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Best states for a lead software developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- 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 software developer 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. As lead software developers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for lead software developers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a lead software developer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Washington is the best state for jobs for lead software developers, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $130,395, while the median pay in Mississippi is $90,676.Washington is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for lead software developers.
10 best states for lead software developers in 2025
1. Washington
Total lead software developer jobs: 4,168 Average annual salary: $130,395 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
2. New Hampshire
Total lead software developer jobs: 655 Average annual salary: $125,140 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. California
Total lead software developer jobs: 13,741 Average annual salary: $132,618 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
4. Pennsylvania
Total lead software developer jobs: 4,239 Average annual salary: $113,076 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
5. Nevada
Total lead software developer jobs: 738 Average annual salary: $116,021 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
6. Massachusetts
Total lead software developer jobs: 2,891 Average annual salary: $121,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1
7. Oregon
Total lead software developer jobs: 1,604 Average annual salary: $116,473 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
8. Virginia
Total lead software developer jobs: 3,890 Average annual salary: $115,690 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
9. New York
Total lead software developer jobs: 3,710 Average annual salary: $121,995 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
10. Utah
Total lead software developer jobs: 1,699 Average annual salary: $107,020 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
Lead software developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead software developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead software developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $130,395 | $94,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,168 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $125,140 | $95,000 | 1,342,795 | 655 |
| 3 | California | $132,618 | $96,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,741 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $113,076 | $86,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,239 |
| 5 | Nevada | $116,021 | $84,000 | 2,998,039 | 738 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $121,318 | $92,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,891 |
| 7 | Oregon | $116,473 | $83,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,604 |
| 8 | Virginia | $115,690 | $88,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,890 |
| 9 | New York | $121,995 | $92,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,710 |
| 10 | Utah | $107,020 | $79,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,699 |
| 11 | Michigan | $110,125 | $84,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,320 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $117,913 | $89,000 | 693,972 | 921 |
| 13 | Maryland | $118,811 | $90,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,210 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $107,130 | $81,000 | 1,059,639 | 596 |
| 15 | Ohio | $106,337 | $81,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,430 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $111,391 | $85,000 | 1,815,857 | 310 |
| 17 | Indiana | $110,680 | $85,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,555 |
| 18 | Alaska | $111,769 | $85,000 | 739,795 | 256 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $116,191 | $88,000 | 3,588,184 | 832 |
| 20 | Texas | $108,647 | $82,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,746 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $105,182 | $80,000 | 3,004,279 | 846 |
| 22 | Delaware | $108,302 | $82,000 | 961,939 | 461 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $111,769 | $85,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,172 |
| 24 | Arizona | $108,177 | $81,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,466 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $107,134 | $82,000 | 4,454,189 | 677 |
| 26 | Illinois | $109,162 | $84,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,133 |
| 27 | Maine | $105,137 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 336 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $106,077 | $82,000 | 5,024,369 | 616 |
| 29 | Montana | $101,608 | $77,000 | 1,050,493 | 428 |
| 30 | Georgia | $105,450 | $81,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,701 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $102,827 | $79,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,297 |
| 32 | Kansas | $100,538 | $76,000 | 2,913,123 | 911 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $104,266 | $80,000 | 4,684,333 | 497 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $97,057 | $74,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,622 |
| 35 | Vermont | $97,919 | $74,000 | 623,657 | 290 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $100,125 | $77,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,432 |
| 37 | Colorado | $100,194 | $75,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,972 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $97,057 | $73,000 | 579,315 | 180 |
| 39 | Iowa | $99,927 | $76,000 | 3,145,711 | 733 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $102,126 | $79,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,478 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $94,868 | $75,000 | 1,427,538 | 341 |
| 42 | Alabama | $98,897 | $76,000 | 4,874,747 | 886 |
| 43 | Idaho | $92,343 | $68,000 | 1,716,943 | 669 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $95,651 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 628 |
| 45 | Missouri | $96,482 | $74,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,750 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $97,025 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 697 |
| 47 | Florida | $99,227 | $76,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,320 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $95,016 | $73,000 | 755,393 | 252 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $95,124 | $72,000 | 1,920,076 | 646 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $89,044 | $68,000 | 869,666 | 332 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $90,676 | $69,000 | 2,984,100 | 239 |
Highest paying states for lead software developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Software Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $130,395 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $125,140 |
| 3 | California | $132,618 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $113,076 |
| 5 | Nevada | $116,021 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $121,318 |
| 7 | Oregon | $116,473 |
| 8 | Virginia | $115,690 |
| 9 | New York | $121,995 |
| 10 | Utah | $107,020 |
| 11 | Michigan | $110,125 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $117,913 |
| 13 | Maryland | $118,811 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $107,130 |
| 15 | Ohio | $106,337 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $111,391 |
| 17 | Indiana | $110,680 |
| 18 | Alaska | $111,769 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $116,191 |
| 20 | Texas | $108,647 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $105,182 |
| 22 | Delaware | $108,302 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $111,769 |
| 24 | Arizona | $108,177 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $107,134 |
| 26 | Illinois | $109,162 |
| 27 | Maine | $105,137 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $106,077 |
| 29 | Montana | $101,608 |
| 30 | Georgia | $105,450 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $102,827 |
| 32 | Kansas | $100,538 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $104,266 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $97,057 |
| 35 | Vermont | $97,919 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $100,125 |
| 37 | Colorado | $100,194 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $97,057 |
| 39 | Iowa | $99,927 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $102,126 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $94,868 |
| 42 | Alabama | $98,897 |
| 43 | Idaho | $92,343 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $95,651 |
| 45 | Missouri | $96,482 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $97,025 |
| 47 | Florida | $99,227 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $95,016 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $95,124 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $89,044 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $90,676 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead software developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead 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.
Lead software developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025