Here's a different take on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Wage estimates page. I've downloaded all the data and ranked states (for every occupation with at least 100 workers).

You can use the drop-down menus to filter by state or by occupation.

Occupation Selected: Food preparation workers

Click on state name to filter.
State Jobs Average
Salary		 Rank
Alaska 2,050 $24,250 1
Connecticut 13,660 $21,730 2
Nevada 7,840 $21,500 3
Washington 12,570 $21,430 4
Massachusetts 25,040 $21,250 5
Hawaii 5,310 $21,040 6
Arizona 20,260 $20,790 7
District of Columbia 5,360 $20,750 8
Minnesota 12,700 $20,280 9
New York 86,470 $20,190 10
Oregon 10,830 $20,110 11
Rhode Island 3,530 $19,830 12
New Jersey 16,510 $19,750 13
Vermont 2,030 $19,550 14
Colorado 13,060 $19,430 15
Maine 5,410 $19,380 16.5
Maryland 15,030 $19,380 16.5
New Hampshire 3,020 $19,180 18
Delaware 2,760 $19,000 19
Florida 46,970 $18,930 20
California 108,010 $18,920 21
North Dakota 1,590 $18,740 22
Wisconsin 12,880 $18,510 23
Georgia 27,320 $18,460 24
Michigan 31,750 $18,410 25
Kentucky 7,770 $18,210 26
Pennsylvania 39,800 $18,110 27
Tennessee 16,240 $18,080 28
Virginia 17,860 $18,000 29
Illinois 47,150 $17,840 30
South Carolina 13,180 $17,820 31
Ohio 34,110 $17,700 32
Idaho 2,660 $17,580 33
Indiana 20,890 $17,400 34
Wyoming 1,500 $17,350 35
Missouri 10,360 $17,250 36
Iowa 9,020 $17,130 37
Montana 2,510 $17,060 38
North Carolina 26,130 $16,810 39.5
New Mexico 3,380 $16,810 39.5
Virgin Islands 440 $16,680
Kansas 9,480 $16,350 41
Nebraska 5,920 $16,310 42
Utah 7,370 $16,260 43
Texas 32,950 $16,200 44.5
West Virginia 4,400 $16,200 44.5
South Dakota 4,160 $16,140 46
Alabama 10,500 $15,860 47
Puerto Rico 14,170 $15,760
Oklahoma 8,370 $15,310 48
Arkansas 7,060 $14,950 49
Mississippi 14,580 $14,570 50
Guam 1,050 $14,480
Louisiana 22,160 $14,200 51