What is the best state to be a market research analysts and marketing specialists?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Delaware is the best state for a market research analysts and marketing specialists: a BLS median of $101,270 is worth $96,112 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,343) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 99.8), an index of 133.0 where the average state is 100.

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

Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a market research analysts and marketing specialists at $101,810, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 126.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Best States to Be a Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a market research analysts and marketing specialists salary goes furthest in Delaware — a $101,270 BLS median worth $96,112 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 133.0).

Which US states are best for a market research analysts and marketing specialists after cost of living and tax?

For a market research analysts and marketing specialists, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Delaware #1: a $101,270 BLS median becomes $96,112 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 133.0). Hawaii ranks last ($51,301, index 71.0). 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

Delaware ranks #1 of 51 states for a market research analysts and marketing specialists. Index 100 = the average state; 133.0 means pay goes 33.0% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

133.0

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Delaware	$101,270	$5,343	99.8	$96,112	133.0
2	Massachusetts	$101,810	$4,871	105.8	$91,662	126.8
3	Washington	$95,120	—	107.0	$88,886	123.0
4	Colorado	$93,050	$3,434	103.1	$86,962	120.3
5	New York	$98,580	$4,867	107.9	$86,835	120.2
6	District of Columbia	$98,090	$5,463	109.9	$84,283	116.6
7	Minnesota	$87,510	$4,462	98.6	$84,209	116.5
8	Rhode Island	$86,240	$2,634	102.3	$81,742	113.1
9	California	$94,700	$4,685	110.7	$81,299	112.5
10	North Carolina	$78,410	$2,791	94.3	$80,168	110.9
11	New Jersey	$88,190	$3,428	108.8	$77,903	107.8
12	Ohio	$72,790	$1,219	92.8	$77,145	106.7
13	Tennessee	$69,790	—	91.9	$75,966	105.1
14	Illinois	$79,120	$3,775	100.0	$75,376	104.3
15	Georgia	$75,850	$3,442	96.3	$75,196	104.1
16	Kansas	$70,430	$3,130	90.1	$74,721	103.4
17	Texas	$72,520	—	97.1	$74,719	103.4
18	Missouri	$70,140	$2,416	90.8	$74,572	103.2
19	Vermont	$74,880	$2,560	98.0	$73,827	102.2
20	Florida	$75,450	—	103.4	$72,959	101.0
21	Iowa	$66,390	$2,483	87.8	$72,819	100.8
22	Arkansas	$65,430	$2,343	86.9	$72,566	100.4
23	Virginia	$76,980	$3,627	101.1	$72,552	100.4
24	Connecticut	$77,740	$2,701	103.6	$72,425	100.2
25	Nevada	$71,840	—	100.0	$71,855	99.4
26	South Dakota	$63,490	—	88.6	$71,670	99.2
27	South Carolina	$69,440	$2,698	93.7	$71,192	98.5
28	Maine	$71,980	$3,244	97.0	$70,825	98.0
29	Oregon	$79,150	$6,122	103.4	$70,654	97.8
30	Arizona	$71,940	$1,324	100.7	$70,142	97.1
31	Maryland	$76,370	$3,295	105.0	$69,623	96.3
32	North Dakota	$61,580	—	89.0	$69,223	95.8
33	Montana	$68,080	$2,879	94.6	$68,891	95.3
34	Pennsylvania	$68,760	$2,111	97.6	$68,308	94.5
35	Oklahoma	$61,940	$2,405	87.8	$67,775	93.8
36	Michigan	$66,780	$2,592	96.2	$66,712	92.3
37	Wisconsin	$64,800	$2,282	94.1	$66,441	91.9
38	Indiana	$63,700	$1,881	93.3	$66,238	91.7
39	Louisiana	$59,690	$1,416	88.2	$66,065	91.4
40	Wyoming	$60,990	—	92.7	$65,799	91.0
41	Kentucky	$61,480	$2,328	90.2	$65,608	90.8
42	New Mexico	$61,950	$1,798	92.2	$65,233	90.3
43	Alaska	$66,710	—	102.4	$65,173	90.2
44	Nebraska	$60,000	$2,024	90.1	$64,344	89.0
45	Alabama	$59,530	$2,712	88.8	$63,968	88.5
46	Mississippi	$56,640	$1,687	87.0	$63,199	87.5
47	New Hampshire	$64,570	—	104.2	$61,988	85.8
48	Idaho	$60,970	$2,352	95.5	$61,384	84.9
49	Utah	$62,630	$2,850	98.9	$60,467	83.7
50	West Virginia	$52,340	$1,625	89.5	$56,667	78.4
51	Hawaii	$59,390	$2,983	110.0	$51,301	71.0

"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 Delaware, a $101,270 salary is worth about $94,768 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $6,684 (≈ top marginal 6.60% (upper bound)) · take-home $94,586 · BEA cost of living 99.8 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $114,318, a $19,550 gain over Delaware.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$114,318	88.6
2	Arkansas	$111,944	86.9
3	Louisiana	$111,365	88.2
4	Mississippi	$111,341	87.0
5	Iowa	$111,007	87.8
6	North Dakota	$110,993	89.0
7	Tennessee	$110,232	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$109,809	87.8
9	Wyoming	$109,255	92.7
10	Alabama	$108,313	88.8
11	Kentucky	$107,831	90.2
12	West Virginia	$107,701	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).

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a market research analysts and marketing specialists?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Delaware is the best state for a market research analysts and marketing specialists: a BLS median of $101,270 is worth $96,112 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,343) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 99.8), an index of 133.0 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a market research analysts and marketing specialists at $101,810, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 126.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a market research analysts and marketing specialists salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a market research analysts and marketing specialists: a $59,390 BLS median is worth only $51,301 after tax and cost of living (index 71.0). 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.