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Best states for a junior programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to junior programmer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for junior programmers.Although there are abundant junior programmer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Washington is the best state in the country for junior programmer jobs.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for junior programmers. Washington is the best state for junior programmers, where the median salary is $77,267.We found that Washington is the best state for junior programmer jobs, whereas Missouri is the worst.
10 best states for junior programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total junior programmer jobs: 2,785 Average annual salary: $77,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.942. Connecticut
Total junior programmer jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $80,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.073. California
Total junior programmer jobs: 8,047 Average annual salary: $84,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.44. Massachusetts
Total junior programmer jobs: 1,807 Average annual salary: $78,376 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 15. Rhode Island
Total junior programmer jobs: 330 Average annual salary: $72,777 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.386. Oregon
Total junior programmer jobs: 1,089 Average annual salary: $76,411 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.347. New Hampshire
Total junior programmer jobs: 299 Average annual salary: $76,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.878. Nevada
Total junior programmer jobs: 296 Average annual salary: $79,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.729. North Carolina
Total junior programmer jobs: 1,610 Average annual salary: $71,708 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.8510. Illinois
Total junior programmer jobs: 2,080 Average annual salary: $71,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
Junior programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $77,267 | $56,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,785 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $80,349 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 700 |
| 3 | California | $84,159 | $60,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,047 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $78,376 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,807 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $72,777 | $54,000 | 1,059,639 | 330 |
| 6 | Oregon | $76,411 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,089 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $76,467 | $56,000 | 1,342,795 | 299 |
| 8 | Nevada | $79,799 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 296 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $71,708 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,610 |
| 10 | Illinois | $71,966 | $53,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,080 |
| 11 | Vermont | $67,860 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 263 |
| 12 | Virginia | $70,553 | $53,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,120 |
| 13 | Ohio | $71,007 | $53,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,448 |
| 14 | New York | $73,799 | $55,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,289 |
| 15 | Alabama | $67,295 | $50,000 | 4,874,747 | 758 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $67,004 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,001 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $69,869 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,693 |
| 18 | Georgia | $69,464 | $52,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,629 |
| 19 | Arizona | $66,399 | $48,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,159 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $66,094 | $48,000 | 755,393 | 159 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $68,025 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 642 |
| 22 | Alaska | $68,229 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 160 |
| 23 | Maine | $66,584 | $49,000 | 1,335,907 | 212 |
| 24 | Texas | $64,759 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,826 |
| 25 | Colorado | $65,341 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,239 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $68,026 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 406 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $66,660 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 204 |
| 28 | Delaware | $63,260 | $47,000 | 961,939 | 413 |
| 29 | Kansas | $64,698 | $47,000 | 2,913,123 | 468 |
| 30 | Maryland | $63,107 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,983 |
| 31 | Michigan | $63,416 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,158 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $63,529 | $47,000 | 4,454,189 | 443 |
| 33 | Iowa | $63,161 | $46,000 | 3,145,711 | 521 |
| 34 | Indiana | $61,524 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,091 |
| 35 | Utah | $58,747 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 860 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $62,121 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 147 |
| 37 | Idaho | $58,010 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 356 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $62,374 | $46,000 | 3,930,864 | 321 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $55,866 | $40,000 | 579,315 | 155 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $59,348 | $44,000 | 1,815,857 | 228 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $59,065 | $43,000 | 3,004,279 | 432 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $59,298 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 367 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $61,283 | $45,000 | 4,684,333 | 330 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $56,999 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 140 |
| 45 | Montana | $53,948 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 224 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $57,547 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 798 |
| 47 | Florida | $54,179 | $39,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,866 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $55,539 | $41,000 | 6,715,984 | 696 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $55,436 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 957 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $55,475 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 272 |
| 51 | Missouri | $53,029 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 716 |
Highest paying states for junior programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $77,267 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $80,349 |
| 3 | California | $84,159 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $78,376 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $72,777 |
| 6 | Oregon | $76,411 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $76,467 |
| 8 | Nevada | $79,799 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $71,708 |
| 10 | Illinois | $71,966 |
| 11 | Vermont | $67,860 |
| 12 | Virginia | $70,553 |
| 13 | Ohio | $71,007 |
| 14 | New York | $73,799 |
| 15 | Alabama | $67,295 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $67,004 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $69,869 |
| 18 | Georgia | $69,464 |
| 19 | Arizona | $66,399 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $66,094 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $68,025 |
| 22 | Alaska | $68,229 |
| 23 | Maine | $66,584 |
| 24 | Texas | $64,759 |
| 25 | Colorado | $65,341 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $68,026 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $66,660 |
| 28 | Delaware | $63,260 |
| 29 | Kansas | $64,698 |
| 30 | Maryland | $63,107 |
| 31 | Michigan | $63,416 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $63,529 |
| 33 | Iowa | $63,161 |
| 34 | Indiana | $61,524 |
| 35 | Utah | $58,747 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $62,121 |
| 37 | Idaho | $58,010 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $62,374 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $55,866 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $59,348 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $59,065 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $59,298 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $61,283 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $56,999 |
| 45 | Montana | $53,948 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $57,547 |
| 47 | Florida | $54,179 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $55,539 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $55,436 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $55,475 |
| 51 | Missouri | $53,029 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior 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.
Junior programmer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025