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Best states for a junior developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for junior developers in the United States. Junior developer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for junior developers.We wanted to look at the best states for junior developers -- where there are plenty of junior developer jobs to go around and junior developers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for junior developers. Washington is the best state for junior developers, where the median salary is $87,456.We found that Washington is the best state for junior developer jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for junior developers in 2025
1. Washington
Total junior developer jobs: 1,791 Average annual salary: $87,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.392. California
Total junior developer jobs: 6,526 Average annual salary: $82,833 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.273. New York
Total junior developer jobs: 2,353 Average annual salary: $81,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.044. Oregon
Total junior developer jobs: 817 Average annual salary: $77,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.125. New Jersey
Total junior developer jobs: 1,608 Average annual salary: $77,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.156. Pennsylvania
Total junior developer jobs: 2,124 Average annual salary: $73,758 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.047. Connecticut
Total junior developer jobs: 554 Average annual salary: $76,411 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.958. Texas
Total junior developer jobs: 3,707 Average annual salary: $72,127 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.049. Nevada
Total junior developer jobs: 303 Average annual salary: $74,629 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.8210. Maryland
Total junior developer jobs: 1,707 Average annual salary: $75,504 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
Junior developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,456 | $62,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,791 |
| 2 | California | $82,833 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,526 |
| 3 | New York | $81,493 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,353 |
| 4 | Oregon | $77,507 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 817 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $77,190 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,608 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $73,758 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,124 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $76,411 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 554 |
| 8 | Texas | $72,127 | $52,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,707 |
| 9 | Nevada | $74,629 | $53,000 | 2,998,039 | 303 |
| 10 | Maryland | $75,504 | $55,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,707 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,260 | $54,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,497 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $72,867 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 212 |
| 13 | Virginia | $70,756 | $52,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,091 |
| 14 | Michigan | $73,634 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,035 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $68,702 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,625 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $68,727 | $50,000 | 3,004,279 | 402 |
| 17 | Delaware | $69,850 | $51,000 | 961,939 | 276 |
| 18 | Illinois | $70,743 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,963 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $70,680 | $52,000 | 693,972 | 699 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $66,216 | $48,000 | 1,059,639 | 311 |
| 21 | Vermont | $66,410 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 242 |
| 22 | Arizona | $67,224 | $49,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,010 |
| 23 | Utah | $64,131 | $45,000 | 3,101,833 | 803 |
| 24 | Maine | $66,844 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 200 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $67,079 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 283 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $67,816 | $49,000 | 4,684,333 | 315 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $62,312 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 139 |
| 28 | Georgia | $67,751 | $50,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,418 |
| 29 | Alabama | $63,383 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 651 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $63,584 | $46,000 | 2,088,070 | 297 |
| 31 | Idaho | $62,983 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 326 |
| 32 | Ohio | $61,920 | $45,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,511 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $62,877 | $45,000 | 5,795,483 | 790 |
| 34 | Montana | $60,726 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 231 |
| 35 | Colorado | $61,765 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,061 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $61,595 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 666 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $60,764 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 142 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $63,740 | $47,000 | 5,024,369 | 396 |
| 39 | Indiana | $61,076 | $44,000 | 6,666,818 | 914 |
| 40 | Missouri | $62,696 | $45,000 | 6,113,532 | 759 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $60,203 | $44,000 | 4,454,189 | 426 |
| 42 | Alaska | $57,991 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 121 |
| 43 | Florida | $60,812 | $43,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,146 |
| 44 | Iowa | $60,255 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 425 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $56,704 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 121 |
| 46 | Kansas | $59,648 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 405 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $58,116 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 319 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $59,020 | $43,000 | 2,984,100 | 164 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $57,174 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 895 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $55,139 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 144 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $57,480 | $42,000 | 3,930,864 | 317 |
Highest paying states for junior developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,456 |
| 2 | California | $82,833 |
| 3 | New York | $81,493 |
| 4 | Oregon | $77,507 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $77,190 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $73,758 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $76,411 |
| 8 | Texas | $72,127 |
| 9 | Nevada | $74,629 |
| 10 | Maryland | $75,504 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,260 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $72,867 |
| 13 | Virginia | $70,756 |
| 14 | Michigan | $73,634 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $68,702 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $68,727 |
| 17 | Delaware | $69,850 |
| 18 | Illinois | $70,743 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $70,680 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $66,216 |
| 21 | Vermont | $66,410 |
| 22 | Arizona | $67,224 |
| 23 | Utah | $64,131 |
| 24 | Maine | $66,844 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $67,079 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $67,816 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $62,312 |
| 28 | Georgia | $67,751 |
| 29 | Alabama | $63,383 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $63,584 |
| 31 | Idaho | $62,983 |
| 32 | Ohio | $61,920 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $62,877 |
| 34 | Montana | $60,726 |
| 35 | Colorado | $61,765 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $61,595 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $60,764 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $63,740 |
| 39 | Indiana | $61,076 |
| 40 | Missouri | $62,696 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $60,203 |
| 42 | Alaska | $57,991 |
| 43 | Florida | $60,812 |
| 44 | Iowa | $60,255 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $56,704 |
| 46 | Kansas | $59,648 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $58,116 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $59,020 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $57,174 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $55,139 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $57,480 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior developers 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.
Junior developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025