Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an associate programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for associate programmers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for associate programmer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of associate programmers in America is $91,000.
The median salary for associate programmers in Washington is $82,873. Compare that to the median salary in Hawaii of $61,958, which ranked worst for associate programmers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Washington is the best state for associate programmer jobs, whereas Hawaii is the worst.
10 best states for associate programmers in 2026
1. Washington
Total associate programmer jobs: 1,912 Average annual salary: $82,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
2. Rhode Island
Total associate programmer jobs: 285 Average annual salary: $78,046 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
3. Nevada
Total associate programmer jobs: 259 Average annual salary: $91,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
4. Connecticut
Total associate programmer jobs: 472 Average annual salary: $82,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. New Jersey
Total associate programmer jobs: 1,391 Average annual salary: $81,503 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
6. Oregon
Total associate programmer jobs: 991 Average annual salary: $77,037 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
7. California
Total associate programmer jobs: 6,747 Average annual salary: $82,805 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
8. Minnesota
Total associate programmer jobs: 953 Average annual salary: $75,076 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
9. North Carolina
Total associate programmer jobs: 1,454 Average annual salary: $72,090 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. Vermont
Total associate programmer jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $73,239 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
Associate programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an associate programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $82,873 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,912 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $78,046 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 285 |
| 3 | Nevada | $91,101 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 259 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $82,377 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 472 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $81,503 | $63,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,391 |
| 6 | Oregon | $77,037 | $57,000 | 4,142,776 | 991 |
| 7 | California | $82,805 | $61,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,747 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $75,076 | $57,000 | 5,576,606 | 953 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $72,090 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,454 |
| 10 | Vermont | $73,239 | $57,000 | 623,657 | 156 |
| 11 | New York | $80,128 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,928 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $73,180 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 261 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $78,640 | $61,000 | 693,972 | 405 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $75,155 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,676 |
| 15 | Ohio | $71,854 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,149 |
| 16 | Maryland | $73,955 | $58,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,428 |
| 17 | Utah | $71,005 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 646 |
| 18 | Delaware | $71,799 | $56,000 | 961,939 | 266 |
| 19 | Virginia | $72,398 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,754 |
| 20 | Alabama | $71,396 | $56,000 | 4,874,747 | 490 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $69,767 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 117 |
| 22 | Illinois | $72,096 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,767 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $70,993 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,410 |
| 24 | Maine | $71,720 | $56,000 | 1,335,907 | 147 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $71,385 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 151 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $71,841 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 328 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $69,911 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 509 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $69,666 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 380 |
| 29 | Indiana | $67,628 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 862 |
| 30 | Iowa | $68,764 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 398 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $68,004 | $51,000 | 1,920,076 | 298 |
| 32 | Colorado | $67,868 | $50,000 | 5,607,154 | 934 |
| 33 | Michigan | $68,588 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 850 |
| 34 | Alaska | $69,284 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 99 |
| 35 | Kansas | $66,552 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 373 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $67,382 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 584 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $68,357 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 222 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $66,878 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 92 |
| 39 | Idaho | $63,456 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 255 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $67,079 | $52,000 | 4,684,333 | 292 |
| 41 | Texas | $65,070 | $50,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,631 |
| 42 | Arizona | $65,120 | $49,000 | 7,016,270 | 790 |
| 43 | Georgia | $64,967 | $51,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,261 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $60,354 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 91 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $63,509 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 307 |
| 46 | Missouri | $65,640 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 635 |
| 47 | Montana | $57,881 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 192 |
| 48 | Florida | $63,768 | $51,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,867 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $61,662 | $46,000 | 2,088,070 | 244 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $63,408 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 132 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,958 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 87 |
Highest paying states for associate programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Associate Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $82,873 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $78,046 |
| 3 | Nevada | $91,101 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $82,377 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $81,503 |
| 6 | Oregon | $77,037 |
| 7 | California | $82,805 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $75,076 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $72,090 |
| 10 | Vermont | $73,239 |
| 11 | New York | $80,128 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $73,180 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $78,640 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $75,155 |
| 15 | Ohio | $71,854 |
| 16 | Maryland | $73,955 |
| 17 | Utah | $71,005 |
| 18 | Delaware | $71,799 |
| 19 | Virginia | $72,398 |
| 20 | Alabama | $71,396 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $69,767 |
| 22 | Illinois | $72,096 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $70,993 |
| 24 | Maine | $71,720 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $71,385 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $71,841 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $69,911 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $69,666 |
| 29 | Indiana | $67,628 |
| 30 | Iowa | $68,764 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $68,004 |
| 32 | Colorado | $67,868 |
| 33 | Michigan | $68,588 |
| 34 | Alaska | $69,284 |
| 35 | Kansas | $66,552 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $67,382 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $68,357 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $66,878 |
| 39 | Idaho | $63,456 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $67,079 |
| 41 | Texas | $65,070 |
| 42 | Arizona | $65,120 |
| 43 | Georgia | $64,967 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $60,354 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $63,509 |
| 46 | Missouri | $65,640 |
| 47 | Montana | $57,881 |
| 48 | Florida | $63,768 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $61,662 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $63,408 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,958 |
Expert opinions on the best states for associate programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for associate programmers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Frezza Ph.D.
Chair, Professor of Software Engineering, Gannon University
Computing is ubiquitous, and with more industries moving to remote work, location is becoming less critical. If the internet reaches a place reliably, computing jobs can be located there.
Associate programmer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for associate programmer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025