Which Companies Pay Their Workers the Most? A State-by-State Look at America’s Top Employers
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Money talks, and recent SEC regulations are making companies listen. Thanks to new transparency rules, we can now peek behind the corporate curtain and see exactly how much the average worker makes at publicly traded companies across the United States. The results might surprise you.
Source: howmuch.net
While Silicon Valley often grabs headlines for astronomical tech salaries, our map of the United States reveals a more complex picture. According to data compiled by the AFL-CIO, the highest-paying company isn’t in California or New York – it’s in New Jersey, where energy company NRG Yield offers a median salary of $964,005.
Let’s break down some fascinating patterns across the map:
The Energy Belt Phenomenon
A striking cluster of energy companies dominates the northern Plains and parts of the South. These regions, rich in natural resources, show how traditional industries still command top dollar. For instance, Cloud Peak Energy in Wyoming offers median salaries of $90,980, while MDU Resources Group in North Dakota pays $84,883.
The Health Sector Surge
Health and pharmaceutical companies form another significant cluster, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Massachusetts-based Infinity Pharmaceuticals leads this group with median salaries of $495,513, followed by Michigan’s Esperion Therapeutics at $409,294.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Companies in the United States
| Rank | Company | State | Median Salary | Industry |
| 1 | NRG Yield | New Jersey | $964,005 | Energy |
| 2 | VirnetX Holding Corp | Nevada | $562,062 | Technology |
| 3 | Geron Corporation | California | $500,250 | Health |
| 4 | Infinity Pharmaceuticals | Massachusetts | $495,513 | Health |
| 5 | Arlington Asset Investment Corp | Virginia | $483,502 | Financial |
| 6 | Esperion Therapeutics | Michigan | $409,294 | Health |
| 7 | Intra-Cellular Therapies | New York | $354,916 | Health |
| 8 | Chesapeake Lodging Trust | Maryland | $347,750 | Real Estate |
| 9 | Capstead Mortgage Corporation | Texas | $300,000 | Real Estate |
| 10 | Lipocine | Utah | $299,612 | Health |
Unexpected Leaders
Some surprising findings emerge when examining the map of the United States state by state. For example:
- Vermont’s highest-paying company (Union Bankshares) offers the lowest median salary on our list at $39,346
- Three tech companies make the list, but they’re not the usual suspects: VirnetX in Nevada, Blackbaud in South Carolina, and Tableau in Washington
- Real estate companies dominate in several states, including Texas, Maryland, and Illinois
According to recent research by the Economic Policy Institute, these high-paying companies significantly exceed the national median wage, which stands at $47,684 per year.
Important Context Before you start updating your resume, keep in mind:
- These figures represent publicly traded companies headquartered in each state
- Many of these companies employ small teams (average of 21 people for top performers)
- Salary data includes bonuses and stock compensation
- Companies are still adjusting to new reporting requirements, so figures may change
Complete List of Highest-Paying Companies by State
| State | Company | Median Salary | Industry |
| ALABAMA | Medical Properties Trust | $241,709 | Real Estate |
| ALASKA | Northrim BanCorp | $60,088 | Financial |
| ARIZONA | Accelerate Diagnostics | $164,738 | Health |
| ARKANSAS | Murphy Oil Corporation | $115,353 | Energy |
| CALIFORNIA | Geron Corporation | $500,250 | Health |
| COLORADO | Clovis Oncology | $256,903 | Health |
| CONNECTICUT | Virtus Investment Partners | $210,839 | Financial |
| DELAWARE | Incyte Corporation | $253,015 | Health |
| FLORIDA | Xenia Hotels & Resorts | $228,114 | Real Estate |
| GEORGIA | CatchMark Timber Trust | $236,351 | Energy |
| HAWAII | Hawaiian Electric Industries | $126,857 | Energy |
| IDAHO | IDACORP | $161,297 | Energy |
| ILLINOIS | Equity Commonwealth | $256,235 | Real Estate |
| INDIANA | Endocyte | $233,042 | Health |
| IOWA | NewLink Genetics Corporation | $117,468 | Health |
| KANSAS | QTS Realty Trust | $87,278 | Real Estate |
| KENTUCKY | Humana | $57,385 | Health |
| LOUISIANA | Entergy Corporation | $124,050 | Energy |
| MAINE | WEX | $62,621 | Energy |
| MARYLAND | Chesapeake Lodging Trust | $347,750 | Real Estate |
| MASSACHUSETTS | Infinity Pharmaceuticals | $495,513 | Health |
| MICHIGAN | Esperion Therapeutics | $409,294 | Health |
| MINNESOTA | Allete | $174,181 | Energy |
| MISSISSIPPI | Callon Petroleum Company | $140,628 | Energy |
| MISSOURI | EPR Properties | $196,220 | Real Estate |
| MONTANA | First Interstate BancSystem | $50,483 | Financial |
| NEBRASKA | National Research Corporation | $235,765 | Health |
| NEVADA | VirnetX Holding Corp | $562,062 | Technology |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | UNITIL Corporation | $180,984 | Energy |
| NEW JERSEY | NRG Yield | $964,005 | Energy |
| NEW MEXICO | PNM Resources | $103,864 | Energy |
| NEW YORK | Intra-Cellular Therapies | $354,916 | Health |
| NORTH CAROLINA | Chimerix | $192,567 | Health |
| NORTH DAKOTA | MDU Resources Group | $84,883 | Energy |
| OHIO | Diamond Hill Investment Group | $265,600 | Financial |
| OKLAHOMA | Laredo Petroleum | $138,449 | Energy |
| OREGON | Digimarc Corporation | $127,084 | Technology |
| PENNSYLVANIA | Spark Therapeutics | $202,884 | Health |
| RHODE ISLAND | Textron | $90,025 | Energy |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | Blackbaud | $91,328 | Technology |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | Black Hills Corporation | $141,775 | Energy |
| TENNESSEE | National Health Investors | $209,526 | Real Estate |
| TEXAS | Capstead Mortgage Corporation | $300,000 | Real Estate |
| UTAH | Lipocine | $299,612 | Health |
| VERMONT | Union Bankshares | $39,346 | Financial |
| VIRGINIA | Arlington Asset Investment Corp | $483,502 | Financial |
| WASHINGTON | Tableau Software | $199,864 | Technology |
| WASHINGTON DC | Vanda Pharmaceuticals | $184,067 | Health |
| WEST VIRGINIA | WesBanco | $73,209 | Financial |
| WISCONSIN | Artisan Partners Asset Management | $197,932 | Financial |
| WYOMING | Cloud Peak Energy | $90,980 | Energy |
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What do you think about these salary figures? Does your state’s top-paying company surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
