Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a junior systems engineer
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a junior systems engineer at Peraton, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for junior systems engineers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research shows that Utah is the best state in the country for junior systems engineers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for junior systems engineers.If you are currently seeking employment as a junior systems engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for junior systems engineers in 2025
1. Utah
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 875 Average annual salary: $70,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
2. California
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 7,784 Average annual salary: $78,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
3. Alabama
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 980 Average annual salary: $70,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. Idaho
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 278 Average annual salary: $76,287 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
5. Washington
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 1,689 Average annual salary: $72,481 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. Massachusetts
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 2,096 Average annual salary: $71,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
7. Minnesota
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 943 Average annual salary: $74,713 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
8. West Virginia
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 194 Average annual salary: $73,937 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
9. Arizona
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 1,377 Average annual salary: $67,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
10. Michigan
Total junior systems engineer jobs: 1,190 Average annual salary: $69,470 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Junior systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a junior systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $70,520 | $47,000 | 3,101,833 | 875 |
| 2 | California | $78,685 | $50,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,784 |
| 3 | Alabama | $70,742 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 980 |
| 4 | Idaho | $76,287 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 278 |
| 5 | Washington | $72,481 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,689 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $71,493 | $53,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,096 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $74,713 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 943 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $73,937 | $51,000 | 1,815,857 | 194 |
| 9 | Arizona | $67,472 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,377 |
| 10 | Michigan | $69,470 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,190 |
| 11 | Oregon | $68,901 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 873 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $69,230 | $49,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,652 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $64,475 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 127 |
| 14 | Texas | $66,072 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,929 |
| 15 | Illinois | $67,462 | $47,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,828 |
| 16 | Delaware | $65,475 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 247 |
| 17 | New York | $69,152 | $49,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,108 |
| 18 | Nevada | $65,558 | $42,000 | 2,998,039 | 325 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $65,641 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 902 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $64,290 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 318 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $64,730 | $45,000 | 5,795,483 | 681 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $67,564 | $48,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,207 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $62,258 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,506 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $61,956 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 151 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $62,881 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 655 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,510 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,545 |
| 27 | Colorado | $60,414 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,939 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $60,884 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 218 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $60,210 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 412 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $61,287 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 663 |
| 31 | Virginia | $59,293 | $41,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,068 |
| 32 | Iowa | $61,472 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 448 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $62,296 | $43,000 | 5,024,369 | 556 |
| 34 | Vermont | $58,638 | $44,000 | 623,657 | 170 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $58,638 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 179 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $58,133 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 156 |
| 37 | Alaska | $53,675 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 182 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $59,908 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 363 |
| 39 | Ohio | $58,079 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,313 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $57,469 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 331 |
| 41 | Maryland | $55,168 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,439 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $58,075 | $40,000 | 2,984,100 | 268 |
| 43 | Kansas | $58,654 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 380 |
| 44 | Missouri | $59,820 | $41,000 | 6,113,532 | 692 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,479 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 386 |
| 46 | Florida | $54,836 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,222 |
| 47 | Montana | $55,900 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 173 |
| 48 | Maine | $53,676 | $41,000 | 1,335,907 | 176 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $53,700 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 347 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $56,459 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 304 |
| 51 | Indiana | $54,425 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 740 |
Highest paying states for junior systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Junior Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $70,520 |
| 2 | California | $78,685 |
| 3 | Alabama | $70,742 |
| 4 | Idaho | $76,287 |
| 5 | Washington | $72,481 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $71,493 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $74,713 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $73,937 |
| 9 | Arizona | $67,472 |
| 10 | Michigan | $69,470 |
| 11 | Oregon | $68,901 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $69,230 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $64,475 |
| 14 | Texas | $66,072 |
| 15 | Illinois | $67,462 |
| 16 | Delaware | $65,475 |
| 17 | New York | $69,152 |
| 18 | Nevada | $65,558 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $65,641 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $64,290 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $64,730 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $67,564 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $62,258 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $61,956 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $62,881 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,510 |
| 27 | Colorado | $60,414 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $60,884 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $60,210 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $61,287 |
| 31 | Virginia | $59,293 |
| 32 | Iowa | $61,472 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $62,296 |
| 34 | Vermont | $58,638 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $58,638 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $58,133 |
| 37 | Alaska | $53,675 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $59,908 |
| 39 | Ohio | $58,079 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $57,469 |
| 41 | Maryland | $55,168 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $58,075 |
| 43 | Kansas | $58,654 |
| 44 | Missouri | $59,820 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,479 |
| 46 | Florida | $54,836 |
| 47 | Montana | $55,900 |
| 48 | Maine | $53,676 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $53,700 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $56,459 |
| 51 | Indiana | $54,425 |
Expert opinions on the best states for junior systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior systems engineers to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
Junior systems engineer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for junior systems engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025