Software Engineer Salary By State: Highest-Paid Software Engineers by State [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to present the latest insights on software engineer salaries across the United States for 2026:
-
California boasts the highest average software engineer salary at $115,477.
-
Hawaii records the lowest software engineer salary at $66,259.
-
The national average salary for software engineers is $100,260.
-
The national hourly rate for software engineers stands at $48.2.
For more details, you can explore the specific methodology.
Background
In surveys conducted across various demographics, salary remains the top priority for job seekers. Many individuals frequently ask themselves, “how much do software engineers earn in my area?”
While individual salaries can vary based on a variety of factors, the available data offers a clear overview of average salaries for software engineers by state, categorized by experience level. Although your city may have different figures, these state averages provide a valuable benchmark for salary expectations.
As of 2026, California continues to lead in software engineer salaries, reflecting the ongoing demand for tech talent in high-cost living areas.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for software engineer salaries:
Let’s delve further into the specifics and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Software Engineers By State
| Rank | State | Average Software Engineer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $115,477 | $83,000 | $160,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $112,080 | $81,000 | $153,000 |
| 3 | New York | $92,846 | $70,000 | $121,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $92,651 | $66,000 | $128,000 |
| 5 | Oregon | $91,473 | $66,000 | $125,000 |
| 6 | Arizona | $83,602 | $61,000 | $113,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $83,582 | $64,000 | $108,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $82,645 | $62,000 | $108,000 |
| 9 | Delaware | $82,336 | $62,000 | $108,000 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $82,074 | $62,000 | $107,000 |
| 11 | Virginia | $82,022 | $62,000 | $107,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $80,498 | $61,000 | $105,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $80,444 | $61,000 | $105,000 |
| 14 | Vermont | $80,333 | $62,000 | $103,000 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $79,926 | $61,000 | $103,000 |
| 16 | Texas | $79,419 | $59,000 | $106,000 |
| 17 | Idaho | $78,961 | $57,000 | $108,000 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $78,726 | $60,000 | $102,000 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $78,301 | $59,000 | $102,000 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $77,541 | $59,000 | $100,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $77,348 | $57,000 | $104,000 |
| 22 | Utah | $77,120 | $56,000 | $105,000 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $76,300 | $58,000 | $98,000 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $76,258 | $57,000 | $101,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $75,772 | $58,000 | $98,000 |
| 26 | Maine | $75,766 | $59,000 | $97,000 |
| 27 | Alaska | $75,692 | $59,000 | $96,000 |
| 28 | Ohio | $74,727 | $57,000 | $97,000 |
| 29 | Michigan | $74,406 | $57,000 | $96,000 |
| 30 | Georgia | $74,244 | $56,000 | $97,000 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $73,164 | $55,000 | $96,000 |
| 32 | Iowa | $72,892 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
| 33 | Colorado | $72,814 | $54,000 | $97,000 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $72,793 | $56,000 | $94,000 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $72,788 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $72,743 | $54,000 | $97,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $72,602 | $55,000 | $94,000 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $72,455 | $55,000 | $94,000 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $71,499 | $54,000 | $93,000 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $71,346 | $54,000 | $93,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $71,046 | $54,000 | $93,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $70,644 | $53,000 | $92,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $70,541 | $52,000 | $95,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $69,944 | $53,000 | $91,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $69,300 | $52,000 | $91,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $69,250 | $52,000 | $90,000 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $68,674 | $51,000 | $91,000 |
| 48 | Missouri | $68,403 | $52,000 | $89,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $68,061 | $51,000 | $89,000 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $66,259 | $52,000 | $83,000 |
Methodology: Software Engineer Salary By State
To accurately assess software engineer salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Comparisons (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is cross-referenced with current job postings to ensure accuracy. The final salary figures reflect a weighted average derived from these inputs.
Our rankings are based on average annual salary estimates, with states listed in order of their average salary for software engineers.
Software Engineer Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for software engineers?
The highest-paid state for software engineers is California, with an average salary of $115,477 per year.
-
What city pays software engineers the most?
San Bruno, CA offers the highest salaries for software engineers, averaging $126,992 per year.
-
What is the worst state for software engineers?
The lowest-paying state for software engineers is Hawaii, with an average salary of $66,259 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.
