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Best states for a communications systems engineer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Communications systems engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for communications systems engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for communications systems engineers.We wanted to look at the best states for communications systems engineers -- where there are plenty of communications systems engineer jobs to go around and communications systems engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for communications systems engineers in New Mexico is $138,467. Compare that to the median salary in Missouri of $96,198, which ranked worst for communications systems engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for communications systems engineers, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for communications systems engineer jobs, where as New Mexico is the best state in the country.
10 best states for communications systems engineers in 2026
1. New Mexico
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 383 Average annual salary: $138,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
2. Alaska
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $135,620 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
3. Vermont
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 187 Average annual salary: $132,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. Utah
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 657 Average annual salary: $130,484 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
5. Virginia
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 3,313 Average annual salary: $131,658 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
6. Idaho
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 297 Average annual salary: $133,999 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
7. Maine
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $134,572 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. California
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 7,828 Average annual salary: $132,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
9. Washington
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 2,015 Average annual salary: $127,895 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
10. Louisiana
Total communications systems engineer jobs: 349 Average annual salary: $134,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 0.59
Communications systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a communications systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a communications systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $138,467 | $93,000 | 2,088,070 | 383 |
| 2 | Alaska | $135,620 | $89,000 | 739,795 | 189 |
| 3 | Vermont | $132,256 | $90,000 | 623,657 | 187 |
| 4 | Utah | $130,484 | $85,000 | 3,101,833 | 657 |
| 5 | Virginia | $131,658 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,313 |
| 6 | Idaho | $133,999 | $87,000 | 1,716,943 | 297 |
| 7 | Maine | $134,572 | $92,000 | 1,335,907 | 214 |
| 8 | California | $132,601 | $88,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,828 |
| 9 | Washington | $127,895 | $82,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,015 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $134,991 | $92,000 | 4,684,333 | 349 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $128,920 | $87,000 | 2,984,100 | 276 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $121,852 | $80,000 | 869,666 | 192 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $128,293 | $86,000 | 3,004,279 | 335 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $129,357 | $89,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,586 |
| 15 | Georgia | $126,755 | $87,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,593 |
| 16 | Montana | $124,374 | $80,000 | 1,050,493 | 190 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $122,092 | $83,000 | 1,059,639 | 237 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $124,462 | $85,000 | 693,972 | 788 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $126,144 | $87,000 | 5,024,369 | 548 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $117,454 | $77,000 | 755,393 | 183 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $123,158 | $84,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,587 |
| 22 | Nevada | $120,418 | $79,000 | 2,998,039 | 325 |
| 23 | Iowa | $120,374 | $80,000 | 3,145,711 | 500 |
| 24 | Texas | $115,760 | $77,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,774 |
| 25 | Arizona | $112,915 | $75,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,368 |
| 26 | Oregon | $115,196 | $74,000 | 4,142,776 | 912 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $118,235 | $80,000 | 6,715,984 | 608 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $116,746 | $80,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,490 |
| 29 | New York | $118,923 | $81,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,335 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $108,821 | $70,000 | 579,315 | 159 |
| 31 | Ohio | $118,379 | $79,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,166 |
| 32 | Delaware | $113,106 | $77,000 | 961,939 | 326 |
| 33 | Maryland | $109,428 | $74,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,944 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $118,780 | $81,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,144 |
| 35 | Kansas | $114,275 | $76,000 | 2,913,123 | 381 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $107,436 | $73,000 | 1,815,857 | 231 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,231 | $70,000 | 1,920,076 | 365 |
| 38 | Colorado | $104,024 | $68,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,683 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $110,016 | $72,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,013 |
| 40 | Alabama | $102,836 | $70,000 | 4,874,747 | 741 |
| 41 | Michigan | $104,253 | $70,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,226 |
| 42 | Illinois | $106,834 | $71,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,848 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $101,352 | $69,000 | 1,342,795 | 326 |
| 44 | Indiana | $106,141 | $71,000 | 6,666,818 | 737 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $101,753 | $69,000 | 3,588,184 | 629 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $104,699 | $70,000 | 4,454,189 | 360 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $104,826 | $69,000 | 3,930,864 | 355 |
| 48 | Florida | $95,918 | $65,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,825 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $76,028 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 142 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $96,771 | $64,000 | 5,795,483 | 689 |
| 51 | Missouri | $96,198 | $64,000 | 6,113,532 | 695 |
Highest paying states for communications systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Communications Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $138,467 |
| 2 | Alaska | $135,620 |
| 3 | Vermont | $132,256 |
| 4 | Utah | $130,484 |
| 5 | Virginia | $131,658 |
| 6 | Idaho | $133,999 |
| 7 | Maine | $134,572 |
| 8 | California | $132,601 |
| 9 | Washington | $127,895 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $134,991 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $128,920 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $121,852 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $128,293 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $129,357 |
| 15 | Georgia | $126,755 |
| 16 | Montana | $124,374 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $122,092 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $124,462 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $126,144 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $117,454 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $123,158 |
| 22 | Nevada | $120,418 |
| 23 | Iowa | $120,374 |
| 24 | Texas | $115,760 |
| 25 | Arizona | $112,915 |
| 26 | Oregon | $115,196 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $118,235 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $116,746 |
| 29 | New York | $118,923 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $108,821 |
| 31 | Ohio | $118,379 |
| 32 | Delaware | $113,106 |
| 33 | Maryland | $109,428 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $118,780 |
| 35 | Kansas | $114,275 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $107,436 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,231 |
| 38 | Colorado | $104,024 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $110,016 |
| 40 | Alabama | $102,836 |
| 41 | Michigan | $104,253 |
| 42 | Illinois | $106,834 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $101,352 |
| 44 | Indiana | $106,141 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $101,753 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $104,699 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $104,826 |
| 48 | Florida | $95,918 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $76,028 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $96,771 |
| 51 | Missouri | $96,198 |
Communications systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025