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Best states for a computer systems administrator
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for computer systems administrators? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for computer systems administrator 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.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for computer systems administrators. We found that Oregon is the best state in the nation for computer systems administrators, and people in Windsor earn the most in the field.
Oregon is the best state for jobs for computer systems administrators, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in Oregon is $81,923, while the median pay in Louisiana is $59,339.Oregon is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for computer systems administrators.
10 best states for computer systems administrators in 2025
1. Oregon
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 942 Average annual salary: $81,923 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Washington
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 1,587 Average annual salary: $84,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. New Hampshire
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 373 Average annual salary: $80,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. Vermont
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $79,960 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Rhode Island
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 260 Average annual salary: $79,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
6. Connecticut
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 657 Average annual salary: $80,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. Maine
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $80,502 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
8. Nevada
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 393 Average annual salary: $76,690 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Idaho
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 318 Average annual salary: $76,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
10. Wyoming
Total computer systems administrator jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $72,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
Computer systems administrator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer systems administrator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer systems administrator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $81,923 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 942 |
| 2 | Washington | $84,108 | $63,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,587 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $80,693 | $62,000 | 1,342,795 | 373 |
| 4 | Vermont | $79,960 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 191 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $79,150 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 260 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $80,756 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 657 |
| 7 | Maine | $80,502 | $62,000 | 1,335,907 | 209 |
| 8 | Nevada | $76,690 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 393 |
| 9 | Idaho | $76,902 | $57,000 | 1,716,943 | 318 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $72,019 | $55,000 | 579,315 | 155 |
| 11 | Maryland | $78,748 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,915 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $72,607 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 203 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $80,691 | $61,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,551 |
| 14 | New York | $80,506 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,291 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $80,265 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 440 |
| 16 | Virginia | $75,162 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,620 |
| 17 | California | $84,663 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,497 |
| 18 | Delaware | $77,189 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 231 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $72,688 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,264 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $72,628 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,071 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $78,583 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,310 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $68,958 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 204 |
| 23 | Ohio | $70,747 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,655 |
| 24 | Kansas | $71,178 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 506 |
| 25 | Arizona | $69,463 | $51,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,423 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $72,976 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 202 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $69,935 | $52,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,753 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $68,927 | $52,000 | 1,815,857 | 246 |
| 29 | Indiana | $69,976 | $54,000 | 6,666,818 | 886 |
| 30 | Michigan | $69,019 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,346 |
| 31 | Colorado | $69,505 | $53,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,301 |
| 32 | Utah | $67,950 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 613 |
| 33 | Illinois | $70,257 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,145 |
| 34 | Alaska | $67,153 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 217 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $69,728 | $54,000 | 5,795,483 | 842 |
| 36 | Texas | $66,920 | $49,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,279 |
| 37 | Iowa | $68,192 | $53,000 | 3,145,711 | 548 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $63,939 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 496 |
| 39 | Missouri | $68,872 | $53,000 | 6,113,532 | 919 |
| 40 | Montana | $67,031 | $51,000 | 1,050,493 | 215 |
| 41 | Alabama | $62,510 | $47,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,055 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $66,005 | $51,000 | 1,920,076 | 403 |
| 43 | Georgia | $66,846 | $50,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,757 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $65,858 | $50,000 | 6,715,984 | 795 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $65,274 | $48,000 | 2,984,100 | 351 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $66,096 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 451 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $64,239 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 336 |
| 48 | Florida | $57,873 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,257 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $64,387 | $48,000 | 5,024,369 | 701 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $61,718 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 430 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $59,339 | $43,000 | 4,684,333 | 376 |
Highest paying states for computer systems administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Systems Administrator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $81,923 |
| 2 | Washington | $84,108 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $80,693 |
| 4 | Vermont | $79,960 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $79,150 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $80,756 |
| 7 | Maine | $80,502 |
| 8 | Nevada | $76,690 |
| 9 | Idaho | $76,902 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $72,019 |
| 11 | Maryland | $78,748 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $72,607 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $80,691 |
| 14 | New York | $80,506 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $80,265 |
| 16 | Virginia | $75,162 |
| 17 | California | $84,663 |
| 18 | Delaware | $77,189 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $72,688 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $72,628 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $78,583 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $68,958 |
| 23 | Ohio | $70,747 |
| 24 | Kansas | $71,178 |
| 25 | Arizona | $69,463 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $72,976 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $69,935 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $68,927 |
| 29 | Indiana | $69,976 |
| 30 | Michigan | $69,019 |
| 31 | Colorado | $69,505 |
| 32 | Utah | $67,950 |
| 33 | Illinois | $70,257 |
| 34 | Alaska | $67,153 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $69,728 |
| 36 | Texas | $66,920 |
| 37 | Iowa | $68,192 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $63,939 |
| 39 | Missouri | $68,872 |
| 40 | Montana | $67,031 |
| 41 | Alabama | $62,510 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $66,005 |
| 43 | Georgia | $66,846 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $65,858 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $65,274 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $66,096 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $64,239 |
| 48 | Florida | $57,873 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $64,387 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $61,718 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $59,339 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer systems administrators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer systems administrators 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