Tempted to join the Great Resignation in search of a new career? As millions of workers quit their jobs across the USA, attention has turned to the cripplingly low pay offered in industries ranging from hospitality to retail. But it's not the same in all industries – in certain sectors, workers are offered irresistible salaries in exchange for their skills.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we've rounded up the highest-paying job in every US state. Read on to discover which career could make you rich in your home state and how your current earnings compare.
As in all but one of the United States, the highest-paying jobs in Alabama are in the healthcare sector. According to the BLS, the Alabamans with the biggest monthly paychecks are obstetricians and gynecologists, who earn an annual mean salary of $269,920.
That's five times more than the average yearly salary in the state, with data from AverageSalarySurvey.com suggesting that the typical worker takes home $42,000 a year after tax, which is around $20 an hour.
Alaska pays the best salaries to its General Internal Medicine Physicians, who earn $282,730 a year. According to data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, healthcare is one of the state’s least populous sectors, with around 38,900 professionals as of March 2022. In March 2021, the equivalent figure was 39,200.
In comparison, the average personal income per capita in the Last Frontier is $67,138, which is the 10th highest across the US.
Anesthesiologists earn more than any other Arizonans, taking home an annual mean income of $285,470.
Although this salary is among one of the highest in the US, the Grand Canyon State also has one of the lowest average per capita personal incomes. At $54,301, it's less than the per capita personal income in 40 other states.
Much like Alabama, Arkansas also pays the highest salaries to obstetricians and gynecologists. With an annual mean salary of $258,940, these professionals earn almost $200,000 more than the standard laborer.
According to Average Salary Survey, the typical worker in the state can expect to be paid around $60,377 a year, pre-tax.
With close to 6,000 shrinks calling the state home, California boasts more psychiatrists than anywhere else in the US. These highly-paid professionals will typically earn around $245,000 per year. Residents of the sun-drenched Golden State aren’t just rich in Vitamin D; according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California has the fourth-highest personal income per capita at $76,386.
However, it also has one of the country’s highest unemployment rates. The latest data from the BSL shows that unemployment in California was 4.9% in March 2022, which is over the national average of 3.6%.
As in Arizona, anesthesiologists earn the highest salaries in Colorado, taking home around $289,920 a year.
This is significantly higher than America’s average anesthesiologist salary, which sits at $215,703 according to data from Indeed.
The Constitution State is home to some of the country’s biggest healthcare companies. Among them is Purdue Pharma, which has been blamed for fueling America's opioid epidemic.
Obstetricians and gynecologists earn the highest salaries in Connecticut, with the BSL placing their average annual pay at $275,520.
Obstetricians and gynecologists seem to fare particularly well in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, earning the highest mean salary in Connecticut, Delaware, and more.
In Delaware, these professionals earn around $287,160. The First State’s personal income per capita is almost the national median at $59,002, and is the 26th highest in the US.
Obstetricians and gynecologists are the highest-paid professionals in Florida too.
However, their annual mean salary of $245,570 is slightly lower than the pay that their peers in other states can expect. Arkansas pays the next lowest salary at $258,940.
Again, obstetricians and gynecologists earn the highest annual mean salaries in Georgia.
Taking home around $259,670 a year, these healthcare workers earn almost five times the personal income per capita ($55,289) in the Peach State.
In the Aloha State, the professionals with the highest salaries are physicians and ophthalmologists (not including pediatric), with both receiving around $263,200 a year.
That's around five times higher than the average annual salary across the board in Hawaii, which sits at $68,463 pre-tax according to Average Salary Survey.
Anesthesiologists in Idaho earn the highest annual mean salaries and at $253,460 a year, their typical pay is slightly lower than many of the other jobs featured on our round-up.
However, the Gem State has one of the lowest costs of living in America according to World Population Review, scoring 92.3 against a US average of 100 (a lower score indicates better value for money).
Surgeons, with the exception of ophthalmologists, take home the highest salaries in Illinois.
BLS data shows that these professionals earn an average annual salary of $271,280 a year, while the state’s average personal income per capita is $67,095.
In Indiana, anesthesiologists top the salary scale with an annual salary of $282,310.
According to data from Statista, there are around 1,189 active anesthesiologists in the Hoosier State in 2021, and a total of 8,932 physicians across psychiatry, surgery, radiology, and more.
Yet again, anesthesiologists take home the fattest paychecks in Iowa – and those who work in the Hawkeye State are luckier than most of their colleagues.
Iowan anesthesiologists earn $291,670 a year on average, making it the fifth-highest paying job across the whole of America.
As in California, the highest-paid professionals in Kansas are psychiatrists. On average, they earn over $35,000 a year more than their West Coast counterparts, with salaries of $281,410 to California’s $245,000.
This could be explained by the fact there are relatively few professionals available. According to an article in Kansas newspaper The Hutchinson News, there were 431 licensed psychiatrists in the state at the start of 2020, with 53 more needed to meet patient demand.
In the Bluegrass State, surgeons (again except ophthalmologists) can expect to earn around $292,350 a year, making it the fourth-highest paying job in the whole country.
