Average Salary of Top Professions by State

The salary of top professions in each state gives you valuable information when you’re choosing where to settle down in the United States. You may want to put yourself in a position to access a competitive job market, or you could be interested in changing careers in the future.

The most common professions in a region also provide you with insight into what the people in that area need the most. While the top paying jobs in any given state are exclusively some type of doctor or medical specialist, the professions with the highest employment numbers may offer a substantial income as well.

• Alabama: Anesthesiologist – $245,750, Lawyer – $126,412, Teacher – $49,120,
• Alaska: Gynecologist – $247,070, Electrician – $81,600, Teacher – $73,050, Skilled Trades – $67,210
• Arizona: Surgeon – $241,710, Teacher – $42,730
• Arkansas: Gynecologist – $246,750, Teacher – $46,950 Skilled Trades – $36,450
• California: Maxillofacial Surgeon – $222,720, Lawyer $143,494, Teacher – $74,270, Skilled Trades – $56,770
• Colorado: Surgeon – $227,380, Lawyer $127,438, Teacher – $51,360
• Connecticut: Maxillofacial Surgeon – $247,490, Teacher – $76,740, Skilled Trades – $55,650
• Delaware: Gynecologist – $239,220, Lawyer – $144,696, Teacher – $60,810
• Florida: Surgeon – $237,870, Teacher – $47,610
• Georgia: Orthodontist -$228,890, Lawyer – $137,537
• Hawaii: Physician – $231,550, Teacher – $57,370, Skilled Trades – $65,140
• Idaho: Psychiatrist – $222,150, Teacher – $47,140
• Illinois: Surgeon – $237,550, Electrician – $73,160, Skilled Trades – $64,400, Teacher – $60,760
• Indiana: Gynecologist – $240,180, Electrician – $57,680, Skilled Trades – $55,344, Teacher – $49,250
• Iowa: Gynecologist – $238,920, Teacher – $53,030
• Kansas: Anesthesiologist – $250,270, Electrician – $55,160, Teacher $49,140
• Kentucky: Orthodontist – $241,590, Teacher – $52,420
• Louisiana: Surgeon – $230,240, Teacher – $48,100
• Maine: Psychiatrist – $232,310, Teacher – $51,810
• Maryland: Surgeon – $236,710, Teacher – $64,970
• Massachusetts: Surgeon – $240,700, Teacher – $74,470, Lawyer – $129,590
• Michigan: Anesthesiologist – $247,160, Teacher – $61,260, Electrician – $56,600, Skilled Trades – $53,782
• Minnesota: Anesthesiologist – $228,000, Teacher – $62,000, Skilled Trades – $56,040
• Mississippi: Gynecologist – $237,080, Skilled Trades – $61,240
• Missouri: Physician – $238,500, Lawyer – $125,123, Teacher – $42,370, Trades – $57,052,
• Montana: Physician – $238,640, Electrician – $61,580, Teacher – $49,01
• Nebraska: Surgeon – $249,570, Teacher – $54,740
• Nevada: Surgeon – $241,970, Electrician $62,240, Teacher – $54,810
• New Hampshire: Gynecologist – $240,180, Teacher – $56,390, Skilled Trades  – $38,070
• New Jersey: Surgeon – $247,210, Lawyer $132,294, Teacher – $68,810, Skilled Trades -$60,100
• New Mexico: Gynecologist – $192,770, Teacher $58,090
• New York: Maxillofacial Surgeon – $229,540, Teacher – $77,330, Skilled Trades – $62,960
• North Carolina: General Physician – $233,720, Lawyer $126,128, Teacher – $43,900, Skilled Trades – $38,660
• North Dakota: Physician – $240,230, Teacher – $49,320, Electricians $61,010, Skilled Trades – $54,912
• Ohio: Surgeon – $234,160, Teacher – $59,000, Skilled Trades $51,433
• Oklahoma: Gynecologist – $251,010, Lawyer – $126,523, Teacher – $41,150
• Oregon: Gynecologist – $242,300, Plumber – $74,390, Teacher – $63,390
• Pennsylvania: Orthodontist – $248,490, Lawyer – $132,498, Teacher – $62,250, Plumber – $52,680
• Rhode Island: Surgeon – $242,230, Teacher – $66,160, Plumber – $51,670
• South Carolina: Anesthesiologist – $239,700, Teacher – $48,480
• South Dakota: Physician – $250,000, Teacher – $43,180
• Tennessee: Surgeon – $236,290, Lawyer – $135,364, Teacher – $50,090, Plumber – $46,500
• Texas: Orthodontist – $242,300, Lawyer – $150,313, Teacher – $54,780
• Utah: Maxillofacial Surgeon – $251,380, Teacher – $54,180, Plumber $51,540
• Vermont: Dentist -$215,410, Teacher – $56,940, Plumber $52,400, Skilled Trades – $36,438
• Virginia: Orthodontist – $240,240, Lawyer – $125,679, Teacher – $66,700
• Washington: Oral surgeon – $233,750, Teacher – $60,950,  Electrician $65,260, Skilled Trades – $57,090
• West Virginia: Anesthesiologist – $223,010, Teacher – $45,520
• Wisconsin: Orthodontist – $252,390, Plumber – $67,920, Teacher – $55,120 Skilled Trades – $54,259
• Wyoming: Gynecologist -$248,070, Teacher – $58,860, Electrician $58,740, Skilled Trades – $56,050

The salaries and job availability in these markets can fluctuate based on many factors. For example, skilled trades professionals who focus on residential field service need to keep a close eye on the local housing market to determine whether they’re going to bring in better than average income for the year.

Last modified: April 6, 2018