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Best states for a computer engineer
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- 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 computer engineers in the United States. Computer engineer 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 computer engineers.We wanted to look at the best states for computer engineers -- where there are plenty of computer engineer jobs to go around and computer engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for computer engineers in Washington is $114,524. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $72,278, which ranked worst for computer engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a computer engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for computer engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total computer engineer jobs: 2,415 Average annual salary: $114,524 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.832. California
Total computer engineer jobs: 8,199 Average annual salary: $123,950 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 1.563. Delaware
Total computer engineer jobs: 309 Average annual salary: $105,042 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.374. Indiana
Total computer engineer jobs: 1,102 Average annual salary: $97,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.935. Oregon
Total computer engineer jobs: 948 Average annual salary: $93,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.276. Rhode Island
Total computer engineer jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $92,310 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.987. New York
Total computer engineer jobs: 2,006 Average annual salary: $99,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.878. Nevada
Total computer engineer jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $107,791 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.629. District of Columbia
Total computer engineer jobs: 585 Average annual salary: $97,544 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.9310. Vermont
Total computer engineer jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $89,090 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Computer engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $114,524 | $82,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,415 |
| 2 | California | $123,950 | $86,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,199 |
| 3 | Delaware | $105,042 | $79,000 | 961,939 | 309 |
| 4 | Indiana | $97,001 | $73,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,102 |
| 5 | Oregon | $93,525 | $67,000 | 4,142,776 | 948 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $92,310 | $69,000 | 1,059,639 | 215 |
| 7 | New York | $99,422 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,006 |
| 8 | Nevada | $107,791 | $76,000 | 2,998,039 | 233 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $97,544 | $73,000 | 693,972 | 585 |
| 10 | Vermont | $89,090 | $68,000 | 623,657 | 154 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $93,790 | $72,000 | 755,393 | 136 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $96,088 | $72,000 | 3,004,279 | 328 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $90,295 | $68,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,233 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $87,105 | $67,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,146 |
| 15 | Texas | $85,341 | $63,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,447 |
| 16 | Colorado | $85,281 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,635 |
| 17 | Maryland | $85,976 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,170 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $86,090 | $64,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,345 |
| 19 | Arizona | $83,897 | $61,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,068 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $85,766 | $65,000 | 6,715,984 | 488 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $85,765 | $65,000 | 869,666 | 108 |
| 22 | Utah | $82,260 | $60,000 | 3,101,833 | 690 |
| 23 | Virginia | $84,381 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,833 |
| 24 | Michigan | $81,572 | $62,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,290 |
| 25 | Maine | $84,619 | $65,000 | 1,335,907 | 188 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $85,211 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 185 |
| 27 | Alabama | $80,716 | $61,000 | 4,874,747 | 740 |
| 28 | Montana | $83,316 | $62,000 | 1,050,493 | 183 |
| 29 | Georgia | $83,354 | $63,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,525 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $85,444 | $64,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,180 |
| 31 | Idaho | $81,607 | $59,000 | 1,716,943 | 270 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $78,727 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 117 |
| 33 | Illinois | $82,620 | $62,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,850 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $83,547 | $62,000 | 3,588,184 | 543 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $81,174 | $62,000 | 5,795,483 | 675 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $81,403 | $61,000 | 4,454,189 | 328 |
| 37 | Kansas | $80,448 | $60,000 | 2,913,123 | 405 |
| 38 | Alaska | $77,538 | $62,000 | 739,795 | 144 |
| 39 | Ohio | $78,885 | $59,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,095 |
| 40 | Missouri | $80,067 | $60,000 | 6,113,532 | 693 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $76,420 | $58,000 | 1,342,795 | 305 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $79,736 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 236 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $75,280 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,390 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $75,504 | $55,000 | 2,088,070 | 270 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $74,553 | $56,000 | 1,815,857 | 155 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $77,321 | $57,000 | 4,684,333 | 276 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $77,577 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 366 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $72,768 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 333 |
| 49 | Iowa | $72,340 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 519 |
| 50 | Florida | $73,824 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,234 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $72,278 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 185 |
Highest paying states for computer engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $114,524 |
| 2 | California | $123,950 |
| 3 | Delaware | $105,042 |
| 4 | Indiana | $97,001 |
| 5 | Oregon | $93,525 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $92,310 |
| 7 | New York | $99,422 |
| 8 | Nevada | $107,791 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $97,544 |
| 10 | Vermont | $89,090 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $93,790 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $96,088 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $90,295 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $87,105 |
| 15 | Texas | $85,341 |
| 16 | Colorado | $85,281 |
| 17 | Maryland | $85,976 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $86,090 |
| 19 | Arizona | $83,897 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $85,766 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $85,765 |
| 22 | Utah | $82,260 |
| 23 | Virginia | $84,381 |
| 24 | Michigan | $81,572 |
| 25 | Maine | $84,619 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $85,211 |
| 27 | Alabama | $80,716 |
| 28 | Montana | $83,316 |
| 29 | Georgia | $83,354 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $85,444 |
| 31 | Idaho | $81,607 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $78,727 |
| 33 | Illinois | $82,620 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $83,547 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $81,174 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $81,403 |
| 37 | Kansas | $80,448 |
| 38 | Alaska | $77,538 |
| 39 | Ohio | $78,885 |
| 40 | Missouri | $80,067 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $76,420 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $79,736 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $75,280 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $75,504 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $74,553 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $77,321 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $77,577 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $72,768 |
| 49 | Iowa | $72,340 |
| 50 | Florida | $73,824 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $72,278 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer engineers to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
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Updated January 8, 2025