Systems Engineer Salary By State: Highest-Paid Systems Engineers by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the following insights into systems engineer salaries across the United States for 2026:
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California boasts the highest average salary for systems engineers at $94,433.
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North Dakota has the lowest average salary at $69,310.
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The national average salary for systems engineers stands at $82,834.
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On an hourly basis, systems engineers earn an average of $39.82.
For more details on our methodology, click here.
Background
Salary remains the foremost criterion for job seekers across diverse demographics. A prevalent question among aspiring systems engineers is: how much can I expect to earn in my state?
While several factors influence individual salaries, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for systems engineers by state, segmented by experience level. Though local variances may exist, these averages serve as a solid foundation for understanding potential earnings.
As of 2026, California continues to lead the pack in terms of systems engineer compensation.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for systems engineer salaries:
Let’s delve into the specifics and present a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Systems Engineers By State
| Rank | State | Average Systems Engineer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $94,433 | $69,000 | $128,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $90,725 | $66,000 | $122,000 |
| 3 | Maryland | $87,332 | $66,000 | $114,000 |
| 4 | Virginia | $84,865 | $65,000 | $110,000 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $84,333 | $63,000 | $111,000 |
| 6 | Nevada | $84,252 | $62,000 | $114,000 |
| 7 | Delaware | $83,883 | $64,000 | $109,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $83,353 | $61,000 | $112,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $82,728 | $63,000 | $108,000 |
| 10 | New York | $81,979 | $62,000 | $107,000 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $81,550 | $62,000 | $106,000 |
| 12 | Texas | $80,940 | $61,000 | $106,000 |
| 13 | Michigan | $80,612 | $61,000 | $105,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $80,584 | $61,000 | $105,000 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $80,166 | $61,000 | $104,000 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $80,120 | $65,000 | $98,000 |
| 17 | Vermont | $79,971 | $61,000 | $103,000 |
| 18 | Idaho | $79,905 | $58,000 | $108,000 |
| 19 | Arizona | $77,825 | $58,000 | $103,000 |
| 20 | Ohio | $77,774 | $59,000 | $101,000 |
| 21 | Colorado | $77,473 | $58,000 | $103,000 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $77,376 | $59,000 | $101,000 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $76,834 | $59,000 | $99,000 |
| 24 | Alabama | $76,777 | $58,000 | $100,000 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $76,517 | $58,000 | $99,000 |
| 26 | Iowa | $76,265 | $57,000 | $100,000 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $76,235 | $58,000 | $99,000 |
| 28 | Georgia | $75,964 | $58,000 | $99,000 |
| 29 | Illinois | $75,914 | $57,000 | $99,000 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $75,506 | $57,000 | $99,000 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $75,452 | $56,000 | $100,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $74,971 | $55,000 | $101,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $74,910 | $57,000 | $97,000 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $74,909 | $57,000 | $97,000 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $74,307 | $57,000 | $96,000 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $73,856 | $56,000 | $96,000 |
| 37 | Kansas | $73,434 | $55,000 | $96,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $73,249 | $56,000 | $95,000 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $73,227 | $55,000 | $96,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $73,095 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $72,800 | $55,000 | $95,000 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $72,522 | $55,000 | $94,000 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $72,464 | $55,000 | $94,000 |
| 44 | Missouri | $71,725 | $54,000 | $94,000 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $70,593 | $53,000 | $93,000 |
| 46 | Alaska | $70,556 | $57,000 | $85,000 |
| 47 | Montana | $70,491 | $52,000 | $95,000 |
| 48 | Maine | $70,466 | $54,000 | $90,000 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $70,006 | $52,000 | $94,000 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $69,310 | $52,000 | $91,000 |
Methodology: Systems Engineer Salary By State
To gain insights into systems engineer salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further enriched by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average to derive an accurate average pay for systems engineers in each state.
The annual average salary data for systems engineers was utilized to rank states based on the highest average salaries.
Systems Engineer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for systems engineers?
The highest-paid state for systems engineers is California, with an average salary of $94,433 per year.
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What city pays systems engineers the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest average salary for systems engineers at $102,767 per year.
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What is the worst state for systems engineers?
The lowest-paying state for systems engineers is North Dakota, with an average salary of $69,310 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.
