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Best states for a computer software engineer
Quoted expert
Jeff Kinne Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to computer software engineer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for computer software engineers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for computer software engineer jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for computer software engineers.If you are currently seeking employment as a computer software engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for computer software engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total computer software engineer jobs: 5,715 Average annual salary: $130,552 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 2.17
2. California
Total computer software engineer jobs: 18,576 Average annual salary: $125,436 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.76
3. Oregon
Total computer software engineer jobs: 2,131 Average annual salary: $117,498 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
4. Vermont
Total computer software engineer jobs: 347 Average annual salary: $102,747 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
5. Idaho
Total computer software engineer jobs: 607 Average annual salary: $101,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Massachusetts
Total computer software engineer jobs: 3,854 Average annual salary: $101,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. New Hampshire
Total computer software engineer jobs: 576 Average annual salary: $100,839 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. Nevada
Total computer software engineer jobs: 531 Average annual salary: $112,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
9. New York
Total computer software engineer jobs: 4,078 Average annual salary: $103,164 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Rhode Island
Total computer software engineer jobs: 560 Average annual salary: $91,230 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
Computer software engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer software engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer software engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $130,552 | $98,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,715 |
| 2 | California | $125,436 | $93,000 | 39,536,653 | 18,576 |
| 3 | Oregon | $117,498 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,131 |
| 4 | Vermont | $102,747 | $81,000 | 623,657 | 347 |
| 5 | Idaho | $101,693 | $76,000 | 1,716,943 | 607 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $101,828 | $80,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,854 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $100,839 | $79,000 | 1,342,795 | 576 |
| 8 | Nevada | $112,528 | $84,000 | 2,998,039 | 531 |
| 9 | New York | $103,164 | $80,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,078 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $91,230 | $71,000 | 1,059,639 | 560 |
| 11 | Maine | $95,239 | $76,000 | 1,335,907 | 382 |
| 12 | Utah | $88,851 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,561 |
| 13 | Delaware | $91,361 | $70,000 | 961,939 | 630 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $87,616 | $67,000 | 579,315 | 234 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $92,382 | $72,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,160 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $89,191 | $71,000 | 755,393 | 273 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $95,290 | $74,000 | 693,972 | 1,140 |
| 18 | Texas | $88,588 | $67,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,854 |
| 19 | Alaska | $95,181 | $80,000 | 739,795 | 245 |
| 20 | Arizona | $88,499 | $66,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,028 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $93,504 | $72,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,499 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $89,207 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,100 |
| 23 | Virginia | $88,454 | $68,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,151 |
| 24 | Maryland | $89,297 | $69,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,235 |
| 25 | Colorado | $88,095 | $67,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,639 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $88,467 | $70,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,881 |
| 27 | Illinois | $86,682 | $68,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,055 |
| 28 | Ohio | $85,035 | $66,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,252 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $85,175 | $65,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,659 |
| 30 | Montana | $84,056 | $65,000 | 1,050,493 | 383 |
| 31 | Michigan | $84,802 | $66,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,987 |
| 32 | Iowa | $84,829 | $66,000 | 3,145,711 | 908 |
| 33 | Indiana | $81,253 | $63,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,920 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $83,139 | $65,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,420 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $82,978 | $64,000 | 1,920,076 | 571 |
| 36 | Georgia | $81,235 | $62,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,176 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $81,010 | $63,000 | 4,454,189 | 754 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $79,739 | $61,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,020 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $81,729 | $63,000 | 5,024,369 | 729 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $78,546 | $61,000 | 869,666 | 256 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $80,821 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 636 |
| 42 | Alabama | $76,613 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,262 |
| 43 | Florida | $79,256 | $58,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,371 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $77,372 | $60,000 | 1,815,857 | 330 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,160 | $60,000 | 2,913,123 | 817 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $78,328 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 529 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $79,058 | $61,000 | 3,930,864 | 485 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $60,465 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 304 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $73,749 | $57,000 | 3,004,279 | 705 |
| 50 | Missouri | $77,764 | $60,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,207 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $74,208 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 317 |
Highest paying states for computer software engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Software Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $130,552 |
| 2 | California | $125,436 |
| 3 | Oregon | $117,498 |
| 4 | Vermont | $102,747 |
| 5 | Idaho | $101,693 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $101,828 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $100,839 |
| 8 | Nevada | $112,528 |
| 9 | New York | $103,164 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $91,230 |
| 11 | Maine | $95,239 |
| 12 | Utah | $88,851 |
| 13 | Delaware | $91,361 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $87,616 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $92,382 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $89,191 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $95,290 |
| 18 | Texas | $88,588 |
| 19 | Alaska | $95,181 |
| 20 | Arizona | $88,499 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $93,504 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $89,207 |
| 23 | Virginia | $88,454 |
| 24 | Maryland | $89,297 |
| 25 | Colorado | $88,095 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $88,467 |
| 27 | Illinois | $86,682 |
| 28 | Ohio | $85,035 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $85,175 |
| 30 | Montana | $84,056 |
| 31 | Michigan | $84,802 |
| 32 | Iowa | $84,829 |
| 33 | Indiana | $81,253 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $83,139 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $82,978 |
| 36 | Georgia | $81,235 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $81,010 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $79,739 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $81,729 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $78,546 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $80,821 |
| 42 | Alabama | $76,613 |
| 43 | Florida | $79,256 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $77,372 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,160 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $78,328 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $79,058 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $60,465 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $73,749 |
| 50 | Missouri | $77,764 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $74,208 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer software engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer software engineers 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.
Computer software engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025