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Best states for a computer programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like computer programmers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for computer programmers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Washington is the best state for computer programmers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $89,760 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for computer programmers.
The median salary for computer programmers in Washington is $89,760. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $60,833, which ranked worst for computer programmers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Washington is the best state, and Bremerton is the city with the highest pay for computer programmers.
10 best states for computer programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total computer programmer jobs: 2,789 Average annual salary: $89,760 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.912. Oregon
Total computer programmer jobs: 1,125 Average annual salary: $77,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.363. North Carolina
Total computer programmer jobs: 1,721 Average annual salary: $73,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.94. Maine
Total computer programmer jobs: 225 Average annual salary: $74,684 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.855. Pennsylvania
Total computer programmer jobs: 2,052 Average annual salary: $72,748 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.886. Idaho
Total computer programmer jobs: 343 Average annual salary: $72,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.057. District of Columbia
Total computer programmer jobs: 620 Average annual salary: $77,515 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.858. California
Total computer programmer jobs: 7,805 Average annual salary: $78,246 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.349. North Dakota
Total computer programmer jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $70,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.9510. Illinois
Total computer programmer jobs: 2,073 Average annual salary: $74,073 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Computer programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $89,760 | $67,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,789 |
| 2 | Oregon | $77,845 | $58,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,125 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $73,377 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,721 |
| 4 | Maine | $74,684 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 225 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $72,748 | $57,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,052 |
| 6 | Idaho | $72,828 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 343 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $77,515 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 620 |
| 8 | California | $78,246 | $60,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,805 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $70,782 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 177 |
| 10 | Illinois | $74,073 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,073 |
| 11 | Maryland | $72,952 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,180 |
| 12 | Vermont | $71,620 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 231 |
| 13 | Virginia | $71,624 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,084 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $73,770 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 637 |
| 15 | Arizona | $71,449 | $55,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,067 |
| 16 | Georgia | $72,129 | $55,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,612 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $71,945 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,149 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $72,268 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,017 |
| 19 | Indiana | $69,739 | $54,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,139 |
| 20 | New York | $72,029 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,499 |
| 21 | Texas | $68,983 | $52,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,949 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $70,300 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 505 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $68,948 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 163 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $69,870 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 241 |
| 25 | Iowa | $69,860 | $53,000 | 3,145,711 | 512 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $67,915 | $53,000 | 1,059,639 | 401 |
| 27 | Nevada | $69,711 | $52,000 | 2,998,039 | 336 |
| 28 | Delaware | $68,568 | $53,000 | 961,939 | 364 |
| 29 | Alaska | $71,824 | $60,000 | 739,795 | 160 |
| 30 | Ohio | $68,650 | $53,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,505 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $68,244 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 343 |
| 32 | Michigan | $67,804 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,272 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $68,141 | $52,000 | 6,715,984 | 702 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $69,282 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 331 |
| 35 | Colorado | $67,618 | $50,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,158 |
| 36 | Utah | $64,982 | $47,000 | 3,101,833 | 809 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $67,921 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 811 |
| 38 | Alabama | $66,800 | $51,000 | 4,874,747 | 697 |
| 39 | Montana | $64,613 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 269 |
| 40 | Kansas | $66,953 | $51,000 | 2,913,123 | 520 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $63,531 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 164 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $65,815 | $49,000 | 1,920,076 | 431 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $68,481 | $52,000 | 5,024,369 | 447 |
| 44 | Missouri | $67,970 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 749 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $66,407 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,813 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $67,525 | $50,000 | 4,684,333 | 397 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $65,510 | $50,000 | 3,004,279 | 392 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $60,912 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 149 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $61,700 | $48,000 | 1,815,857 | 183 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $59,242 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 361 |
| 51 | Florida | $60,833 | $44,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,400 |
Highest paying states for computer programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $89,760 |
| 2 | Oregon | $77,845 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $73,377 |
| 4 | Maine | $74,684 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $72,748 |
| 6 | Idaho | $72,828 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $77,515 |
| 8 | California | $78,246 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $70,782 |
| 10 | Illinois | $74,073 |
| 11 | Maryland | $72,952 |
| 12 | Vermont | $71,620 |
| 13 | Virginia | $71,624 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $73,770 |
| 15 | Arizona | $71,449 |
| 16 | Georgia | $72,129 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $71,945 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $72,268 |
| 19 | Indiana | $69,739 |
| 20 | New York | $72,029 |
| 21 | Texas | $68,983 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $70,300 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $68,948 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $69,870 |
| 25 | Iowa | $69,860 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $67,915 |
| 27 | Nevada | $69,711 |
| 28 | Delaware | $68,568 |
| 29 | Alaska | $71,824 |
| 30 | Ohio | $68,650 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $68,244 |
| 32 | Michigan | $67,804 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $68,141 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $69,282 |
| 35 | Colorado | $67,618 |
| 36 | Utah | $64,982 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $67,921 |
| 38 | Alabama | $66,800 |
| 39 | Montana | $64,613 |
| 40 | Kansas | $66,953 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $63,531 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $65,815 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $68,481 |
| 44 | Missouri | $67,970 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $66,407 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $67,525 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $65,510 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $60,912 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $61,700 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $59,242 |
| 51 | Florida | $60,833 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025