On the other hand, the average personal income per capita in Kentucky is relatively low at $50,699, which ranks 46th out of all the states.
Surgeons are also the highest-paid professionals in Louisiana, and the Pelican State is home to fewer than average.
According to 2018 data from Healthcare Degree Search, there were around 190 surgeons employed in the state that year, which is less than half of the national average (400). According to the BLS data, Louisianan surgeons take home an annual mean income of $287,840 a year.
Non-pediatric physicians and ophthalmologists earn top dollar in Maine, with a mean annual salary of $279,700.
In 2021 there were 2,315 specialty physicians in the self-styled Vacationland, according to Statista. This included 331 emergency medicine practitioners, 324 psychiatrists, and 282 surgeons.
Surgeons (again with the exception of ophthalmologists) take home the highest salaries in Maryland, with an annual mean salary of $287,900.
According to MD.com, there are around 56 surgeons currently licensed to practice in the state capital of Annapolis alone.
In Massachusetts, surgeons also earn the highest average salaries, taking home around $265,790 per annum.
This is actually slightly lower than surgeon’s salaries elsewhere in the US, despite Massachusetts having the country’s highest average personal income per capita at $82,475 a year.
Anesthesiologists are the best-paid workers in Michigan, earning an average of $252,00 a year.
However, this is significantly less than what their industry peers earn in states such as Iowa ($291,670) and Indiana ($282,310).
In Minnesota, psychiatrists have the highest take-home pay, typically receiving $278,380 a year.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is one of just five states where shrinks are the highest-paid professionals. It ranks just under Kansas, where psychiatrists can expect to earn around $281,410 a year.
In the Magnolia State, qualified surgeons earn around $282,660 a year.
This salary is in stark contrast to Mississippi’s average personal income per capita, which is the lowest across the whole of the United States at $45,438.
Missouri is one of just two states where general dentists are the highest-paid professionals, earning $270,760 a year.
According to statistics from Dentagraphics, there are around 4,192 Missourians per general dental practice in the state, which is significantly more than the US average of 3,419.
This figure could explain the high salaries, as it suggests that the demand for services is greater than the provision of dental clinics.
In Montana, obstetricians and gynecologists don’t just earn the highest salaries in the state: they also earn America’s highest annual mean salary at $296,700.
Professionals in certain cities are likely to earn more than some of their colleagues; according to data from the American Community Survey 2016-2020, Sidney, Belgrade, and Laurel are the three richest cities in the aptly-named Treasure State.
Like California, Kansas, and Minnesota, Nebraska pays its highest annual mean salaries to psychiatrists, who typically earn $268,200 a year.
In 2018, the Cornhusker State was home to just 159 actively practicing psychiatrists, which is well below the national average of 806.5 psychiatrists per state.
General internal medicine physicians take home Nevada’s highest annual mean pay, typically earning $277,340 a year. The state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at 5% (as of March 2022), which is notably higher than the national average of 3.6%.
Although primary care physicians earn large salaries, many Nevadans struggle to pay for their services, with estimates suggesting that one in five locals has some form of medical debt in collections.
Last year, state governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill that made it compulsory for debt collectors to notify people with medical debt 60 days in advance before taking action to collect the amount owed.
With an annual mean pay of $278,350, obstetricians and gynecologists take home the highest salaries in New Hampshire.
According to data from Career Explorer, salaries for gynecologists in the Granite State typically start at around $172,960, which is just over $100,000 more than the current personal income per capita of $72,003.
In New Jersey, the average annual paycheck a surgeon receives is $275,710, making it the state's best-paying job.
Statista data shows that, as of 2021, there were around 16,564 active specialty physicians in the Garden State, of which 1,511 (9%) are specifically surgeons.
New Mexico has one of the highest unemployment rates in the US, sitting at 5.3% as of March 2022.
According to New Mexico Financial & Family Law, medical debt is a leading cause of bankruptcy in the so-called Land of Enchantment – yet ironically it's medical practitioners who earn the highest salaries in the state.
General internal medicine physicians will typically earn $271,210 a year, making them New Mexico's top earners.
The typical anesthesiologist in New York will earn $237,380 a year.
While this is lower than anesthesiologist salaries elsewhere in the US, the state boasts one the third highest personal income per capita in the country, sitting at $76,415.
In North Carolina, meanwhile, anesthesiologists can expect to earn $279,300, which is around $40,000 more than their counterparts in New York.
In fact, data from Career Explorer suggests that North Carolinian anesthesiologists earned an astonishing 332% above the national average salary. It pays to live in the Tar Heel State...
The typical psychiatrist in North Dakota will take home $288,060 a year, making them the highest-paid professionals in the state.
In 2018, the Peace Garden State had just 88 licensed psychiatrists, according to the Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center at the University of Michigan. Only four states had less: Idaho with 86, Alaska with 78, Montana with 77, and Wyoming with a paltry 42.
Surgeons in Ohio earn around $277,510 a year, making them the highest-paid workers in the Buckeye State.
