Best states for a core network engineer

Q: What is the best state for core network engineers?

The best state to be a core network engineer is California based on core network engineer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for core network engineers?

The highest paying state for core network engineers is Minnesota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for core network engineers?

The worst state for core network engineers is Maine, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for core network engineers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for core network engineer jobs.Our research found that California is the best state for core network engineers, while California and Idaho are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $140,008 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for core network engineers.

California is the best state for jobs for core network engineers, and Maine is the worst. The most common pay in California is $140,008, while the median pay in Maine is $81,152.If you are currently seeking employment as a core network engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for core network engineers in 2025

1. California
Total core network engineer jobs: 2,352
Average annual salary: $140,008
Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Core network engineer jobs in California
2. Washington
Total core network engineer jobs: 599
Average annual salary: $122,887
Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Core network engineer jobs in Washington
3. Nevada
Total core network engineer jobs: 117
Average annual salary: $118,430
Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Core network engineer jobs in Nevada
4. West Virginia
Total core network engineer jobs: 88
Average annual salary: $112,602
Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Core network engineer jobs in West Virginia
5. Idaho
Total core network engineer jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $130,194
Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000
Location Quotient:
0.66
Core network engineer jobs in Idaho
6. Connecticut
Total core network engineer jobs: 189
Average annual salary: $115,584
Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Core network engineer jobs in Connecticut
7. New York
Total core network engineer jobs: 800
Average annual salary: $115,567
Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Core network engineer jobs in New York
8. Utah
Total core network engineer jobs: 232
Average annual salary: $105,537
Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Core network engineer jobs in Utah
9. Rhode Island
Total core network engineer jobs: 58
Average annual salary: $115,637
Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Core network engineer jobs in Rhode Island
10. Oregon
Total core network engineer jobs: 332
Average annual salary: $106,560
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Core network engineer jobs in Oregon

Core network engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a core network engineer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a core network engineer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$140,008	$102,000	39,536,653	2,352
2	Washington	$122,887	$90,000	7,405,743	599
3	Nevada	$118,430	$86,000	2,998,039	117
4	West Virginia	$112,602	$83,000	1,815,857	88
5	Idaho	$130,194	$94,000	1,716,943	69
6	Connecticut	$115,584	$86,000	3,588,184	189
7	New York	$115,567	$86,000	19,849,399	800
8	Utah	$105,537	$76,000	3,101,833	232
9	Rhode Island	$115,637	$86,000	1,059,639	58
10	Oregon	$106,560	$78,000	4,142,776	332
11	Georgia	$113,707	$84,000	10,429,379	495
12	North Carolina	$102,070	$75,000	10,273,419	626
13	Hawaii	$115,408	$93,000	1,427,538	96
14	Wyoming	$101,286	$74,000	579,315	37
15	New Mexico	$102,002	$75,000	2,088,070	112
16	Tennessee	$105,581	$78,000	6,715,984	196
17	Texas	$98,733	$72,000	28,304,596	1,296
18	Delaware	$99,756	$74,000	961,939	103
19	Arizona	$99,380	$73,000	7,016,270	363
20	Maryland	$99,978	$74,000	6,052,177	898
21	South Carolina	$99,000	$73,000	5,024,369	223
22	Florida	$99,971	$73,000	20,984,400	881
23	Virginia	$97,726	$72,000	8,470,020	1,548
24	Alaska	$97,173	$77,000	739,795	96
25	Pennsylvania	$97,343	$72,000	12,805,537	535
26	New Hampshire	$98,669	$73,000	1,342,795	92
27	Mississippi	$95,622	$70,000	2,984,100	79
28	Iowa	$93,557	$70,000	3,145,711	165
29	Oklahoma	$95,693	$70,000	3,930,864	112
30	Arkansas	$93,026	$68,000	3,004,279	101
31	Nebraska	$93,062	$69,000	1,920,076	115
32	Wisconsin	$94,308	$71,000	5,795,483	216
33	Colorado	$90,994	$67,000	5,607,154	582
34	South Dakota	$91,197	$68,000	869,666	54
35	Alabama	$89,749	$66,000	4,874,747	259
36	Vermont	$88,647	$66,000	623,657	64
37	Louisiana	$94,652	$69,000	4,684,333	112
38	Missouri	$92,896	$68,000	6,113,532	241
39	Kentucky	$91,924	$68,000	4,454,189	125
40	Ohio	$89,251	$66,000	11,658,609	443
41	District of Columbia	$84,983	$63,000	693,972	398
42	Massachusetts	$88,138	$65,000	6,859,819	517
43	Kansas	$90,448	$67,000	2,913,123	89
44	Michigan	$87,057	$65,000	9,962,311	298
45	Illinois	$84,805	$63,000	12,802,023	652
46	New Jersey	$85,580	$63,000	9,005,644	418
47	Montana	$88,036	$65,000	1,050,493	39
48	Indiana	$81,120	$60,000	6,666,818	264
49	North Dakota	$84,014	$64,000	755,393	28
50	Minnesota	$79,818	$61,000	5,576,606	292
51	Maine	$81,152	$60,000	1,335,907	47

Highest paying states for core network engineers

Rank	State	Avg. Core Network Engineer Salary
1	California	$140,008
2	Washington	$122,887
3	Nevada	$118,430
4	West Virginia	$112,602
5	Idaho	$130,194
6	Connecticut	$115,584
7	New York	$115,567
8	Utah	$105,537
9	Rhode Island	$115,637
10	Oregon	$106,560
11	Georgia	$113,707
12	North Carolina	$102,070
13	Hawaii	$115,408
14	Wyoming	$101,286
15	New Mexico	$102,002
16	Tennessee	$105,581
17	Texas	$98,733
18	Delaware	$99,756
19	Arizona	$99,380
20	Maryland	$99,978
21	South Carolina	$99,000
22	Florida	$99,971
23	Virginia	$97,726
24	Alaska	$97,173
25	Pennsylvania	$97,343
26	New Hampshire	$98,669
27	Mississippi	$95,622
28	Iowa	$93,557
29	Oklahoma	$95,693
30	Arkansas	$93,026
31	Nebraska	$93,062
32	Wisconsin	$94,308
33	Colorado	$90,994
34	South Dakota	$91,197
35	Alabama	$89,749
36	Vermont	$88,647
37	Louisiana	$94,652
38	Missouri	$92,896
39	Kentucky	$91,924
40	Ohio	$89,251
41	District of Columbia	$84,983
42	Massachusetts	$88,138
43	Kansas	$90,448
44	Michigan	$87,057
45	Illinois	$84,805
46	New Jersey	$85,580
47	Montana	$88,036
48	Indiana	$81,120
49	North Dakota	$84,014
50	Minnesota	$79,818
51	Maine	$81,152

Core network engineer best states FAQs

What is the best state for core network engineers?

What is the highest paying state for core network engineers?

What is the worst state for core network engineers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for core network engineer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total core network engineer jobs:	2,352
Average annual salary:	$140,008
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$102,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$191,000
Location Quotient:	1.27

Best states for a core network engineer

10 best states for core network engineers in 2025

1. California

2. Washington

3. Nevada

4. West Virginia

5. Idaho

6. Connecticut

7. New York

8. Utah

9. Rhode Island

10. Oregon