Best states for an applications programmer

Q: What is the best state for applications programmers?

The best state to be an applications programmer is Rhode Island based on applications programmer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for applications programmers?

The highest paying state for applications programmers is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for applications programmers?

The worst state for applications programmers is New Mexico, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Ted Junseok Song

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for applications programmers in the United States. Applications programmer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for applications programmers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for applications programmer jobs.

We figured that the best places for applications programmer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the West is best for applications programmers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for applications programmer jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.

10 best states for applications programmers in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total applications programmer jobs: 276
Average annual salary: $91,764
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1.54
Applications programmer jobs in Rhode Island
2. North Carolina
Total applications programmer jobs: 1,635
Average annual salary: $94,262
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Applications programmer jobs in North Carolina
3. Connecticut
Total applications programmer jobs: 656
Average annual salary: $92,299
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Applications programmer jobs in Connecticut
4. Maryland
Total applications programmer jobs: 1,794
Average annual salary: $92,420
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000
Location Quotient:
1.92
Applications programmer jobs in Maryland
5. Delaware
Total applications programmer jobs: 342
Average annual salary: $87,330
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Applications programmer jobs in Delaware
6. District of Columbia
Total applications programmer jobs: 653
Average annual salary: $95,175
Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
2.64
Applications programmer jobs in District of Columbia
7. Massachusetts
Total applications programmer jobs: 1,986
Average annual salary: $89,425
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Applications programmer jobs in Massachusetts
8. Washington
Total applications programmer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $102,981
Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
0
Applications programmer jobs in Washington
9. California
Total applications programmer jobs: 7,375
Average annual salary: $92,768
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Location Quotient:
1.71
Applications programmer jobs in California
10. Kentucky
Total applications programmer jobs: 511
Average annual salary: $87,001
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Applications programmer jobs in Kentucky

Applications programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an applications programmer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an applications programmer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$91,764	$70,000	1,059,639	276
2	North Carolina	$94,262	$70,000	10,273,419	1,635
3	Connecticut	$92,299	$70,000	3,588,184	656
4	Maryland	$92,420	$69,000	6,052,177	1,794
5	Delaware	$87,330	$65,000	961,939	342
6	District of Columbia	$95,175	$71,000	693,972	653
7	Massachusetts	$89,425	$68,000	6,859,819	1,986
8	Washington	$102,981	$74,000	7,405,743	0
9	California	$92,768	$65,000	39,536,653	7,375
10	Kentucky	$87,001	$64,000	4,454,189	511
11	Maine	$86,523	$67,000	1,335,907	196
12	Pennsylvania	$83,910	$63,000	12,805,537	1,941
13	Idaho	$81,982	$58,000	1,716,943	309
14	Oregon	$83,660	$60,000	4,142,776	954
15	New York	$87,951	$66,000	19,849,399	1,973
16	Georgia	$83,001	$61,000	10,429,379	1,700
17	Indiana	$79,062	$59,000	6,666,818	1,215
18	New Jersey	$85,032	$64,000	9,005,644	1,511
19	Nevada	$83,876	$58,000	2,998,039	278
20	Illinois	$80,142	$60,000	12,802,023	2,345
21	North Dakota	$81,020	$60,000	755,393	127
22	Ohio	$79,265	$59,000	11,658,609	1,419
23	New Hampshire	$81,005	$62,000	1,342,795	289
24	Alabama	$80,445	$58,000	4,874,747	603
25	Virginia	$87,445	$65,000	8,470,020	0
26	Tennessee	$78,579	$58,000	6,715,984	661
27	South Carolina	$80,417	$59,000	5,024,369	380
28	Minnesota	$79,373	$59,000	5,576,606	986
29	Vermont	$83,541	$64,000	623,657	0
30	Arizona	$76,784	$54,000	7,016,270	1,095
31	Michigan	$77,677	$58,000	9,962,311	1,120
32	South Dakota	$77,084	$56,000	869,666	106
33	Iowa	$76,358	$56,000	3,145,711	516
34	Alaska	$77,108	$64,000	739,795	130
35	Mississippi	$76,905	$55,000	2,984,100	147
36	Florida	$72,934	$51,000	20,984,400	2,720
37	Wisconsin	$76,912	$58,000	5,795,483	0
38	West Virginia	$73,653	$55,000	1,815,857	0
39	Kansas	$70,422	$51,000	2,913,123	523
40	Louisiana	$74,012	$52,000	4,684,333	380
41	Nebraska	$71,499	$52,000	1,920,076	319
42	Colorado	$69,337	$49,000	5,607,154	1,081
43	Texas	$73,499	$52,000	28,304,596	0
44	Arkansas	$68,617	$50,000	3,004,279	370
45	Missouri	$71,212	$52,000	6,113,532	705
46	Montana	$67,112	$48,000	1,050,493	179
47	Oklahoma	$69,523	$50,000	3,930,864	259
48	Hawaii	$59,754	$49,000	1,427,538	113
49	Utah	$67,198	$47,000	3,101,833	0
50	Wyoming	$66,207	$47,000	579,315	0
51	New Mexico	$61,648	$43,000	2,088,070	233

Highest paying states for applications programmers

Rank	State	Avg. Applications Programmer Salary
1	Rhode Island	$91,764
2	North Carolina	$94,262
3	Connecticut	$92,299
4	Maryland	$92,420
5	Delaware	$87,330
6	District of Columbia	$95,175
7	Massachusetts	$89,425
8	Washington	$102,981
9	California	$92,768
10	Kentucky	$87,001
11	Maine	$86,523
12	Pennsylvania	$83,910
13	Idaho	$81,982
14	Oregon	$83,660
15	New York	$87,951
16	Georgia	$83,001
17	Indiana	$79,062
18	New Jersey	$85,032
19	Nevada	$83,876
20	Illinois	$80,142
21	North Dakota	$81,020
22	Ohio	$79,265
23	New Hampshire	$81,005
24	Alabama	$80,445
25	Virginia	$87,445
26	Tennessee	$78,579
27	South Carolina	$80,417
28	Minnesota	$79,373
29	Vermont	$83,541
30	Arizona	$76,784
31	Michigan	$77,677
32	South Dakota	$77,084
33	Iowa	$76,358
34	Alaska	$77,108
35	Mississippi	$76,905
36	Florida	$72,934
37	Wisconsin	$76,912
38	West Virginia	$73,653
39	Kansas	$70,422
40	Louisiana	$74,012
41	Nebraska	$71,499
42	Colorado	$69,337
43	Texas	$73,499
44	Arkansas	$68,617
45	Missouri	$71,212
46	Montana	$67,112
47	Oklahoma	$69,523
48	Hawaii	$59,754
49	Utah	$67,198
50	Wyoming	$66,207
51	New Mexico	$61,648

Expert opinions on the best states for applications programmers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for applications programmers 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.

Applications programmer best states FAQs

What is the best state for applications programmers?

What is the highest paying state for applications programmers?

What is the worst state for applications programmers?

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Best states for Applications Programmers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total applications programmer jobs:	276
Average annual salary:	$91,764
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$120,000
Location Quotient:	1.54

Best states for an applications programmer

10 best states for applications programmers in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. North Carolina

3. Connecticut

4. Maryland

5. Delaware

6. District of Columbia

7. Massachusetts

8. Washington

9. California

10. Kentucky