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Best states for a junior software engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Junior software engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for junior software engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for junior software engineers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for junior software engineers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for junior software engineer jobs.
Delaware is the best state for jobs for junior software engineers, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in Delaware is $88,392, while the median pay in South Dakota is $59,659.We found that the Midwest is best for junior software engineers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for junior software engineer jobs, where as Delaware is the best state in the country.
10 best states for junior software engineers in 2026
1. Delaware
Total junior software engineer jobs: 687 Average annual salary: $88,392 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
2. Washington
Total junior software engineer jobs: 6,562 Average annual salary: $88,623 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 2.33
3. Connecticut
Total junior software engineer jobs: 1,182 Average annual salary: $92,573 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
4. California
Total junior software engineer jobs: 19,159 Average annual salary: $90,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
5. Rhode Island
Total junior software engineer jobs: 583 Average annual salary: $77,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. New Jersey
Total junior software engineer jobs: 2,640 Average annual salary: $86,551 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
7. District of Columbia
Total junior software engineer jobs: 1,262 Average annual salary: $86,374 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.95
8. Maine
Total junior software engineer jobs: 400 Average annual salary: $79,314 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
9. Massachusetts
Total junior software engineer jobs: 4,581 Average annual salary: $78,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
10. New York
Total junior software engineer jobs: 4,444 Average annual salary: $84,330 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Junior software engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior software engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior software engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $88,392 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 687 |
| 2 | Washington | $88,623 | $65,000 | 7,405,743 | 6,562 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $92,573 | $70,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,182 |
| 4 | California | $90,134 | $66,000 | 39,536,653 | 19,159 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $77,939 | $59,000 | 1,059,639 | 583 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $86,551 | $65,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,640 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $86,374 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 1,262 |
| 8 | Maine | $79,314 | $60,000 | 1,335,907 | 400 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $78,597 | $59,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,581 |
| 10 | New York | $84,330 | $64,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,444 |
| 11 | Oregon | $77,432 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,189 |
| 12 | Virginia | $77,731 | $59,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,366 |
| 13 | Nevada | $79,588 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 545 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $75,899 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 582 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $77,019 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,208 |
| 16 | Arizona | $74,788 | $56,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,103 |
| 17 | Texas | $74,196 | $56,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,044 |
| 18 | Michigan | $72,302 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,388 |
| 19 | Maryland | $75,784 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,956 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $75,162 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 333 |
| 21 | Montana | $72,069 | $53,000 | 1,050,493 | 437 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $71,564 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,129 |
| 23 | Indiana | $70,644 | $54,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,978 |
| 24 | Idaho | $70,147 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 666 |
| 25 | Vermont | $69,972 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 412 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $71,302 | $54,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,225 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $71,208 | $54,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,314 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $71,671 | $55,000 | 3,930,864 | 510 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $72,884 | $55,000 | 5,024,369 | 686 |
| 30 | Illinois | $70,733 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,275 |
| 31 | Georgia | $70,197 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,262 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $69,770 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,064 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $68,303 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 745 |
| 34 | Colorado | $67,941 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,800 |
| 35 | Ohio | $68,183 | $52,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,368 |
| 36 | Alabama | $66,930 | $51,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,262 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $65,156 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 264 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $68,791 | $51,000 | 2,088,070 | 491 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $66,515 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 273 |
| 40 | Utah | $64,957 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,720 |
| 41 | Iowa | $66,931 | $51,000 | 3,145,711 | 945 |
| 42 | Florida | $67,772 | $50,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,593 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $66,594 | $51,000 | 4,454,189 | 824 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $65,493 | $50,000 | 1,920,076 | 601 |
| 45 | Kansas | $63,164 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 886 |
| 46 | Missouri | $65,770 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,423 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $65,018 | $50,000 | 2,984,100 | 333 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $65,191 | $49,000 | 4,684,333 | 650 |
| 49 | Alaska | $61,050 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 245 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $59,237 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 256 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $59,659 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 251 |
Highest paying states for junior software engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Software Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $88,392 |
| 2 | Washington | $88,623 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $92,573 |
| 4 | California | $90,134 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $77,939 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $86,551 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $86,374 |
| 8 | Maine | $79,314 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $78,597 |
| 10 | New York | $84,330 |
| 11 | Oregon | $77,432 |
| 12 | Virginia | $77,731 |
| 13 | Nevada | $79,588 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $75,899 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $77,019 |
| 16 | Arizona | $74,788 |
| 17 | Texas | $74,196 |
| 18 | Michigan | $72,302 |
| 19 | Maryland | $75,784 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $75,162 |
| 21 | Montana | $72,069 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $71,564 |
| 23 | Indiana | $70,644 |
| 24 | Idaho | $70,147 |
| 25 | Vermont | $69,972 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $71,302 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $71,208 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $71,671 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $72,884 |
| 30 | Illinois | $70,733 |
| 31 | Georgia | $70,197 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $69,770 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $68,303 |
| 34 | Colorado | $67,941 |
| 35 | Ohio | $68,183 |
| 36 | Alabama | $66,930 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $65,156 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $68,791 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $66,515 |
| 40 | Utah | $64,957 |
| 41 | Iowa | $66,931 |
| 42 | Florida | $67,772 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $66,594 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $65,493 |
| 45 | Kansas | $63,164 |
| 46 | Missouri | $65,770 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $65,018 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $65,191 |
| 49 | Alaska | $61,050 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $59,237 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $59,659 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior software engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior software engineers 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025