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Best states for an application software developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Application software developer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for application software developers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for application software developers.Although there are abundant application software developer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Washington is the best state in the country for application software developer jobs.
In order to get you the best states for application software developers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as an application software developer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for application software developers in 2026
1. Washington
Total application software developer jobs: 3,163 Average annual salary: $121,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
2. California
Total application software developer jobs: 10,324 Average annual salary: $124,919 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
3. Vermont
Total application software developer jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $110,533 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
4. Nevada
Total application software developer jobs: 527 Average annual salary: $106,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Maine
Total application software developer jobs: 375 Average annual salary: $99,368 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. Delaware
Total application software developer jobs: 406 Average annual salary: $98,841 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
7. Oregon
Total application software developer jobs: 1,226 Average annual salary: $101,952 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
8. Rhode Island
Total application software developer jobs: 378 Average annual salary: $96,354 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
9. Massachusetts
Total application software developer jobs: 2,316 Average annual salary: $101,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. New Hampshire
Total application software developer jobs: 376 Average annual salary: $102,455 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
Application software developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an application software developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an application software developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $121,966 | $89,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,163 |
| 2 | California | $124,919 | $90,000 | 39,536,653 | 10,324 |
| 3 | Vermont | $110,533 | $86,000 | 623,657 | 254 |
| 4 | Nevada | $106,693 | $77,000 | 2,998,039 | 527 |
| 5 | Maine | $99,368 | $77,000 | 1,335,907 | 375 |
| 6 | Delaware | $98,841 | $76,000 | 961,939 | 406 |
| 7 | Oregon | $101,952 | $74,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,226 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $96,354 | $74,000 | 1,059,639 | 378 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $101,918 | $79,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,316 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $102,455 | $79,000 | 1,342,795 | 376 |
| 11 | New York | $104,190 | $80,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,102 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $90,787 | $70,000 | 755,393 | 280 |
| 13 | Utah | $91,870 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 990 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $97,687 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 834 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $91,922 | $70,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,663 |
| 16 | Arizona | $94,719 | $69,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,240 |
| 17 | Virginia | $92,600 | $71,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,595 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $98,087 | $75,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,877 |
| 19 | Montana | $92,515 | $68,000 | 1,050,493 | 279 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $90,272 | $69,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,242 |
| 21 | Ohio | $88,065 | $68,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,510 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $88,298 | $68,000 | 1,815,857 | 347 |
| 23 | Maryland | $92,443 | $71,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,936 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $86,738 | $64,000 | 579,315 | 179 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $87,444 | $68,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,408 |
| 26 | Idaho | $89,743 | $65,000 | 1,716,943 | 412 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $94,072 | $72,000 | 3,588,184 | 753 |
| 28 | Texas | $88,094 | $65,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,108 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $83,537 | $64,000 | 869,666 | 273 |
| 30 | Illinois | $89,566 | $69,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,653 |
| 31 | Georgia | $88,175 | $67,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,307 |
| 32 | Michigan | $87,415 | $68,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,451 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $88,999 | $69,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,283 |
| 34 | Alaska | $89,347 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 172 |
| 35 | Colorado | $84,822 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,639 |
| 36 | Iowa | $85,398 | $66,000 | 3,145,711 | 726 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $83,117 | $64,000 | 4,454,189 | 779 |
| 38 | Indiana | $80,960 | $62,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,539 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $79,419 | $58,000 | 2,088,070 | 497 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $83,735 | $64,000 | 5,024,369 | 675 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $78,664 | $61,000 | 1,427,538 | 252 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $81,242 | $62,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,091 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $83,278 | $62,000 | 4,684,333 | 562 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $81,704 | $62,000 | 1,920,076 | 447 |
| 45 | Missouri | $80,613 | $61,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,290 |
| 46 | Alabama | $79,577 | $60,000 | 4,874,747 | 850 |
| 47 | Kansas | $78,175 | $59,000 | 2,913,123 | 639 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $77,655 | $58,000 | 3,004,279 | 538 |
| 49 | Florida | $80,182 | $59,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,991 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $76,385 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 476 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $76,288 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 272 |
Highest paying states for application software developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Application Software Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $121,966 |
| 2 | California | $124,919 |
| 3 | Vermont | $110,533 |
| 4 | Nevada | $106,693 |
| 5 | Maine | $99,368 |
| 6 | Delaware | $98,841 |
| 7 | Oregon | $101,952 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $96,354 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $101,918 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $102,455 |
| 11 | New York | $104,190 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $90,787 |
| 13 | Utah | $91,870 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $97,687 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $91,922 |
| 16 | Arizona | $94,719 |
| 17 | Virginia | $92,600 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $98,087 |
| 19 | Montana | $92,515 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $90,272 |
| 21 | Ohio | $88,065 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $88,298 |
| 23 | Maryland | $92,443 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $86,738 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $87,444 |
| 26 | Idaho | $89,743 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $94,072 |
| 28 | Texas | $88,094 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $83,537 |
| 30 | Illinois | $89,566 |
| 31 | Georgia | $88,175 |
| 32 | Michigan | $87,415 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $88,999 |
| 34 | Alaska | $89,347 |
| 35 | Colorado | $84,822 |
| 36 | Iowa | $85,398 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $83,117 |
| 38 | Indiana | $80,960 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $79,419 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $83,735 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $78,664 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $81,242 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $83,278 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $81,704 |
| 45 | Missouri | $80,613 |
| 46 | Alabama | $79,577 |
| 47 | Kansas | $78,175 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $77,655 |
| 49 | Florida | $80,182 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $76,385 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $76,288 |
Expert opinions on the best states for application software developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for application software developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
Application software developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025