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Best states for a graduate engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Bruce DeRuntz Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like graduate engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for graduate engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for graduate engineer jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for graduate engineers.If you are currently seeking employment as a graduate engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for graduate engineers in 2025
1. California
Total graduate engineer jobs: 6,178 Average annual salary: $86,664 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.822. Arizona
Total graduate engineer jobs: 866 Average annual salary: $85,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.273. Washington
Total graduate engineer jobs: 1,111 Average annual salary: $82,436 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.314. District of Columbia
Total graduate engineer jobs: 334 Average annual salary: $84,131 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.715. Massachusetts
Total graduate engineer jobs: 1,413 Average annual salary: $77,181 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.326. Maryland
Total graduate engineer jobs: 1,025 Average annual salary: $79,545 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.397. Michigan
Total graduate engineer jobs: 1,098 Average annual salary: $72,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.228. Rhode Island
Total graduate engineer jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $88,352 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 0.729. North Dakota
Total graduate engineer jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $69,263 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.2110. Texas
Total graduate engineer jobs: 2,442 Average annual salary: $71,554 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Graduate engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a graduate engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a graduate engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $86,664 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,178 |
| 2 | Arizona | $85,101 | $65,000 | 7,016,270 | 866 |
| 3 | Washington | $82,436 | $66,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,111 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $84,131 | $65,000 | 693,972 | 334 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $77,181 | $61,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,413 |
| 6 | Maryland | $79,545 | $62,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,025 |
| 7 | Michigan | $72,989 | $56,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,098 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $88,352 | $70,000 | 1,059,639 | 102 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $69,263 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 131 |
| 10 | Texas | $71,554 | $53,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,442 |
| 11 | Virginia | $72,033 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,571 |
| 12 | Colorado | $71,682 | $54,000 | 5,607,154 | 954 |
| 13 | Nevada | $72,239 | $55,000 | 2,998,039 | 184 |
| 14 | Oregon | $69,755 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 768 |
| 15 | Delaware | $71,394 | $55,000 | 961,939 | 149 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $78,314 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 632 |
| 17 | Utah | $68,157 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 447 |
| 18 | Alaska | $71,139 | $64,000 | 739,795 | 105 |
| 19 | Idaho | $70,092 | $54,000 | 1,716,943 | 132 |
| 20 | Alabama | $63,214 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 546 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $66,626 | $52,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,025 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $66,473 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 214 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $69,572 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 24 | Maine | $68,239 | $56,000 | 1,335,907 | 83 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $64,738 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 55 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $65,621 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 782 |
| 27 | New York | $66,986 | $52,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,551 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $73,271 | $62,000 | 1,427,538 | 67 |
| 29 | Vermont | $66,388 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 69 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $66,051 | $52,000 | 3,588,184 | 368 |
| 31 | Ohio | $60,776 | $46,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,106 |
| 32 | Georgia | $62,641 | $46,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,082 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,773 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,165 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $63,620 | $48,000 | 3,930,864 | 196 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $61,052 | $46,000 | 1,920,076 | 202 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $61,361 | $46,000 | 3,004,279 | 169 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $59,485 | $44,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,061 |
| 38 | Iowa | $59,986 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 296 |
| 39 | Missouri | $61,858 | $46,000 | 6,113,532 | 432 |
| 40 | Indiana | $57,829 | $44,000 | 6,666,818 | 694 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $57,231 | $42,000 | 5,024,369 | 435 |
| 42 | Kansas | $58,705 | $44,000 | 2,913,123 | 232 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $56,905 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 408 |
| 44 | Florida | $60,594 | $44,000 | 20,984,400 | 0 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $53,397 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 581 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $55,835 | $41,000 | 2,984,100 | 132 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $52,641 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 272 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $52,002 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 98 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $54,524 | $40,000 | 4,684,333 | 150 |
| 50 | Montana | $49,300 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 72 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $49,472 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 48 |
Highest paying states for graduate engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Graduate Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $86,664 |
| 2 | Arizona | $85,101 |
| 3 | Washington | $82,436 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $84,131 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $77,181 |
| 6 | Maryland | $79,545 |
| 7 | Michigan | $72,989 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $88,352 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $69,263 |
| 10 | Texas | $71,554 |
| 11 | Virginia | $72,033 |
| 12 | Colorado | $71,682 |
| 13 | Nevada | $72,239 |
| 14 | Oregon | $69,755 |
| 15 | Delaware | $71,394 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $78,314 |
| 17 | Utah | $68,157 |
| 18 | Alaska | $71,139 |
| 19 | Idaho | $70,092 |
| 20 | Alabama | $63,214 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $66,626 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $66,473 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $69,572 |
| 24 | Maine | $68,239 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $64,738 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $65,621 |
| 27 | New York | $66,986 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $73,271 |
| 29 | Vermont | $66,388 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $66,051 |
| 31 | Ohio | $60,776 |
| 32 | Georgia | $62,641 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,773 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $63,620 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $61,052 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $61,361 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $59,485 |
| 38 | Iowa | $59,986 |
| 39 | Missouri | $61,858 |
| 40 | Indiana | $57,829 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $57,231 |
| 42 | Kansas | $58,705 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $56,905 |
| 44 | Florida | $60,594 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $53,397 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $55,835 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $52,641 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $52,002 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $54,524 |
| 50 | Montana | $49,300 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $49,472 |
Expert opinions on the best states for graduate engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduate engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Bruce DeRuntz Ph.D.
Director, Leadership Development Program, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
If you are speaking of geographical locations, the south and southwest continue to be growing faster than the rest of the country and provide more opportunities. With the pandemic, companies are hoping to capitolize on having employees who can work remotely so they can capitalize on attracting talent who get to live wherever they want to and they don't have to provide office space for them. My best advice to a new graduate is to be flexible. Demonstrate to your new employer that you are ready to adapt to their needs and can bring value with minimum guidance.
Graduate engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025