What is the best state to be a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping: a BLS median of $53,000 is worth $59,578 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 118.9 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping at $59,050, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #16 of 51 on real pay (index 102.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping

Best States to Be a Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $53,000 BLS median worth $59,578 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 118.9).

Which US states are best for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping after cost of living and tax?

For a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $53,000 BLS median becomes $59,578 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 118.9). Hawaii ranks last ($42,773, index 85.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping. Index 100 = the average state; 118.9 means pay goes 18.9% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

118.9

Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$53,000	—	89.0	$59,578	118.9
2	Alaska	$56,510	—	102.4	$55,208	110.1
3	Kentucky	$50,400	$1,885	90.2	$53,810	107.3
4	Rhode Island	$56,370	$1,514	102.3	$53,633	107.0
5	Washington	$57,390	—	107.0	$53,629	107.0
6	Wyoming	$49,660	—	92.7	$53,576	106.9
7	Iowa	$48,490	$1,803	87.8	$53,198	106.1
8	Minnesota	$54,520	$2,218	98.6	$53,033	105.8
9	Kansas	$49,630	$1,970	90.1	$52,916	105.6
10	Louisiana	$47,490	$1,050	88.2	$52,649	105.0
11	New Mexico	$49,650	$1,220	92.2	$52,521	104.8
12	Idaho	$51,770	$1,828	95.5	$52,299	104.3
13	Maryland	$56,880	$2,369	105.0	$51,935	103.6
14	Colorado	$54,880	$1,755	103.1	$51,552	102.8
15	Vermont	$51,810	$1,317	98.0	$51,546	102.8
16	District of Columbia	$59,050	$2,463	109.9	$51,489	102.7
17	Ohio	$48,310	$546	92.8	$51,484	102.7
18	Arkansas	$46,190	$1,593	86.9	$51,298	102.3
19	Missouri	$47,960	$1,373	90.8	$51,297	102.3
20	Montana	$50,070	$1,816	94.6	$50,984	101.7
21	South Dakota	$45,150	—	88.6	$50,967	101.7
22	Nebraska	$47,130	$1,355	90.1	$50,803	101.3
23	Connecticut	$54,130	$1,511	103.6	$50,786	101.3
24	California	$57,590	$1,552	110.7	$50,613	101.0
25	Massachusetts	$55,840	$2,572	105.8	$50,368	100.5
26	Wisconsin	$48,690	$1,428	94.1	$50,228	100.2
27	Mississippi	$44,780	$1,165	87.0	$50,159	100.1
28	Tennessee	$45,760	—	91.9	$49,810	99.4
29	Indiana	$47,850	$1,406	93.3	$49,764	99.3
30	North Carolina	$48,190	$1,506	94.3	$49,492	98.7
31	Maine	$49,710	$1,741	97.0	$49,427	98.6
32	Oklahoma	$44,950	$1,598	87.8	$49,352	98.5
33	New Hampshire	$51,400	—	104.2	$49,345	98.4
34	Virginia	$51,950	$2,187	101.1	$49,219	98.2
35	Texas	$47,540	—	97.1	$48,982	97.7
36	Delaware	$50,850	$2,145	99.8	$48,798	97.3
37	New Jersey	$54,410	$1,458	108.8	$48,667	97.1
38	Pennsylvania	$48,800	$1,498	97.6	$48,479	96.7
39	Michigan	$48,250	$1,804	96.2	$48,272	96.3
40	Oregon	$53,550	$3,882	103.4	$48,053	95.9
41	Nevada	$47,900	—	100.0	$47,910	95.6
42	South Carolina	$45,300	$1,201	93.7	$47,039	93.8
43	New York	$52,920	$2,306	107.9	$46,899	93.6
44	Arizona	$47,890	$722	100.7	$46,851	93.5
45	Florida	$48,330	—	103.4	$46,734	93.2
46	West Virginia	$42,990	$1,209	89.5	$46,684	93.1
47	Georgia	$46,830	$1,877	96.3	$46,683	93.1
48	Illinois	$48,310	$2,250	100.0	$46,079	91.9
49	Alabama	$42,140	$1,842	88.8	$45,369	90.5
50	Utah	$45,790	$2,083	98.9	$44,209	88.2
51	Hawaii	$49,260	$2,231	110.0	$42,773	85.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $53,000 salary is worth about $58,089 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $1,325 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $51,675 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $59,829, a $1,740 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$59,829	88.6
2	Arkansas	$58,586	86.9
3	Louisiana	$58,283	88.2
4	Mississippi	$58,271	87.0
5	Iowa	$58,096	87.8
6	North Dakota	$58,089	89.0
7	Tennessee	$57,690	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$57,469	87.8
9	Wyoming	$57,179	92.7
10	Alabama	$56,686	88.8
11	Kentucky	$56,434	90.2
12	West Virginia	$56,365	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping: a BLS median of $53,000 is worth $59,578 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 118.9 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping at $59,050, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #16 of 51 on real pay (index 102.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping: a $49,260 BLS median is worth only $42,773 after tax and cost of living (index 85.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.