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Best states for an engineering trainee
Quoted expert
Klaus Dölle
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Are you thinking of becoming an engineering trainee and really want to work at Larsen & Toubro Infotech? Turns out, your chances to become an engineering trainee are better in some states than others.As engineering trainees are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for engineering trainees. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an engineering trainee, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for engineering trainee jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Rhode Island is the best state, and Long Branch is the city with the highest pay for engineering trainees.
10 best states for engineering trainees in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total engineering trainee jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $77,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. Michigan
Total engineering trainee jobs: 1,197 Average annual salary: $76,206 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Washington
Total engineering trainee jobs: 1,318 Average annual salary: $66,226 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. Virginia
Total engineering trainee jobs: 1,436 Average annual salary: $66,766 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
5. New Jersey
Total engineering trainee jobs: 773 Average annual salary: $79,006 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
6. Illinois
Total engineering trainee jobs: 1,492 Average annual salary: $69,056 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
7. Texas
Total engineering trainee jobs: 2,752 Average annual salary: $64,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. New Hampshire
Total engineering trainee jobs: 250 Average annual salary: $63,656 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
9. Delaware
Total engineering trainee jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $62,414 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
10. District of Columbia
Total engineering trainee jobs: 240 Average annual salary: $73,403 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Engineering trainee jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an engineering trainee
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an engineering trainee
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $77,404 | $53,000 | 1,059,639 | 205 |
| 2 | Michigan | $76,206 | $52,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,197 |
| 3 | Washington | $66,226 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,318 |
| 4 | Virginia | $66,766 | $46,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,436 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $79,006 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 773 |
| 6 | Illinois | $69,056 | $48,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,492 |
| 7 | Texas | $64,756 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,752 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $63,656 | $44,000 | 1,342,795 | 250 |
| 9 | Delaware | $62,414 | $42,000 | 961,939 | 221 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $73,403 | $50,000 | 693,972 | 240 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $57,290 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 203 |
| 12 | Alaska | $63,170 | $54,000 | 739,795 | 157 |
| 13 | California | $73,636 | $48,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,541 |
| 14 | Maine | $59,544 | $41,000 | 1,335,907 | 215 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $63,831 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,268 |
| 16 | Vermont | $58,450 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 160 |
| 17 | Arizona | $60,233 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 852 |
| 18 | Maryland | $66,320 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 851 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $61,919 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,430 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $62,066 | $43,000 | 3,930,864 | 330 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $62,048 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 824 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $60,432 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,210 |
| 23 | Ohio | $59,622 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,261 |
| 24 | Alabama | $56,147 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 705 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $53,673 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 109 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $54,984 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 350 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,568 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 447 |
| 28 | Colorado | $57,968 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 977 |
| 29 | Idaho | $55,641 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 276 |
| 30 | Georgia | $59,774 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,175 |
| 31 | New York | $60,967 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,713 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $57,779 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 258 |
| 33 | Indiana | $56,304 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 856 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $54,010 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 661 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $56,128 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 147 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $53,979 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 311 |
| 37 | Utah | $50,252 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 578 |
| 38 | Iowa | $53,402 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 486 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $45,922 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 303 |
| 40 | Oregon | $49,469 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 703 |
| 41 | Missouri | $53,650 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 651 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $43,589 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 183 |
| 43 | Florida | $50,962 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,013 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $50,875 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 682 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $48,745 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 637 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $44,998 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 877 |
| 47 | Kansas | $50,880 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 367 |
| 48 | Nevada | $52,111 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 209 |
| 49 | Montana | $40,955 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 181 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $40,560 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 482 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $42,013 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 508 |
Highest paying states for engineering trainees
| Rank | State | Avg. Engineering Trainee Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $77,404 |
| 2 | Michigan | $76,206 |
| 3 | Washington | $66,226 |
| 4 | Virginia | $66,766 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $79,006 |
| 6 | Illinois | $69,056 |
| 7 | Texas | $64,756 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $63,656 |
| 9 | Delaware | $62,414 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $73,403 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $57,290 |
| 12 | Alaska | $63,170 |
| 13 | California | $73,636 |
| 14 | Maine | $59,544 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $63,831 |
| 16 | Vermont | $58,450 |
| 17 | Arizona | $60,233 |
| 18 | Maryland | $66,320 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $61,919 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $62,066 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $62,048 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $60,432 |
| 23 | Ohio | $59,622 |
| 24 | Alabama | $56,147 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $53,673 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $54,984 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,568 |
| 28 | Colorado | $57,968 |
| 29 | Idaho | $55,641 |
| 30 | Georgia | $59,774 |
| 31 | New York | $60,967 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $57,779 |
| 33 | Indiana | $56,304 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $54,010 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $56,128 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $53,979 |
| 37 | Utah | $50,252 |
| 38 | Iowa | $53,402 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $45,922 |
| 40 | Oregon | $49,469 |
| 41 | Missouri | $53,650 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $43,589 |
| 43 | Florida | $50,962 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $50,875 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $48,745 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $44,998 |
| 47 | Kansas | $50,880 |
| 48 | Nevada | $52,111 |
| 49 | Montana | $40,955 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $40,560 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $42,013 |
Expert opinions on the best states for engineering trainees
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for engineering trainees to find work opportunities?
Klaus Dölle
Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability, SUNY College
Our graduates have no problems finding a well-paid job in the U.S. Paper Engineers are in high demand. More Paper Engineers are needed by the industry than Universities can produce. Currently, starting salary is around $70k.
Engineering trainee best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025