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Best states for a database engineer
Quoted expert
Vince Bowen
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to database engineer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for database engineers in America. The best city in America for database engineers with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
Washington is the best state for jobs for database engineers, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $128,393, while the median pay in South Carolina is $76,225.We found that the Midwest is best for database engineers, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for database engineer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for database engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total database engineer jobs: 2,273 Average annual salary: $128,393 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.81
2. California
Total database engineer jobs: 7,760 Average annual salary: $130,882 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
3. Rhode Island
Total database engineer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $108,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
4. Oregon
Total database engineer jobs: 1,100 Average annual salary: $106,897 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
5. Arizona
Total database engineer jobs: 929 Average annual salary: $106,627 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. Utah
Total database engineer jobs: 756 Average annual salary: $101,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
7. Nevada
Total database engineer jobs: 277 Average annual salary: $121,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
8. New Hampshire
Total database engineer jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $103,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. Montana
Total database engineer jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $100,374 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
10. Colorado
Total database engineer jobs: 1,333 Average annual salary: $99,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Database engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a database engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a database engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,393 | $88,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,273 |
| 2 | California | $130,882 | $89,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,760 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $108,847 | $74,000 | 1,059,639 | 296 |
| 4 | Oregon | $106,897 | $73,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,100 |
| 5 | Arizona | $106,627 | $73,000 | 7,016,270 | 929 |
| 6 | Utah | $101,256 | $68,000 | 3,101,833 | 756 |
| 7 | Nevada | $121,967 | $82,000 | 2,998,039 | 277 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $103,265 | $70,000 | 1,342,795 | 276 |
| 9 | Montana | $100,374 | $69,000 | 1,050,493 | 182 |
| 10 | Colorado | $99,529 | $69,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,333 |
| 11 | Texas | $97,546 | $67,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,236 |
| 12 | New York | $101,140 | $68,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,136 |
| 13 | Illinois | $97,358 | $68,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,828 |
| 14 | Kansas | $95,439 | $67,000 | 2,913,123 | 418 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $98,050 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 318 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $98,921 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,305 |
| 17 | Vermont | $92,425 | $63,000 | 623,657 | 155 |
| 18 | Ohio | $93,888 | $65,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,314 |
| 19 | Delaware | $93,133 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 279 |
| 20 | Virginia | $93,040 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,830 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $95,695 | $67,000 | 5,795,483 | 618 |
| 22 | Idaho | $91,881 | $63,000 | 1,716,943 | 245 |
| 23 | Alaska | $98,470 | $73,000 | 739,795 | 97 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $95,402 | $65,000 | 4,684,333 | 263 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $91,203 | $61,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,530 |
| 26 | Michigan | $89,691 | $62,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,074 |
| 27 | Maryland | $90,663 | $61,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,846 |
| 28 | Alabama | $89,540 | $61,000 | 4,874,747 | 604 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $89,328 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 605 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $87,255 | $60,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,451 |
| 31 | Maine | $89,968 | $61,000 | 1,335,907 | 153 |
| 32 | Missouri | $89,492 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 729 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $90,242 | $62,000 | 2,984,100 | 139 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $86,942 | $62,000 | 5,576,606 | 975 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $86,501 | $59,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,846 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $91,216 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 429 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $87,385 | $59,000 | 2,088,070 | 255 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $85,391 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 479 |
| 39 | Georgia | $85,271 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,464 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $84,808 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 326 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $82,855 | $57,000 | 579,315 | 91 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $87,076 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 112 |
| 43 | Indiana | $82,386 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 923 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $82,299 | $58,000 | 1,920,076 | 320 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $84,684 | $59,000 | 3,930,864 | 229 |
| 46 | Iowa | $83,729 | $59,000 | 3,145,711 | 414 |
| 47 | Florida | $81,603 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,194 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $81,024 | $55,000 | 1,815,857 | 118 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $79,622 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 119 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $78,397 | $55,000 | 869,666 | 123 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $76,225 | $52,000 | 5,024,369 | 399 |
Highest paying states for database engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Database Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,393 |
| 2 | California | $130,882 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $108,847 |
| 4 | Oregon | $106,897 |
| 5 | Arizona | $106,627 |
| 6 | Utah | $101,256 |
| 7 | Nevada | $121,967 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $103,265 |
| 9 | Montana | $100,374 |
| 10 | Colorado | $99,529 |
| 11 | Texas | $97,546 |
| 12 | New York | $101,140 |
| 13 | Illinois | $97,358 |
| 14 | Kansas | $95,439 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $98,050 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $98,921 |
| 17 | Vermont | $92,425 |
| 18 | Ohio | $93,888 |
| 19 | Delaware | $93,133 |
| 20 | Virginia | $93,040 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $95,695 |
| 22 | Idaho | $91,881 |
| 23 | Alaska | $98,470 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $95,402 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $91,203 |
| 26 | Michigan | $89,691 |
| 27 | Maryland | $90,663 |
| 28 | Alabama | $89,540 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $89,328 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $87,255 |
| 31 | Maine | $89,968 |
| 32 | Missouri | $89,492 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $90,242 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $86,942 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $86,501 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $91,216 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $87,385 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $85,391 |
| 39 | Georgia | $85,271 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $84,808 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $82,855 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $87,076 |
| 43 | Indiana | $82,386 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $82,299 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $84,684 |
| 46 | Iowa | $83,729 |
| 47 | Florida | $81,603 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $81,024 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $79,622 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $78,397 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $76,225 |
Expert opinions on the best states for database engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for database engineers to find work opportunities?
Vince Bowen
Executive Director, Department Chair Energy Systems Technology & Education Center (ESTEC), Idaho State University
Any large city will have several openings. Beyond that, these people can work anywhere in the world.
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Updated January 8, 2025