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Best states for a head engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
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Do you want to become a head engineer at Us Navy, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for head engineers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Although there are abundant head engineer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Oregon is the best state in the country for head 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 head engineers.If you are currently seeking employment as a head engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for head engineers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total head engineer jobs: 822 Average annual salary: $165,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
2. District of Columbia
Total head engineer jobs: 471 Average annual salary: $177,337 Lowest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $251,000 Location Quotient: 1.86
3. Virginia
Total head engineer jobs: 1,927 Average annual salary: $158,166 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. Rhode Island
Total head engineer jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $157,808 Lowest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Idaho
Total head engineer jobs: 208 Average annual salary: $158,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. Arizona
Total head engineer jobs: 1,042 Average annual salary: $155,030 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
7. California
Total head engineer jobs: 8,154 Average annual salary: $160,488 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
8. New Hampshire
Total head engineer jobs: 264 Average annual salary: $154,724 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Washington
Total head engineer jobs: 1,666 Average annual salary: $152,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
10. Delaware
Total head engineer jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $150,021 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
Head engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a head engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a head engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $165,013 | $115,000 | 4,142,776 | 822 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $177,337 | $124,000 | 693,972 | 471 |
| 3 | Virginia | $158,166 | $107,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,927 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $157,808 | $108,000 | 1,059,639 | 182 |
| 5 | Idaho | $158,936 | $110,000 | 1,716,943 | 208 |
| 6 | Arizona | $155,030 | $105,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,042 |
| 7 | California | $160,488 | $110,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,154 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $154,724 | $106,000 | 1,342,795 | 264 |
| 9 | Washington | $152,720 | $105,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,666 |
| 10 | Delaware | $150,021 | $101,000 | 961,939 | 232 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $145,825 | $99,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,913 |
| 12 | Colorado | $146,236 | $99,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,204 |
| 13 | New York | $151,059 | $102,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,053 |
| 14 | Maryland | $150,264 | $101,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,227 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $141,050 | $94,000 | 2,088,070 | 250 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $145,013 | $96,000 | 6,715,984 | 458 |
| 17 | Utah | $131,574 | $88,000 | 3,101,833 | 521 |
| 18 | Iowa | $145,005 | $98,000 | 3,145,711 | 353 |
| 19 | Alabama | $135,507 | $88,000 | 4,874,747 | 514 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $141,680 | $94,000 | 1,815,857 | 112 |
| 21 | Nevada | $137,406 | $92,000 | 2,998,039 | 221 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $143,240 | $96,000 | 9,005,644 | 950 |
| 23 | Texas | $130,543 | $84,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,789 |
| 24 | Vermont | $131,241 | $88,000 | 623,657 | 109 |
| 25 | Maine | $134,167 | $90,000 | 1,335,907 | 125 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $135,712 | $88,000 | 4,684,333 | 233 |
| 27 | Michigan | $124,063 | $82,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,168 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $128,242 | $85,000 | 3,588,184 | 530 |
| 29 | Illinois | $130,095 | $87,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,560 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $130,758 | $85,000 | 5,024,369 | 387 |
| 31 | Alaska | $135,536 | $102,000 | 739,795 | 90 |
| 32 | Indiana | $125,516 | $83,000 | 6,666,818 | 717 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $133,500 | $90,000 | 1,427,538 | 105 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $123,207 | $82,000 | 579,315 | 70 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $126,320 | $82,000 | 3,930,864 | 190 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $122,925 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,191 |
| 37 | Georgia | $123,547 | $79,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,206 |
| 38 | Ohio | $120,172 | $79,000 | 11,658,609 | 995 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $115,898 | $74,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,340 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $119,506 | $80,000 | 5,795,483 | 577 |
| 41 | Florida | $119,668 | $75,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,789 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $120,481 | $78,000 | 4,454,189 | 299 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $114,016 | $77,000 | 5,576,606 | 989 |
| 44 | Kansas | $117,158 | $77,000 | 2,913,123 | 307 |
| 45 | Montana | $112,724 | $77,000 | 1,050,493 | 143 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $117,353 | $75,000 | 2,984,100 | 137 |
| 47 | Missouri | $113,740 | $74,000 | 6,113,532 | 593 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $110,158 | $73,000 | 1,920,076 | 229 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $107,589 | $69,000 | 3,004,279 | 221 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $106,722 | $73,000 | 755,393 | 89 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $105,570 | $71,000 | 869,666 | 71 |
Highest paying states for head engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Head Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $165,013 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $177,337 |
| 3 | Virginia | $158,166 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $157,808 |
| 5 | Idaho | $158,936 |
| 6 | Arizona | $155,030 |
| 7 | California | $160,488 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $154,724 |
| 9 | Washington | $152,720 |
| 10 | Delaware | $150,021 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $145,825 |
| 12 | Colorado | $146,236 |
| 13 | New York | $151,059 |
| 14 | Maryland | $150,264 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $141,050 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $145,013 |
| 17 | Utah | $131,574 |
| 18 | Iowa | $145,005 |
| 19 | Alabama | $135,507 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $141,680 |
| 21 | Nevada | $137,406 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $143,240 |
| 23 | Texas | $130,543 |
| 24 | Vermont | $131,241 |
| 25 | Maine | $134,167 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $135,712 |
| 27 | Michigan | $124,063 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $128,242 |
| 29 | Illinois | $130,095 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $130,758 |
| 31 | Alaska | $135,536 |
| 32 | Indiana | $125,516 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $133,500 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $123,207 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $126,320 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $122,925 |
| 37 | Georgia | $123,547 |
| 38 | Ohio | $120,172 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $115,898 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $119,506 |
| 41 | Florida | $119,668 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $120,481 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $114,016 |
| 44 | Kansas | $117,158 |
| 45 | Montana | $112,724 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $117,353 |
| 47 | Missouri | $113,740 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $110,158 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $107,589 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $106,722 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $105,570 |
Expert opinions on the best states for head engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for head engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
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Updated January 8, 2025