Research Summary. In our latest analysis, the Zippia data science team has updated the engineer salary data by state for the United States as of 2026:
-
New Hampshire boasts the highest average engineer salary at $97,046.
-
Michigan ranks lowest, with an average engineer salary of $61,400.
-
The national average salary for engineers is currently $92,077.
-
The national hourly wage for engineers is approximately $44.27.
For more details, you can explore our specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary remains the most crucial factor in job satisfaction for many individuals. Many people ask themselves, “What do engineers earn in my state?”
While individual salaries can vary based on numerous factors, we have compiled extensive data on average engineer salaries across the United States, categorized by state and seniority level. Although your local salary might differ from the state average, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for what you can expect in your engineering career.
According to our findings, New Hampshire offers the best salary for engineers as of 2026.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for engineer salaries:
Let’s dive deeper into how these salaries compare across all states.
Highest-Paid Engineers By State
| Rank | State | Average Engineer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $97,046 | $69,000 | $134,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $94,651 | $68,000 | $131,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $94,286 | $66,000 | $133,000 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $93,864 | $67,000 | $130,000 |
| 5 | New York | $93,391 | $67,000 | $129,000 |
| 6 | Maryland | $92,244 | $66,000 | $127,000 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $90,701 | $66,000 | $124,000 |
| 8 | Texas | $89,407 | $63,000 | $125,000 |
| 9 | Vermont | $89,074 | $64,000 | $123,000 |
| 10 | Nevada | $88,635 | $61,000 | $126,000 |
| 11 | California | $87,957 | $61,000 | $126,000 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $87,795 | $65,000 | $118,000 |
| 13 | Virginia | $86,648 | $62,000 | $119,000 |
| 14 | Maine | $86,128 | $62,000 | $118,000 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $85,718 | $62,000 | $116,000 |
| 16 | Delaware | $85,112 | $61,000 | $117,000 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $84,814 | $60,000 | $118,000 |
| 18 | Kansas | $84,508 | $61,000 | $115,000 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $84,153 | $61,000 | $115,000 |
| 20 | Washington | $83,605 | $59,000 | $118,000 |
| 21 | Arizona | $83,199 | $59,000 | $116,000 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $82,354 | $60,000 | $112,000 |
| 23 | Idaho | $82,316 | $58,000 | $116,000 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $80,873 | $58,000 | $111,000 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $79,907 | $58,000 | $109,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $78,545 | $57,000 | $107,000 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $78,256 | $56,000 | $107,000 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $77,540 | $55,000 | $107,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $77,455 | $54,000 | $109,000 |
| 30 | Alabama | $76,867 | $55,000 | $105,000 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $76,628 | $54,000 | $106,000 |
| 32 | Georgia | $76,574 | $55,000 | $105,000 |
| 33 | Illinois | $76,205 | $55,000 | $103,000 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $75,504 | $55,000 | $102,000 |
| 35 | Montana | $75,309 | $53,000 | $105,000 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $74,480 | $53,000 | $103,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $73,188 | $53,000 | $100,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $72,526 | $53,000 | $98,000 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $72,447 | $52,000 | $100,000 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $71,590 | $52,000 | $98,000 |
| 41 | Colorado | $71,342 | $51,000 | $98,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $70,645 | $51,000 | $96,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $70,393 | $48,000 | $101,000 |
| 44 | Ohio | $68,590 | $50,000 | $93,000 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $67,412 | $54,000 | $83,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $67,027 | $47,000 | $94,000 |
| 47 | Alaska | $65,498 | $52,000 | $81,000 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $65,123 | $47,000 | $89,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $62,823 | $46,000 | $85,000 |
| 50 | Michigan | $61,400 | $44,000 | $84,000 |
Methodology: Engineer Salary By State
To accurately gauge engineer salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from multiple sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We enhance this data with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these figures to derive average engineer salaries by state.
We ranked each state based on its average annual salary for engineers, highlighting the state with the highest average salary as the leader in engineer compensation.
Engineer Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for engineers?
The highest-paid state for engineers is New Hampshire, with an average salary of $97,046 per year.
-
What city pays engineers the most?
Huntsville, AL offers the highest average salary for engineers at $77,034 per year.
-
What is the worst state for engineers?
The lowest-paying state for engineers is Michigan, with an average salary of $61,400 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
