Career Atlas USA

Best States for Tapers

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. 1Washington77.7 / 100
  2. 2Hawaii76.5 / 100
  3. 3Oregon65.6 / 100
  4. 4California65.2 / 100
  5. 5Nevada65 / 100
  6. 6Illinois64.8 / 100
  7. 7Minnesota61.7 / 100
  8. 8Idaho57.1 / 100
  9. 9Massachusetts56.3 / 100
  10. 10Missouri53.8 / 100
  11. 11Iowa51.5 / 100
  12. 12Arizona51 / 100
  13. 13Ohio41.3 / 100
  14. 14Utah41.3 / 100
  15. 15Kansas40.6 / 100

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