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Best states for a chief software architect
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for chief software architects in the United States. Chief software architect 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 chief software architects.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for chief software architects. We found that California is the best state in the nation for chief software architects, and people in Monterey earn the most in the field.
California is the best state for jobs for chief software architects, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in California is $157,883, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $92,592.If you are currently seeking employment as a chief software architect, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for chief software architects in 2025
1. California
Total chief software architect jobs: 13,107 Average annual salary: $157,883 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $236,000 Location Quotient: 1.442. Washington
Total chief software architect jobs: 4,034 Average annual salary: $134,384 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location Quotient: 1.783. Connecticut
Total chief software architect jobs: 1,003 Average annual salary: $146,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 0.974. Arizona
Total chief software architect jobs: 1,655 Average annual salary: $146,746 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location Quotient: 0.915. Massachusetts
Total chief software architect jobs: 3,306 Average annual salary: $137,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 1.166. Nevada
Total chief software architect jobs: 554 Average annual salary: $153,517 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location Quotient: 0.857. Oregon
Total chief software architect jobs: 1,874 Average annual salary: $129,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 1.468. Rhode Island
Total chief software architect jobs: 547 Average annual salary: $122,648 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.459. Idaho
Total chief software architect jobs: 481 Average annual salary: $130,603 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 0.9410. Delaware
Total chief software architect jobs: 440 Average annual salary: $125,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
Chief software architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a chief software architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a chief software architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $157,883 | $105,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,107 |
| 2 | Washington | $134,384 | $84,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,034 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $146,901 | $103,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,003 |
| 4 | Arizona | $146,746 | $95,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,655 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $137,005 | $96,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,306 |
| 6 | Nevada | $153,517 | $101,000 | 2,998,039 | 554 |
| 7 | Oregon | $129,525 | $80,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,874 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $122,648 | $85,000 | 1,059,639 | 547 |
| 9 | Idaho | $130,603 | $81,000 | 1,716,943 | 481 |
| 10 | Delaware | $125,256 | $86,000 | 961,939 | 440 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $125,493 | $83,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,921 |
| 12 | Texas | $123,369 | $76,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,772 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $135,959 | $93,000 | 693,972 | 1,043 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $122,702 | $84,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,231 |
| 15 | Alaska | $136,801 | $85,000 | 739,795 | 164 |
| 16 | Virginia | $121,603 | $82,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,859 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $122,809 | $85,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,784 |
| 18 | Illinois | $116,708 | $76,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,745 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $118,259 | $82,000 | 1,342,795 | 485 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $135,498 | $89,000 | 1,427,538 | 192 |
| 21 | Vermont | $114,265 | $79,000 | 623,657 | 272 |
| 22 | New York | $119,375 | $82,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,348 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $114,446 | $75,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,860 |
| 24 | Kansas | $111,144 | $70,000 | 2,913,123 | 817 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $116,557 | $72,000 | 4,684,333 | 549 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $109,222 | $67,000 | 579,315 | 170 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $109,732 | $67,000 | 2,088,070 | 560 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $106,117 | $69,000 | 755,393 | 276 |
| 29 | Indiana | $110,459 | $72,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,387 |
| 30 | Alabama | $109,489 | $69,000 | 4,874,747 | 871 |
| 31 | Georgia | $110,274 | $71,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,860 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $108,557 | $69,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,095 |
| 33 | Montana | $106,751 | $65,000 | 1,050,493 | 365 |
| 34 | Maryland | $108,943 | $74,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,524 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $106,790 | $70,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,355 |
| 36 | Utah | $101,921 | $61,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,333 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,799 | $68,000 | 1,920,076 | 507 |
| 38 | Florida | $109,870 | $69,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,583 |
| 39 | Michigan | $105,708 | $70,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,667 |
| 40 | Maine | $109,390 | $77,000 | 1,335,907 | 270 |
| 41 | Colorado | $105,660 | $64,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,868 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $105,092 | $68,000 | 4,454,189 | 737 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $100,867 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 281 |
| 44 | Iowa | $104,329 | $67,000 | 3,145,711 | 637 |
| 45 | Ohio | $100,303 | $66,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,259 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $97,484 | $60,000 | 3,004,279 | 713 |
| 47 | Missouri | $100,592 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,513 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $95,648 | $61,000 | 869,666 | 274 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $94,787 | $62,000 | 5,024,369 | 787 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $95,228 | $59,000 | 2,984,100 | 292 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $92,592 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 493 |
Highest paying states for chief software architects
| Rank | State | Avg. Chief Software Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $157,883 |
| 2 | Washington | $134,384 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $146,901 |
| 4 | Arizona | $146,746 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $137,005 |
| 6 | Nevada | $153,517 |
| 7 | Oregon | $129,525 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $122,648 |
| 9 | Idaho | $130,603 |
| 10 | Delaware | $125,256 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $125,493 |
| 12 | Texas | $123,369 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $135,959 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $122,702 |
| 15 | Alaska | $136,801 |
| 16 | Virginia | $121,603 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $122,809 |
| 18 | Illinois | $116,708 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $118,259 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $135,498 |
| 21 | Vermont | $114,265 |
| 22 | New York | $119,375 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $114,446 |
| 24 | Kansas | $111,144 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $116,557 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $109,222 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $109,732 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $106,117 |
| 29 | Indiana | $110,459 |
| 30 | Alabama | $109,489 |
| 31 | Georgia | $110,274 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $108,557 |
| 33 | Montana | $106,751 |
| 34 | Maryland | $108,943 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $106,790 |
| 36 | Utah | $101,921 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,799 |
| 38 | Florida | $109,870 |
| 39 | Michigan | $105,708 |
| 40 | Maine | $109,390 |
| 41 | Colorado | $105,660 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $105,092 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $100,867 |
| 44 | Iowa | $104,329 |
| 45 | Ohio | $100,303 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $97,484 |
| 47 | Missouri | $100,592 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $95,648 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $94,787 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $95,228 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $92,592 |
Expert opinions on the best states for chief software architects
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for chief software architects 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.
Chief software architect best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025