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Best states for a computer scientist
Quoted expert
Jeff Kinne Ph.D.
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It seems like computer scientists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for computer scientists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for computer scientists.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for computer scientists. Washington is the best state for computer scientists, where the median salary is $117,530.We found that the Midwest is best for computer scientists, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for computer scientist jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for computer scientists in 2025
1. Washington
Total computer scientist jobs: 846 Average annual salary: $117,530 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
2. California
Total computer scientist jobs: 2,729 Average annual salary: $126,688 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Oregon
Total computer scientist jobs: 340 Average annual salary: $115,892 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
4. Idaho
Total computer scientist jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $100,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
5. Delaware
Total computer scientist jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $95,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
6. Alaska
Total computer scientist jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $97,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
7. Nevada
Total computer scientist jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $97,892 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
8. New Mexico
Total computer scientist jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $90,672 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
9. New York
Total computer scientist jobs: 1,220 Average annual salary: $97,041 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
10. Texas
Total computer scientist jobs: 1,232 Average annual salary: $94,864 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Computer scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $117,530 | $80,000 | 7,405,743 | 846 |
| 2 | California | $126,688 | $85,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,729 |
| 3 | Oregon | $115,892 | $78,000 | 4,142,776 | 340 |
| 4 | Idaho | $100,313 | $68,000 | 1,716,943 | 143 |
| 5 | Delaware | $95,894 | $68,000 | 961,939 | 152 |
| 6 | Alaska | $97,171 | $76,000 | 739,795 | 91 |
| 7 | Nevada | $97,892 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 131 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $90,672 | $63,000 | 2,088,070 | 209 |
| 9 | New York | $97,041 | $69,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,220 |
| 10 | Texas | $94,864 | $68,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,232 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $95,341 | $69,000 | 6,715,984 | 278 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $91,683 | $65,000 | 12,805,537 | 952 |
| 13 | Virginia | $92,168 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,276 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $93,019 | $66,000 | 5,576,606 | 433 |
| 15 | Maryland | $92,733 | $66,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,054 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $93,782 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 255 |
| 17 | Arizona | $92,097 | $63,000 | 7,016,270 | 411 |
| 18 | Illinois | $91,262 | $65,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,037 |
| 19 | Utah | $89,733 | $61,000 | 3,101,833 | 262 |
| 20 | Ohio | $91,018 | $65,000 | 11,658,609 | 550 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $91,906 | $65,000 | 9,005,644 | 827 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $91,708 | $66,000 | 6,859,819 | 778 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $84,116 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 122 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $90,003 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 351 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $87,156 | $64,000 | 10,273,419 | 856 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $87,045 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 109 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $89,222 | $64,000 | 4,454,189 | 164 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $87,742 | $63,000 | 1,815,857 | 78 |
| 29 | Georgia | $88,225 | $65,000 | 10,429,379 | 617 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $84,793 | $61,000 | 1,342,795 | 171 |
| 31 | Indiana | $86,102 | $61,000 | 6,666,818 | 386 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $84,988 | $64,000 | 1,427,538 | 105 |
| 33 | Michigan | $83,952 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 470 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $82,327 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 454 |
| 35 | Vermont | $82,372 | $59,000 | 623,657 | 81 |
| 36 | Colorado | $85,500 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 525 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $84,650 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 155 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $83,306 | $60,000 | 3,004,279 | 111 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,287 | $60,000 | 5,024,369 | 278 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $77,327 | $54,000 | 579,315 | 68 |
| 41 | Florida | $83,850 | $62,000 | 20,984,400 | 967 |
| 42 | Montana | $79,780 | $56,000 | 1,050,493 | 112 |
| 43 | Alabama | $80,841 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 250 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $77,084 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 91 |
| 45 | Missouri | $81,787 | $58,000 | 6,113,532 | 388 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $81,965 | $59,000 | 3,930,864 | 113 |
| 47 | Maine | $80,039 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 106 |
| 48 | Kansas | $76,888 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 219 |
| 49 | Iowa | $77,410 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 205 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $79,115 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 89 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $76,344 | $54,000 | 1,920,076 | 118 |
Highest paying states for computer scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $117,530 |
| 2 | California | $126,688 |
| 3 | Oregon | $115,892 |
| 4 | Idaho | $100,313 |
| 5 | Delaware | $95,894 |
| 6 | Alaska | $97,171 |
| 7 | Nevada | $97,892 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $90,672 |
| 9 | New York | $97,041 |
| 10 | Texas | $94,864 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $95,341 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $91,683 |
| 13 | Virginia | $92,168 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $93,019 |
| 15 | Maryland | $92,733 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $93,782 |
| 17 | Arizona | $92,097 |
| 18 | Illinois | $91,262 |
| 19 | Utah | $89,733 |
| 20 | Ohio | $91,018 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $91,906 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $91,708 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $84,116 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $90,003 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $87,156 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $87,045 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $89,222 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $87,742 |
| 29 | Georgia | $88,225 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $84,793 |
| 31 | Indiana | $86,102 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $84,988 |
| 33 | Michigan | $83,952 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $82,327 |
| 35 | Vermont | $82,372 |
| 36 | Colorado | $85,500 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $84,650 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $83,306 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $82,287 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $77,327 |
| 41 | Florida | $83,850 |
| 42 | Montana | $79,780 |
| 43 | Alabama | $80,841 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $77,084 |
| 45 | Missouri | $81,787 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $81,965 |
| 47 | Maine | $80,039 |
| 48 | Kansas | $76,888 |
| 49 | Iowa | $77,410 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $79,115 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $76,344 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer scientists to find work opportunities?
Jeff Kinne Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chairperson of Computer Science, Indiana State University
ISU graduates have continued to end up getting jobs primarily in the midwest but also throughout the country. I don't see this changing—computer science is an area in demand everywhere, which will continue to be the case.
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Updated January 8, 2025