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Best states for a computer specialist
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for computer specialists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for computer specialist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research found that North Dakota is the best state for computer specialists, while Washington and Maryland are ranked highest in terms of median salary. North Dakota has a median salary of $80,464 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for computer specialists.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for computer specialists. North Dakota is the best state for computer specialists, where the median salary is $80,464.We found that North Dakota is the best state for computer specialist jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.
10 best states for computer specialists in 2026
1. North Dakota
Total computer specialist jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $80,464 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. Maryland
Total computer specialist jobs: 1,222 Average annual salary: $87,569 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
3. Oregon
Total computer specialist jobs: 556 Average annual salary: $86,451 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. Nevada
Total computer specialist jobs: 277 Average annual salary: $81,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. Vermont
Total computer specialist jobs: 147 Average annual salary: $78,010 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
6. District of Columbia
Total computer specialist jobs: 516 Average annual salary: $87,410 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 2.36
7. Washington
Total computer specialist jobs: 830 Average annual salary: $88,754 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. Pennsylvania
Total computer specialist jobs: 1,400 Average annual salary: $78,332 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. Utah
Total computer specialist jobs: 545 Average annual salary: $74,897 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
10. Virginia
Total computer specialist jobs: 1,758 Average annual salary: $78,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
Computer specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $80,464 | $64,000 | 755,393 | 154 |
| 2 | Maryland | $87,569 | $68,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,222 |
| 3 | Oregon | $86,451 | $67,000 | 4,142,776 | 556 |
| 4 | Nevada | $81,608 | $63,000 | 2,998,039 | 277 |
| 5 | Vermont | $78,010 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 147 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $87,410 | $68,000 | 693,972 | 516 |
| 7 | Washington | $88,754 | $69,000 | 7,405,743 | 830 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $78,332 | $61,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,400 |
| 9 | Utah | $74,897 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 545 |
| 10 | Virginia | $78,762 | $61,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,758 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $81,333 | $63,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,177 |
| 12 | Texas | $77,539 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,469 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $81,359 | $63,000 | 3,588,184 | 395 |
| 14 | Delaware | $75,539 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 197 |
| 15 | California | $82,266 | $63,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,860 |
| 16 | Arizona | $73,805 | $57,000 | 7,016,270 | 989 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $72,278 | $57,000 | 1,920,076 | 340 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $74,022 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 165 |
| 19 | Ohio | $74,885 | $58,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,104 |
| 20 | Colorado | $75,888 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 835 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $74,767 | $58,000 | 3,930,864 | 336 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $73,081 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 257 |
| 23 | Alabama | $72,918 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 529 |
| 24 | Montana | $73,147 | $57,000 | 1,050,493 | 164 |
| 25 | Georgia | $73,854 | $58,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,298 |
| 26 | Kansas | $72,237 | $57,000 | 2,913,123 | 355 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $74,194 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 760 |
| 28 | New York | $75,205 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,561 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $72,193 | $57,000 | 4,454,189 | 373 |
| 30 | Alaska | $68,939 | $60,000 | 739,795 | 176 |
| 31 | Florida | $71,180 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,258 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $71,959 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,112 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $75,698 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 847 |
| 34 | Michigan | $70,735 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 886 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $70,293 | $55,000 | 6,715,984 | 640 |
| 36 | Idaho | $69,354 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 224 |
| 37 | Indiana | $70,183 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 719 |
| 38 | Iowa | $67,054 | $53,000 | 3,145,711 | 525 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $65,673 | $51,000 | 579,315 | 117 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $71,954 | $56,000 | 5,024,369 | 470 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $71,481 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 347 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $68,224 | $53,000 | 5,795,483 | 730 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $65,037 | $53,000 | 1,427,538 | 228 |
| 44 | Illinois | $69,873 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,456 |
| 45 | Maine | $64,520 | $50,000 | 1,335,907 | 209 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,214 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 591 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $67,093 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 288 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $65,517 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 262 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $62,193 | $49,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $62,847 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 264 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $63,161 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 172 |
Highest paying states for computer specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $80,464 |
| 2 | Maryland | $87,569 |
| 3 | Oregon | $86,451 |
| 4 | Nevada | $81,608 |
| 5 | Vermont | $78,010 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $87,410 |
| 7 | Washington | $88,754 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $78,332 |
| 9 | Utah | $74,897 |
| 10 | Virginia | $78,762 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $81,333 |
| 12 | Texas | $77,539 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $81,359 |
| 14 | Delaware | $75,539 |
| 15 | California | $82,266 |
| 16 | Arizona | $73,805 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $72,278 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $74,022 |
| 19 | Ohio | $74,885 |
| 20 | Colorado | $75,888 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $74,767 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $73,081 |
| 23 | Alabama | $72,918 |
| 24 | Montana | $73,147 |
| 25 | Georgia | $73,854 |
| 26 | Kansas | $72,237 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $74,194 |
| 28 | New York | $75,205 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $72,193 |
| 30 | Alaska | $68,939 |
| 31 | Florida | $71,180 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $71,959 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $75,698 |
| 34 | Michigan | $70,735 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $70,293 |
| 36 | Idaho | $69,354 |
| 37 | Indiana | $70,183 |
| 38 | Iowa | $67,054 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $65,673 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $71,954 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $71,481 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $68,224 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $65,037 |
| 44 | Illinois | $69,873 |
| 45 | Maine | $64,520 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,214 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $67,093 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $65,517 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $62,193 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $62,847 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $63,161 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer specialists 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