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Best states for a junior project engineer
Quoted expert
Chris P. Caddell
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for junior project engineers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for junior project engineer 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.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of junior project engineers in America is $90,000.
The median salary for junior project engineers in Alabama is $77,273. Compare that to the median salary in Wyoming of $57,343, which ranked worst for junior project engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for junior project engineers, and the Northeast is the worst. Hayward, CA is the best city in the country for junior project engineer jobs, where as Alabama is the best state in the country.
10 best states for junior project engineers in 2026
1. Alabama
Total junior project engineer jobs: 778 Average annual salary: $77,273 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Missouri
Total junior project engineer jobs: 1,035 Average annual salary: $77,250 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Minnesota
Total junior project engineer jobs: 1,375 Average annual salary: $72,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
4. Colorado
Total junior project engineer jobs: 773 Average annual salary: $78,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Oklahoma
Total junior project engineer jobs: 465 Average annual salary: $73,034 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. Oregon
Total junior project engineer jobs: 574 Average annual salary: $76,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Maine
Total junior project engineer jobs: 238 Average annual salary: $72,201 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
8. Kentucky
Total junior project engineer jobs: 519 Average annual salary: $72,297 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. North Dakota
Total junior project engineer jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $68,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
10. Idaho
Total junior project engineer jobs: 324 Average annual salary: $69,315 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
Junior project engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior project engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior project engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | $77,273 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 778 |
| 2 | Missouri | $77,250 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,035 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $72,738 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,375 |
| 4 | Colorado | $78,734 | $59,000 | 5,607,154 | 773 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $73,034 | $56,000 | 3,930,864 | 465 |
| 6 | Oregon | $76,918 | $57,000 | 4,142,776 | 574 |
| 7 | Maine | $72,201 | $57,000 | 1,335,907 | 238 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $72,297 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 519 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $68,477 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 215 |
| 10 | Idaho | $69,315 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 324 |
| 11 | Delaware | $74,583 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 138 |
| 12 | California | $80,175 | $60,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,034 |
| 13 | Washington | $75,452 | $56,000 | 7,405,743 | 899 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $71,715 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 256 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $72,855 | $56,000 | 12,805,537 | 854 |
| 16 | New York | $78,039 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,133 |
| 17 | Nevada | $67,086 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 423 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $74,097 | $58,000 | 3,588,184 | 291 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $68,354 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 184 |
| 20 | Vermont | $71,601 | $57,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $70,975 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 831 |
| 22 | Virginia | $70,882 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,622 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $67,205 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 321 |
| 24 | Ohio | $64,150 | $49,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,021 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $72,397 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 844 |
| 26 | Alaska | $71,171 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 89 |
| 27 | Indiana | $65,701 | $50,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,076 |
| 28 | Arizona | $69,436 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 608 |
| 29 | Utah | $67,954 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 413 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $66,825 | $51,000 | 4,684,333 | 461 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $65,206 | $49,000 | 2,088,070 | 389 |
| 32 | Montana | $68,324 | $51,000 | 1,050,493 | 120 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $66,223 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 369 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $65,532 | $50,000 | 5,024,369 | 741 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $72,632 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 545 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $69,039 | $54,000 | 1,059,639 | 72 |
| 37 | Georgia | $63,425 | $49,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,172 |
| 38 | Kansas | $63,617 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 520 |
| 39 | Illinois | $68,593 | $53,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,006 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $61,932 | $47,000 | 1,920,076 | 433 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $60,039 | $46,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,031 |
| 42 | Florida | $66,821 | $51,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,380 |
| 43 | Michigan | $59,427 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,536 |
| 44 | Iowa | $61,654 | $47,000 | 3,145,711 | 584 |
| 45 | Texas | $64,926 | $49,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,861 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $59,186 | $46,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,089 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $60,761 | $46,000 | 869,666 | 147 |
| 48 | Maryland | $61,056 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,039 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $56,810 | $43,000 | 3,004,279 | 397 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $57,686 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 105 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $57,343 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 57 |
Highest paying states for junior project engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Project Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | $77,273 |
| 2 | Missouri | $77,250 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $72,738 |
| 4 | Colorado | $78,734 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $73,034 |
| 6 | Oregon | $76,918 |
| 7 | Maine | $72,201 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $72,297 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $68,477 |
| 10 | Idaho | $69,315 |
| 11 | Delaware | $74,583 |
| 12 | California | $80,175 |
| 13 | Washington | $75,452 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $71,715 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $72,855 |
| 16 | New York | $78,039 |
| 17 | Nevada | $67,086 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $74,097 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $68,354 |
| 20 | Vermont | $71,601 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $70,975 |
| 22 | Virginia | $70,882 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $67,205 |
| 24 | Ohio | $64,150 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $72,397 |
| 26 | Alaska | $71,171 |
| 27 | Indiana | $65,701 |
| 28 | Arizona | $69,436 |
| 29 | Utah | $67,954 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $66,825 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $65,206 |
| 32 | Montana | $68,324 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $66,223 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $65,532 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $72,632 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $69,039 |
| 37 | Georgia | $63,425 |
| 38 | Kansas | $63,617 |
| 39 | Illinois | $68,593 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $61,932 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $60,039 |
| 42 | Florida | $66,821 |
| 43 | Michigan | $59,427 |
| 44 | Iowa | $61,654 |
| 45 | Texas | $64,926 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $59,186 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $60,761 |
| 48 | Maryland | $61,056 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $56,810 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $57,686 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $57,343 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior project engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior project engineers to find work opportunities?
Chris P. Caddell
Board President, AACEI
The best places for graduates to find work in the cost estimating field, at least for construction, is dependent in part on the industry. Smaller owners and contractors are prevalent throughout the U.S. in cities and large towns. Major cities continue to be the hub for owners and contractors that are involved with major construction projects. Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and Philadelphia are some of the more active cities, but it really depends.
Junior project engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025