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Best states for a director of systems engineering
Quoted expert
Austin McCoy
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like directors of systems engineering are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for directors of systems engineering aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for directors of systems engineering in America. The best city in America for directors of systems engineering with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
In order to get you the best states for directors of systems engineering, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Alaska is the best state, and Eureka is the city with the highest pay for directors of systems engineering.
10 best states for directors of systems engineering in 2025
1. Alaska
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 219 Average annual salary: $176,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. Louisiana
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 877 Average annual salary: $161,606 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Nevada
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $179,405 Lowest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
4. Washington
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 1,905 Average annual salary: $158,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
5. Arizona
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 1,316 Average annual salary: $151,471 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
6. Idaho
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 377 Average annual salary: $149,481 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
7. Oregon
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $162,965 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. Utah
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 579 Average annual salary: $153,269 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. New Hampshire
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 392 Average annual salary: $148,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
10. Montana
Total director of systems engineering jobs: 238 Average annual salary: $148,161 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
Director of systems engineering jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a director of systems engineering
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a director of systems engineering
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $176,614 | $122,000 | 739,795 | 219 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $161,606 | $111,000 | 4,684,333 | 877 |
| 3 | Nevada | $179,405 | $125,000 | 2,998,039 | 372 |
| 4 | Washington | $158,339 | $106,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,905 |
| 5 | Arizona | $151,471 | $101,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,316 |
| 6 | Idaho | $149,481 | $99,000 | 1,716,943 | 377 |
| 7 | Oregon | $162,965 | $109,000 | 4,142,776 | 700 |
| 8 | Utah | $153,269 | $102,000 | 3,101,833 | 579 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $148,282 | $105,000 | 1,342,795 | 392 |
| 10 | Montana | $148,161 | $101,000 | 1,050,493 | 238 |
| 11 | Maine | $147,786 | $105,000 | 1,335,907 | 259 |
| 12 | California | $180,615 | $126,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,229 |
| 13 | Ohio | $158,470 | $111,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,570 |
| 14 | New York | $156,866 | $111,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,561 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $143,979 | $99,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,830 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $136,379 | $92,000 | 2,984,100 | 638 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $153,122 | $109,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,561 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $136,364 | $91,000 | 3,930,864 | 827 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $144,555 | $101,000 | 5,795,483 | 865 |
| 20 | Michigan | $140,500 | $97,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,439 |
| 21 | Texas | $143,061 | $95,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,630 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $171,338 | $117,000 | 1,427,538 | 117 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $143,188 | $100,000 | 3,588,184 | 746 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $136,013 | $93,000 | 869,666 | 207 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $144,208 | $100,000 | 693,972 | 368 |
| 26 | Delaware | $137,646 | $95,000 | 961,939 | 278 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $138,883 | $94,000 | 6,715,984 | 745 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $144,125 | $101,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,404 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $130,944 | $86,000 | 2,088,070 | 463 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $130,269 | $90,000 | 755,393 | 228 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $131,938 | $92,000 | 1,059,639 | 306 |
| 32 | Indiana | $138,487 | $95,000 | 6,666,818 | 948 |
| 33 | Alabama | $128,989 | $87,000 | 4,874,747 | 985 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $135,432 | $94,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,221 |
| 35 | Colorado | $135,718 | $90,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,120 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $128,771 | $88,000 | 1,815,857 | 284 |
| 37 | Vermont | $135,794 | $96,000 | 623,657 | 126 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $130,631 | $90,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,962 |
| 39 | Virginia | $132,763 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,793 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $127,395 | $86,000 | 1,920,076 | 418 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $121,367 | $80,000 | 579,315 | 161 |
| 42 | Florida | $130,254 | $88,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,873 |
| 43 | Illinois | $130,801 | $90,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,015 |
| 44 | Kansas | $126,382 | $84,000 | 2,913,123 | 500 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $125,589 | $84,000 | 3,004,279 | 431 |
| 46 | Maryland | $129,662 | $89,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,058 |
| 47 | Iowa | $120,721 | $82,000 | 3,145,711 | 606 |
| 48 | Georgia | $125,045 | $84,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,591 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $120,417 | $81,000 | 5,024,369 | 717 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $118,767 | $80,000 | 4,454,189 | 486 |
| 51 | Missouri | $117,104 | $78,000 | 6,113,532 | 913 |
Highest paying states for directors of systems engineering
| Rank | State | Avg. Director Of Systems Engineering Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $176,614 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $161,606 |
| 3 | Nevada | $179,405 |
| 4 | Washington | $158,339 |
| 5 | Arizona | $151,471 |
| 6 | Idaho | $149,481 |
| 7 | Oregon | $162,965 |
| 8 | Utah | $153,269 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $148,282 |
| 10 | Montana | $148,161 |
| 11 | Maine | $147,786 |
| 12 | California | $180,615 |
| 13 | Ohio | $158,470 |
| 14 | New York | $156,866 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $143,979 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $136,379 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $153,122 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $136,364 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $144,555 |
| 20 | Michigan | $140,500 |
| 21 | Texas | $143,061 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $171,338 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $143,188 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $136,013 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $144,208 |
| 26 | Delaware | $137,646 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $138,883 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $144,125 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $130,944 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $130,269 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $131,938 |
| 32 | Indiana | $138,487 |
| 33 | Alabama | $128,989 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $135,432 |
| 35 | Colorado | $135,718 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $128,771 |
| 37 | Vermont | $135,794 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $130,631 |
| 39 | Virginia | $132,763 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $127,395 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $121,367 |
| 42 | Florida | $130,254 |
| 43 | Illinois | $130,801 |
| 44 | Kansas | $126,382 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $125,589 |
| 46 | Maryland | $129,662 |
| 47 | Iowa | $120,721 |
| 48 | Georgia | $125,045 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $120,417 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $118,767 |
| 51 | Missouri | $117,104 |
Expert opinions on the best states for directors of systems engineering
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Directors of systems engineering to find work opportunities?
Austin McCoy
Director of Javelina Engineering Student Success Center, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
-I think that if enough effort is put into looking for a job, there is an ability to find a job in just about any location
-The ABC's of job searching: Any job, Better job, Career job
Director of systems engineering best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025