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Best states for a lead software tester
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 lead software testers in the United States. Lead software tester 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 lead software testers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for lead software tester jobs.
We figured that the best places for lead software tester jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for lead software testers, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for lead software tester jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for lead software testers in 2025
1. Washington
Total lead software tester jobs: 4,198 Average annual salary: $129,312 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 2.46
2. California
Total lead software tester jobs: 11,342 Average annual salary: $135,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
3. Oregon
Total lead software tester jobs: 1,251 Average annual salary: $113,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. Wyoming
Total lead software tester jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $102,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
5. Nevada
Total lead software tester jobs: 640 Average annual salary: $105,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
6. Rhode Island
Total lead software tester jobs: 541 Average annual salary: $101,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.91
7. Kentucky
Total lead software tester jobs: 837 Average annual salary: $105,117 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
8. Montana
Total lead software tester jobs: 344 Average annual salary: $101,445 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
9. New Hampshire
Total lead software tester jobs: 549 Average annual salary: $100,338 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
10. Utah
Total lead software tester jobs: 1,563 Average annual salary: $98,376 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 2.1
Lead software tester jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead software tester
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead software tester
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $129,312 | $94,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,198 |
| 2 | California | $135,025 | $96,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,342 |
| 3 | Oregon | $113,318 | $82,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,251 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $102,798 | $76,000 | 579,315 | 229 |
| 5 | Nevada | $105,258 | $75,000 | 2,998,039 | 640 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $101,381 | $79,000 | 1,059,639 | 541 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $105,117 | $81,000 | 4,454,189 | 837 |
| 8 | Montana | $101,445 | $75,000 | 1,050,493 | 344 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $100,338 | $79,000 | 1,342,795 | 549 |
| 10 | Utah | $98,376 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,563 |
| 11 | Alaska | $102,374 | $83,000 | 739,795 | 255 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $110,130 | $85,000 | 693,972 | 504 |
| 13 | Delaware | $103,126 | $80,000 | 961,939 | 314 |
| 14 | New York | $110,377 | $86,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,659 |
| 15 | Idaho | $99,210 | $71,000 | 1,716,943 | 469 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $97,125 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 276 |
| 17 | Michigan | $98,359 | $77,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,896 |
| 18 | Virginia | $101,001 | $78,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,879 |
| 19 | Maryland | $105,395 | $82,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,576 |
| 20 | Texas | $97,651 | $73,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,013 |
| 21 | Illinois | $100,364 | $78,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,018 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $101,696 | $80,000 | 1,427,538 | 228 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $101,306 | $79,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,562 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $93,897 | $74,000 | 755,393 | 208 |
| 25 | Iowa | $95,132 | $74,000 | 3,145,711 | 559 |
| 26 | Ohio | $92,915 | $72,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,662 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $99,265 | $77,000 | 3,588,184 | 571 |
| 28 | Maine | $96,124 | $77,000 | 1,335,907 | 166 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $91,997 | $70,000 | 1,920,076 | 495 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $88,848 | $67,000 | 3,004,279 | 694 |
| 31 | Indiana | $91,981 | $71,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,099 |
| 32 | Arizona | $93,345 | $68,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,296 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $92,655 | $73,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,535 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $88,408 | $68,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,325 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $91,538 | $71,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,001 |
| 36 | Kansas | $87,451 | $67,000 | 2,913,123 | 779 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $90,126 | $69,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,666 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $90,610 | $70,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,766 |
| 39 | Vermont | $85,255 | $68,000 | 623,657 | 236 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,777 | $68,000 | 4,684,333 | 340 |
| 41 | Colorado | $87,797 | $64,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,389 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $83,894 | $61,000 | 2,088,070 | 525 |
| 43 | Missouri | $85,891 | $66,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,383 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $88,695 | $69,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,078 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $83,605 | $64,000 | 1,815,857 | 233 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $85,512 | $65,000 | 2,984,100 | 201 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $85,101 | $65,000 | 5,024,369 | 443 |
| 48 | Alabama | $80,345 | $61,000 | 4,874,747 | 735 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $79,731 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 589 |
| 50 | Georgia | $83,573 | $64,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,525 |
| 51 | Florida | $80,856 | $60,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,008 |
Highest paying states for lead software testers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Software Tester Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $129,312 |
| 2 | California | $135,025 |
| 3 | Oregon | $113,318 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $102,798 |
| 5 | Nevada | $105,258 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $101,381 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $105,117 |
| 8 | Montana | $101,445 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $100,338 |
| 10 | Utah | $98,376 |
| 11 | Alaska | $102,374 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $110,130 |
| 13 | Delaware | $103,126 |
| 14 | New York | $110,377 |
| 15 | Idaho | $99,210 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $97,125 |
| 17 | Michigan | $98,359 |
| 18 | Virginia | $101,001 |
| 19 | Maryland | $105,395 |
| 20 | Texas | $97,651 |
| 21 | Illinois | $100,364 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $101,696 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $101,306 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $93,897 |
| 25 | Iowa | $95,132 |
| 26 | Ohio | $92,915 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $99,265 |
| 28 | Maine | $96,124 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $91,997 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $88,848 |
| 31 | Indiana | $91,981 |
| 32 | Arizona | $93,345 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $92,655 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $88,408 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $91,538 |
| 36 | Kansas | $87,451 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $90,126 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $90,610 |
| 39 | Vermont | $85,255 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,777 |
| 41 | Colorado | $87,797 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $83,894 |
| 43 | Missouri | $85,891 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $88,695 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $83,605 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $85,512 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $85,101 |
| 48 | Alabama | $80,345 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $79,731 |
| 50 | Georgia | $83,573 |
| 51 | Florida | $80,856 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead software testers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead software testers 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 tester best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025