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 cooking machine operators and tenders
Click on state name to filter.| State | Jobs | Average Salary |
Rank |
| Connecticut | 210 | $27,400 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 520 | $26,950 | 2 |
| New Jersey | 330 | $26,870 | 3 |
| Utah | 430 | $26,620 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 1,520 | $26,210 | 5 |
| Washington | 620 | $26,140 | 6 |
| Massachusetts | 520 | $26,050 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 650 | $26,010 | 8 |
| Iowa | 900 | $25,960 | 9 |
| Michigan | 940 | $25,640 | 10 |
| Ohio | 2,090 | $25,570 | 11 |
| Idaho | 750 | $25,430 | 12 |
| South Dakota | 180 | $24,970 | 13 |
| Illinois | 3,670 | $24,710 | 14 |
| Nebraska | 540 | $24,470 | 15 |
| Oregon | 680 | $24,110 | 16 |
| Virginia | 1,060 | $24,000 | 17 |
| California | 4,220 | $23,840 | 18 |
| Kentucky | 500 | $23,320 | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,200 | $23,110 | 20 |
| Arizona | 580 | $22,990 | 21 |
| New York | 1,800 | $22,950 | 22 |
| New Hampshire | 150 | $22,900 | 23 |
| Colorado | 470 | $22,800 | 24 |
| Kansas | 370 | $22,430 | 25 |
| Tennessee | 470 | $22,130 | 26 |
| New Mexico | 300 | $21,800 | 27 |
| North Carolina | 560 | $21,710 | 28 |
| Alabama | 1,180 | $21,630 | 29 |
| Arkansas | 760 | $20,970 | 30 |
| Hawaii | 140 | $20,630 | 31 |
| Indiana | 1,070 | $20,570 | 32 |
| Nevada | 170 | $20,390 | 33 |
| Missouri | 1,000 | $20,230 | 34 |
| Texas | 2,960 | $20,050 | 35 |
| Maryland | 350 | $18,800 | 36 |
| Mississippi | 700 | $18,780 | 37 |
| Delaware | 100 | $18,740 | 38 |
| Louisiana | 440 | $18,700 | 39 |
| Oklahoma | 480 | $17,540 | 40 |
| Georgia | 1,690 | $17,140 | 41 |