Average Salaries in New Hampshire
Explore salaries across 637 occupations in New Hampshire. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $75.7K, +15.1% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 637 occupations and 674,400 total jobs in New Hampshire.
How the state compares
New Hampshire is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
New Hampshire has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in New Hampshire
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in New Hampshire
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $555.7K | 80 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $534.9K | 220 |
| Dermatologists | $516.2K | 50 |
| Radiologists | $506K | 210 |
| Anesthesiologists | $481.6K | 330 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $404.3K | 50 |
| Physicians, All Other | $361.3K | 1,000 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $348.1K | 140 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $276K | 490 |
| Pediatricians, General | $273.4K | 210 |
Largest occupations in New Hampshire
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 23,880 | $36.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 22,110 | $124.7K |
| Cashiers | 17,250 | $33.8K |
| Registered Nurses | 15,390 | $99.7K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 14,540 | $31.6K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 14,400 | $36.8K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 12,750 | $47.3K |
| Office Clerks, General | 12,740 | $49K |
| Software Developers | 10,840 | $139.7K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 10,030 | $38.4K |
What New Hampshire specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in New Hampshire than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in New Hampshire
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Workers And Plastic Workers, All Other | 11.33 | $47.8K |
| Correspondence Clerks | 6.28 | $49.7K |
| Textile, Apparel, And Furnishings Workers, All Other | 5.42 | $45.7K |
| Calibration Technologists And Technicians | 3.83 | $66.7K |
| Cooks, Short Order | 3.81 | $32.3K |
| Hydrologic Technicians | 3.67 | $64.8K |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists And Technicians | 3.58 | $66.7K |
| Orthotists And Prosthetists | 3.24 | $70.4K |
| Community And Social Service Specialists, All Other | 3.20 | $56.7K |
| Atmospheric And Space Scientists | 3.00 | $42.8K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside New Hampshire
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in New Hampshire
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $72.8K | 193,620 |
Common salary questions for New Hampshire
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.