Career Atlas USA

Best States for Cost Estimators

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Colorado87.1 / 100
  2. 2Missouri86.7 / 100
  3. 3South Dakota81.8 / 100
  4. 4Idaho76 / 100
  5. 5Kansas73.3 / 100
  6. 6Wyoming72.9 / 100
  7. 7Washington72.7 / 100
  8. 8Montana72.1 / 100
  9. 9Ohio70.7 / 100
  10. 10Wisconsin70.5 / 100
  11. 11Michigan66.7 / 100
  12. 12North Dakota66.5 / 100
  13. 13Pennsylvania63.6 / 100
  14. 14Louisiana63.3 / 100
  15. 15Alabama62.7 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).