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Best states for a game programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for game programmers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for game programmer 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.In order to help you decide which state is the best for game programmers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for game programmer jobs.
We figured that the best places for game programmer 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.We found that Washington is the best state for game programmer jobs, whereas Hawaii is the worst.
10 best states for game programmers in 2026
1. Washington
Total game programmer jobs: 2,036 Average annual salary: $112,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. Delaware
Total game programmer jobs: 331 Average annual salary: $103,249 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
3. California
Total game programmer jobs: 6,975 Average annual salary: $108,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
4. Massachusetts
Total game programmer jobs: 1,502 Average annual salary: $105,537 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Oregon
Total game programmer jobs: 870 Average annual salary: $100,878 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
6. Rhode Island
Total game programmer jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $95,959 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
7. New Hampshire
Total game programmer jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $103,560 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Connecticut
Total game programmer jobs: 593 Average annual salary: $97,579 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
9. North Carolina
Total game programmer jobs: 1,361 Average annual salary: $96,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Utah
Total game programmer jobs: 697 Average annual salary: $89,755 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
Game programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a game programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a game programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $112,916 | $78,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,036 |
| 2 | Delaware | $103,249 | $72,000 | 961,939 | 331 |
| 3 | California | $108,621 | $74,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,975 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $105,537 | $74,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,502 |
| 5 | Oregon | $100,878 | $69,000 | 4,142,776 | 870 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $95,959 | $67,000 | 1,059,639 | 282 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $103,560 | $72,000 | 1,342,795 | 243 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $97,579 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 593 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $96,014 | $67,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,361 |
| 10 | Utah | $89,755 | $60,000 | 3,101,833 | 697 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $102,064 | $71,000 | 693,972 | 629 |
| 12 | Alaska | $96,372 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 125 |
| 13 | Vermont | $89,591 | $62,000 | 623,657 | 203 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $90,307 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,677 |
| 15 | Virginia | $90,699 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,620 |
| 16 | Maryland | $93,783 | $66,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,611 |
| 17 | Indiana | $85,781 | $61,000 | 6,666,818 | 957 |
| 18 | Illinois | $88,411 | $63,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,896 |
| 19 | Arizona | $85,647 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,002 |
| 20 | New York | $90,847 | $63,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,075 |
| 21 | Nevada | $88,723 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 224 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $88,544 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,503 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $85,144 | $61,000 | 755,393 | 119 |
| 24 | Maine | $87,587 | $61,000 | 1,335,907 | 156 |
| 25 | Alabama | $83,546 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 596 |
| 26 | Texas | $82,846 | $56,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,378 |
| 27 | Iowa | $82,473 | $59,000 | 3,145,711 | 491 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $85,746 | $59,000 | 5,024,369 | 292 |
| 29 | Michigan | $82,449 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 962 |
| 30 | Idaho | $81,425 | $55,000 | 1,716,943 | 290 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $84,715 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 121 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $81,347 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 654 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $81,367 | $58,000 | 1,920,076 | 293 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $81,220 | $57,000 | 869,666 | 100 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $81,809 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 796 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $81,140 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 223 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $74,878 | $51,000 | 579,315 | 123 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $81,420 | $54,000 | 4,684,333 | 249 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $76,895 | $54,000 | 1,815,857 | 179 |
| 40 | Ohio | $77,225 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,211 |
| 41 | Florida | $76,686 | $48,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,357 |
| 42 | Colorado | $74,976 | $52,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,019 |
| 43 | Montana | $76,818 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 168 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $76,448 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 542 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $76,598 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 356 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $73,836 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 352 |
| 47 | Kansas | $75,168 | $53,000 | 2,913,123 | 391 |
| 48 | Missouri | $76,636 | $54,000 | 6,113,532 | 568 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $76,517 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 211 |
| 50 | Georgia | $70,431 | $48,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,504 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,301 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 118 |
Highest paying states for game programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Game Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $112,916 |
| 2 | Delaware | $103,249 |
| 3 | California | $108,621 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $105,537 |
| 5 | Oregon | $100,878 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $95,959 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $103,560 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $97,579 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $96,014 |
| 10 | Utah | $89,755 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $102,064 |
| 12 | Alaska | $96,372 |
| 13 | Vermont | $89,591 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $90,307 |
| 15 | Virginia | $90,699 |
| 16 | Maryland | $93,783 |
| 17 | Indiana | $85,781 |
| 18 | Illinois | $88,411 |
| 19 | Arizona | $85,647 |
| 20 | New York | $90,847 |
| 21 | Nevada | $88,723 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $88,544 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $85,144 |
| 24 | Maine | $87,587 |
| 25 | Alabama | $83,546 |
| 26 | Texas | $82,846 |
| 27 | Iowa | $82,473 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $85,746 |
| 29 | Michigan | $82,449 |
| 30 | Idaho | $81,425 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $84,715 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $81,347 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $81,367 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $81,220 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $81,809 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $81,140 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $74,878 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $81,420 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $76,895 |
| 40 | Ohio | $77,225 |
| 41 | Florida | $76,686 |
| 42 | Colorado | $74,976 |
| 43 | Montana | $76,818 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $76,448 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $76,598 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $73,836 |
| 47 | Kansas | $75,168 |
| 48 | Missouri | $76,636 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $76,517 |
| 50 | Georgia | $70,431 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $64,301 |
Expert opinions on the best states for game programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for game programmers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
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Updated January 8, 2025