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Best states for a junior software 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 software developers in the United States. Junior software 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 software developers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of junior software developers in America is $90,000.
In order to get you the best states for junior software developers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for junior software developers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for junior software developer jobs, where as Arkansas is the best state in the country.
10 best states for junior software developers in 2025
1. Arkansas
Total junior software developer jobs: 758 Average annual salary: $75,757 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.892. California
Total junior software developer jobs: 12,594 Average annual salary: $81,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.323. Connecticut
Total junior software developer jobs: 932 Average annual salary: $83,268 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.864. Washington
Total junior software developer jobs: 4,516 Average annual salary: $74,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.95. New York
Total junior software developer jobs: 4,139 Average annual salary: $77,351 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.996. New Jersey
Total junior software developer jobs: 2,928 Average annual salary: $75,964 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.137. Nevada
Total junior software developer jobs: 588 Average annual salary: $77,301 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.868. Massachusetts
Total junior software developer jobs: 3,446 Average annual salary: $73,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.159. New Hampshire
Total junior software developer jobs: 541 Average annual salary: $73,752 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.9510. Georgia
Total junior software developer jobs: 2,794 Average annual salary: $75,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
Junior software developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior software developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior software developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | $75,757 | $58,000 | 3,004,279 | 758 |
| 2 | California | $81,188 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,594 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $83,268 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 932 |
| 4 | Washington | $74,798 | $54,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,516 |
| 5 | New York | $77,351 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,139 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $75,964 | $58,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,928 |
| 7 | Nevada | $77,301 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 588 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $73,982 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,446 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $73,752 | $56,000 | 1,342,795 | 541 |
| 10 | Georgia | $75,356 | $58,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,794 |
| 11 | Texas | $72,968 | $55,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,144 |
| 12 | Maryland | $75,176 | $58,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,044 |
| 13 | Michigan | $74,745 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,937 |
| 14 | Maine | $73,652 | $57,000 | 1,335,907 | 375 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $75,245 | $58,000 | 693,972 | 1,059 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $71,481 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,352 |
| 17 | Oregon | $71,332 | $51,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,851 |
| 18 | Delaware | $70,822 | $54,000 | 961,939 | 517 |
| 19 | Virginia | $71,341 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,933 |
| 20 | Vermont | $69,257 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 341 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $72,193 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 838 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $69,356 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,886 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $66,440 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 636 |
| 24 | Montana | $66,978 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 406 |
| 25 | Kansas | $66,400 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 924 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $69,128 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 326 |
| 27 | Arizona | $68,222 | $51,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,605 |
| 28 | Indiana | $66,489 | $51,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,778 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $68,738 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 568 |
| 30 | Idaho | $64,531 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 525 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $67,201 | $52,000 | 5,024,369 | 816 |
| 32 | Ohio | $64,289 | $49,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,605 |
| 33 | Missouri | $66,134 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,564 |
| 34 | Illinois | $66,207 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,418 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $61,378 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 198 |
| 36 | Alabama | $64,100 | $49,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,063 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $62,805 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 629 |
| 38 | Utah | $61,311 | $44,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,499 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $63,947 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,975 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $62,104 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 274 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $63,932 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,389 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $62,024 | $46,000 | 1,920,076 | 649 |
| 43 | Florida | $64,909 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,681 |
| 44 | Colorado | $60,132 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,048 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $62,226 | $48,000 | 2,984,100 | 344 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $58,822 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 235 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $61,669 | $47,000 | 4,684,333 | 649 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $58,712 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,238 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $55,851 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 281 |
| 50 | Alaska | $55,261 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 200 |
| 51 | Iowa | $56,865 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 839 |
Highest paying states for junior software developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Software Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | $75,757 |
| 2 | California | $81,188 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $83,268 |
| 4 | Washington | $74,798 |
| 5 | New York | $77,351 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $75,964 |
| 7 | Nevada | $77,301 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $73,982 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $73,752 |
| 10 | Georgia | $75,356 |
| 11 | Texas | $72,968 |
| 12 | Maryland | $75,176 |
| 13 | Michigan | $74,745 |
| 14 | Maine | $73,652 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $75,245 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $71,481 |
| 17 | Oregon | $71,332 |
| 18 | Delaware | $70,822 |
| 19 | Virginia | $71,341 |
| 20 | Vermont | $69,257 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $72,193 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $69,356 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $66,440 |
| 24 | Montana | $66,978 |
| 25 | Kansas | $66,400 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $69,128 |
| 27 | Arizona | $68,222 |
| 28 | Indiana | $66,489 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $68,738 |
| 30 | Idaho | $64,531 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $67,201 |
| 32 | Ohio | $64,289 |
| 33 | Missouri | $66,134 |
| 34 | Illinois | $66,207 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $61,378 |
| 36 | Alabama | $64,100 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $62,805 |
| 38 | Utah | $61,311 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $63,947 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $62,104 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $63,932 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $62,024 |
| 43 | Florida | $64,909 |
| 44 | Colorado | $60,132 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $62,226 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $58,822 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $61,669 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $58,712 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $55,851 |
| 50 | Alaska | $55,261 |
| 51 | Iowa | $56,865 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior software developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior software 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 software developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025