According to Healthcare Degree Search, there were 17,020 physicians and surgeons employed in Ohio in 2018, an increase from 13,990 in 2017. It currently claims that employment for physicians and surgeons in the state is projected to increase by 7.4%, which is higher than the average across America.
Wondering what the highest-paid role in Oklahoma is? Orthodontists take the enviable title, earning an annual mean salary of $286,050.
And they don’t just make more than other local medical professionals. Orthodonists in the Sooner State also have higher salaries than any of their counterparts across the country, taking home around $6,340 a year more than those in the next highest-paying state, which is Virginia.
Surgeons in Oregon are among some of the highest-paid professionals in the country, taking home annual mean pay of $293,170. That's the third-highest salary across the whole of the USA.
According to data from Statistia, there were 6,283 active physicians in the Beaver State last year, of which 716 were surgeons.
Anesthesiologists are the highest-paid professionals in Pennsylvania, with an annual mean salary of $289,850.
According to online recruitment company Zippia, Pennsylvania is the 11th best state for anesthesiologists to live and work in, with a current location quotient of 1.76. Location quotients are used by the BLS to classify employment distribution within a certain area; a score of one indicates hitting the national average, while a score greater than one demonstrates that an industry enjoys a higher share of local employment than is the case in the rest of the US.
America’s smallest state pays its highest salaries to surgeons. These medical professionals can expect to earn an annual salary of $285,920 when living in Rhode Island, which is more than $220,000 higher than the personal income per capita of $61,942.
There were 295 active surgeons in the Ocean State last year, according to data from Statista.
Being a surgeon will also net you the highest salary in South Carolina. These professionals (again excluding ophthalmologists) can expect to make $295,380 a year, which is the second-highest salary across the whole of the USA.
However, the personal income per capita in the Palmetto State is one of the lowest at $52,074, which sees the state rank 43rd in America.
Surgeons also come out on top in South Dakota, earning an average of $290,730 a year.
Back in 2019, surgeons in the Mount Rushmore State typically made $285,320 a year, which is the equivalent of $137.17 an hour.
This was 13% higher than the salary received by the typical American surgeon according to Budget Worksheets, as well as 565% higher than the earnings of the average South Dakota worker across all industries.
In the Volunteer State, anesthesiologists are the highest-paid professionals and made an average of $255,210 in 2020.
There were 879 anesthesiologists in Tennessee according to Statista. Additional data from the U.S. News & World Report found that anesthesiologists were the overall highest-paid professionals in America in 2020.
Lone by name, lone by nature: Texas is the only state where the highest-paying job in 2020 wasn’t in the medical sector. Instead, it's the area's chief executives who can expect to bring home the most bacon, with an annual mean salary of $239,060 according to the BLS data.
Business Degree Central claims that there were around 5,260 chief executives in Texas in 2018, which is well above the national average of 2,150.
In Utah, the highest-paying job is that of a general pediatrician. These doctors have an annual mean salary of $255,900, meaning they earn more than their colleagues anywhere else in the US.
According to a report on the Daily Montanan, the Beehive State's neighbor Idaho has around 40 pediatricians for every 100,000 children. This could potentially see children’s doctors in the Utah enlisted to help cover the shortfall, heightening the demand for services.
Dentists earn the highest salaries in Vermont, with an annual salary of $254,190.
There were 389 dentists in the Green Mountain State in 2019 according to a 2020 report by Vermont’s Department of Health. That roughly works out to one dentist for every 1,653 residents.
The highest-paid Virginians are orthodontists, who can expect to make around $279,710 a year.
The personal income per capita in Virginia is $65,408, meaning that orthodonists make 328% more than the state's average laborer.
Orthodontists are also the highest-paid professionals in Washington, where they receive an average annual income of $277,050.
With a personal income per capita of $71,889, the Evergreen State is the seventh wealthiest in the country. But the cost of living is accordingly high; Washington scores 110.7 against a US average of 100, according to World Population Review's Cost of Living Index.
In West Virginia, surgeons earn an annual mean salary of $262,690, making them the highest-paid professionals in the state. Data shared by Statista shows that there were 2,955 physicians in the Mountain State in 2021, and 323 of them were surgeons.
Interestingly, the state has one of the lowest per capita personal incomes in the country. Its average figure of $47,817 puts it in 49th place across the USA, with only Mississippi sitting lower in the rankings.
As in many states, obstetricians and gynecologists bag the best salaries in Wisconsin. These healthcare providers take home an annual mean salary of $278,720, meaning they earn the third-highest salaries in their sector.
Only Delaware and Montana pay more money to their OB-GYNs, with salaries of $287,160 and $296,700 respectively.
Finally, the highest earners in the so-called Equality State are surgeons (again apart from ophthalmologists) with an annual mean salary of $279,830.
According to Healthcare Degree Search, the state is home to fewer physicians and surgeons than the national average, but job openings are projected to grow by 10% over the next few years.
Don't have a medical degree? Don't sweat: discover the best-paying jobs that don't require a degree