Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a lead engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to lead engineer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Hawaii is the best state for lead engineers in America. The best city in America for lead engineers with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
Hawaii is the best state for jobs for lead engineers, and Wisconsin is the worst. The most common pay in Hawaii is $120,725, while the median pay in Wisconsin is $71,310.We found that Hawaii is the best state for lead engineer jobs, whereas Wisconsin is the worst.
10 best states for lead engineers in 2026
1. Hawaii
Total lead engineer jobs: 231 Average annual salary: $120,725 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
2. Utah
Total lead engineer jobs: 1,504 Average annual salary: $89,046 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
3. California
Total lead engineer jobs: 13,405 Average annual salary: $102,811 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
4. Alaska
Total lead engineer jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $95,983 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. District of Columbia
Total lead engineer jobs: 708 Average annual salary: $103,040 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
6. Maryland
Total lead engineer jobs: 1,757 Average annual salary: $100,145 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. New Hampshire
Total lead engineer jobs: 580 Average annual salary: $86,487 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
8. New Mexico
Total lead engineer jobs: 469 Average annual salary: $88,195 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
9. Massachusetts
Total lead engineer jobs: 2,724 Average annual salary: $91,238 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
10. Wyoming
Total lead engineer jobs: 206 Average annual salary: $82,364 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
Lead engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $120,725 | $90,000 | 1,427,538 | 231 |
| 2 | Utah | $89,046 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,504 |
| 3 | California | $102,811 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,405 |
| 4 | Alaska | $95,983 | $68,000 | 739,795 | 216 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $103,040 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 708 |
| 6 | Maryland | $100,145 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,757 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $86,487 | $64,000 | 1,342,795 | 580 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $88,195 | $62,000 | 2,088,070 | 469 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $91,238 | $67,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,724 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $82,364 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 206 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $91,347 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 190 |
| 12 | Idaho | $84,879 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 483 |
| 13 | Washington | $88,233 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,172 |
| 14 | Virginia | $87,073 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,029 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $82,117 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 480 |
| 16 | Texas | $84,096 | $60,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,352 |
| 17 | Colorado | $85,458 | $61,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,903 |
| 18 | Maine | $86,731 | $64,000 | 1,335,907 | 198 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $89,304 | $65,000 | 3,588,184 | 648 |
| 20 | Oregon | $86,236 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,336 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $80,809 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,235 |
| 22 | Alabama | $81,152 | $59,000 | 4,874,747 | 880 |
| 23 | Arizona | $81,469 | $56,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,648 |
| 24 | Michigan | $80,368 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,048 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $81,658 | $60,000 | 755,393 | 154 |
| 26 | Vermont | $81,431 | $60,000 | 623,657 | 214 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $83,997 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 330 |
| 28 | Georgia | $83,706 | $61,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,681 |
| 29 | Indiana | $81,214 | $60,000 | 6,666,818 | 914 |
| 30 | Nevada | $78,927 | $53,000 | 2,998,039 | 569 |
| 31 | Illinois | $81,669 | $60,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,134 |
| 32 | New York | $81,536 | $60,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,734 |
| 33 | Delaware | $80,202 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 327 |
| 34 | Iowa | $80,568 | $59,000 | 3,145,711 | 387 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $79,705 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,824 |
| 36 | Montana | $76,701 | $54,000 | 1,050,493 | 327 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $79,374 | $58,000 | 2,984,100 | 191 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $80,919 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,450 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $77,445 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,875 |
| 40 | Ohio | $76,894 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,366 |
| 41 | Missouri | $76,453 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,287 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $76,300 | $55,000 | 3,930,864 | 557 |
| 43 | Kansas | $74,740 | $54,000 | 2,913,123 | 631 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $72,990 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 229 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $73,621 | $54,000 | 1,920,076 | 503 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $74,400 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,264 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $74,710 | $55,000 | 5,024,369 | 494 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $70,529 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 740 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $65,689 | $48,000 | 3,004,279 | 621 |
| 50 | Florida | $74,428 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,343 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $71,310 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 823 |
Highest paying states for lead engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $120,725 |
| 2 | Utah | $89,046 |
| 3 | California | $102,811 |
| 4 | Alaska | $95,983 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $103,040 |
| 6 | Maryland | $100,145 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $86,487 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $88,195 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $91,238 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $82,364 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $91,347 |
| 12 | Idaho | $84,879 |
| 13 | Washington | $88,233 |
| 14 | Virginia | $87,073 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $82,117 |
| 16 | Texas | $84,096 |
| 17 | Colorado | $85,458 |
| 18 | Maine | $86,731 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $89,304 |
| 20 | Oregon | $86,236 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $80,809 |
| 22 | Alabama | $81,152 |
| 23 | Arizona | $81,469 |
| 24 | Michigan | $80,368 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $81,658 |
| 26 | Vermont | $81,431 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $83,997 |
| 28 | Georgia | $83,706 |
| 29 | Indiana | $81,214 |
| 30 | Nevada | $78,927 |
| 31 | Illinois | $81,669 |
| 32 | New York | $81,536 |
| 33 | Delaware | $80,202 |
| 34 | Iowa | $80,568 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $79,705 |
| 36 | Montana | $76,701 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $79,374 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $80,919 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $77,445 |
| 40 | Ohio | $76,894 |
| 41 | Missouri | $76,453 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $76,300 |
| 43 | Kansas | $74,740 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $72,990 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $73,621 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $74,400 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $74,710 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $70,529 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $65,689 |
| 50 | Florida | $74,428 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $71,310 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Lead engineer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for lead engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025