663
Civil Engineer
Designs and oversees construction of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, buildings, water supply systems, and airports.
$95,490
national median
Top state (California): $119,363
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, develops, builds, and tests mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.
$99,510
national median
Top state (California): $124,388
Healthcare
Registered Nurse
Provides and coordinates patient care, educates patients and the public about health conditions, and provides emotional support to patients and families.
$86,070
national median
Top state (California): $107,588
Physical Therapist
Helps injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain through exercise, hands-on therapy, and patient education.
$99,710
national median
Top state (California): $124,638
Pharmacist
Dispenses prescription medications, provides drug information to patients and healthcare providers, and advises on the safe use of medications.
$136,030
national median
Top state (California): $170,038
Skilled Trades
Electrician
Installs, maintains, and repairs electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.
$61,590
national median
Top state (California): $76,988
Plumber
Installs and repairs pipes and fixtures that carry water, gas, or other fluids in homes, businesses, and industrial facilities.
$62,350
national median
Top state (California): $77,938
HVAC Mechanic
Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
$59,810
national median
Top state (California): $74,763
Finance
Accountant or Auditor
Prepares and examines financial records, ensures taxes are paid on time, and assesses financial operations to ensure efficiency and compliance.
$79,880
national median
Top state (California): $99,850
Financial Analyst
Guides businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit, by evaluating the performance of stocks, bonds, and other investments.
$99,890
national median
Top state (California): $124,863
Business
Marketing Manager
Plans, directs, or coordinates marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm.
$140,040
national median
Top state (California): $175,050
Human Resources Specialist
Recruits, screens, interviews, and places workers within an organization, and handles employee relations, compensation, benefits, and training.
$67,650
national median
Top state (California): $84,563
Operations Manager
Plans, directs, or coordinates the operations of public or private sector organizations, including manufacturing, supply chain, and service delivery.
$98,100
national median
Top state (California): $122,625
Legal
Lawyer
Represents clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draws up legal documents, and manages or advises clients on legal transactions.
$145,760
national median
Top state (California): $182,200
Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Supports lawyers by conducting legal research, drafting documents, organizing case files, and assisting with trial preparation.
$61,010
national median
Top state (California): $76,263
Highest-paying states (avg across all 20 occupations)
#1 California
$117,002
avg across tracked occupations
#2 District of Columbia
$114,194
avg across tracked occupations
#3 New York
$112,322
avg across tracked occupations
#4 Washington
$110,450
avg across tracked occupations
#5 Alaska
$107,642
avg across tracked occupations
#6 Hawaii
$107,642
avg across tracked occupations
Average is a simple unweighted mean of median wages for all 20 tracked occupations in the state. See individual occupation pages for state-specific data.
How we calculate
National median wages come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 release. State-level medians are derived by applying a wage multiplier (derived from BLS state-level cross-occupational patterns, MIT Living Wage data, and BEA Regional Price Parities) to the national median. Take-home pay is computed using the same progressive tax logic as our main calculator, with 2026 federal brackets and state-specific levies. Full methodology →