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Best states for a lead systems engineer
Quoted expert
Vince Bowen
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a lead systems engineer and really want to work at Lockheed Martin? Turns out, your chances to become a lead systems engineer are better in some states than others.Our research found that California is the best state for lead systems engineers, while California and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $149,924 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for lead systems engineers.
In order to get you the best states for lead systems engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for lead systems engineers, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for lead systems engineer jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for lead systems engineers in 2026
1. California
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 8,621 Average annual salary: $149,924 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
2. Nevada
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 658 Average annual salary: $126,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
3. Washington
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 1,761 Average annual salary: $144,336 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. Idaho
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 501 Average annual salary: $127,270 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
5. Alaska
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 270 Average annual salary: $126,125 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
6. Oregon
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 1,065 Average annual salary: $135,850 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. South Dakota
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 269 Average annual salary: $123,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Connecticut
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 630 Average annual salary: $126,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
9. Utah
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 812 Average annual salary: $113,038 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Texas
Total lead systems engineer jobs: 4,590 Average annual salary: $112,910 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Lead systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $149,924 | $109,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,621 |
| 2 | Nevada | $126,916 | $92,000 | 2,998,039 | 658 |
| 3 | Washington | $144,336 | $105,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,761 |
| 4 | Idaho | $127,270 | $93,000 | 1,716,943 | 501 |
| 5 | Alaska | $126,125 | $102,000 | 739,795 | 270 |
| 6 | Oregon | $135,850 | $98,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,065 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $123,256 | $94,000 | 869,666 | 269 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $126,466 | $96,000 | 3,588,184 | 630 |
| 9 | Utah | $113,038 | $83,000 | 3,101,833 | 812 |
| 10 | Texas | $112,910 | $85,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,590 |
| 11 | Arizona | $113,110 | $83,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,464 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $111,067 | $84,000 | 3,930,864 | 684 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $112,916 | $86,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,822 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $115,186 | $88,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,114 |
| 15 | Maryland | $115,600 | $87,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,369 |
| 16 | Michigan | $107,283 | $82,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,396 |
| 17 | Delaware | $116,345 | $88,000 | 961,939 | 223 |
| 18 | Virginia | $110,779 | $84,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,897 |
| 19 | Alabama | $110,011 | $84,000 | 4,874,747 | 838 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $132,814 | $104,000 | 1,427,538 | 148 |
| 21 | Maine | $113,534 | $87,000 | 1,335,907 | 189 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $110,485 | $85,000 | 1,342,795 | 356 |
| 23 | Montana | $107,820 | $80,000 | 1,050,493 | 338 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $105,532 | $79,000 | 2,088,070 | 652 |
| 25 | Kansas | $105,929 | $80,000 | 2,913,123 | 749 |
| 26 | Florida | $110,440 | $84,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,093 |
| 27 | Georgia | $110,896 | $84,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,663 |
| 28 | New York | $113,591 | $86,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,555 |
| 29 | Ohio | $107,346 | $81,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,616 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $107,714 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,965 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $112,665 | $85,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,485 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $106,479 | $81,000 | 1,059,639 | 276 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $102,822 | $78,000 | 1,920,076 | 608 |
| 34 | Colorado | $103,605 | $78,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,902 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $102,258 | $79,000 | 755,393 | 178 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $101,231 | $76,000 | 693,972 | 733 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $102,704 | $79,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,280 |
| 38 | Illinois | $104,190 | $79,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,166 |
| 39 | Iowa | $101,917 | $78,000 | 3,145,711 | 479 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $99,163 | $75,000 | 1,815,857 | 221 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $96,053 | $73,000 | 3,004,279 | 587 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $102,177 | $77,000 | 4,684,333 | 352 |
| 43 | Vermont | $98,785 | $76,000 | 623,657 | 169 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $101,197 | $77,000 | 5,024,369 | 601 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $96,355 | $72,000 | 579,315 | 122 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $100,000 | $77,000 | 5,795,483 | 773 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $99,655 | $76,000 | 4,454,189 | 407 |
| 48 | Indiana | $96,623 | $74,000 | 6,666,818 | 935 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $96,677 | $73,000 | 6,715,984 | 733 |
| 50 | Missouri | $98,226 | $74,000 | 6,113,532 | 927 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $93,628 | $71,000 | 2,984,100 | 284 |
Highest paying states for lead systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $149,924 |
| 2 | Nevada | $126,916 |
| 3 | Washington | $144,336 |
| 4 | Idaho | $127,270 |
| 5 | Alaska | $126,125 |
| 6 | Oregon | $135,850 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $123,256 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $126,466 |
| 9 | Utah | $113,038 |
| 10 | Texas | $112,910 |
| 11 | Arizona | $113,110 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $111,067 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $112,916 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $115,186 |
| 15 | Maryland | $115,600 |
| 16 | Michigan | $107,283 |
| 17 | Delaware | $116,345 |
| 18 | Virginia | $110,779 |
| 19 | Alabama | $110,011 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $132,814 |
| 21 | Maine | $113,534 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $110,485 |
| 23 | Montana | $107,820 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $105,532 |
| 25 | Kansas | $105,929 |
| 26 | Florida | $110,440 |
| 27 | Georgia | $110,896 |
| 28 | New York | $113,591 |
| 29 | Ohio | $107,346 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $107,714 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $112,665 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $106,479 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $102,822 |
| 34 | Colorado | $103,605 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $102,258 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $101,231 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $102,704 |
| 38 | Illinois | $104,190 |
| 39 | Iowa | $101,917 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $99,163 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $96,053 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $102,177 |
| 43 | Vermont | $98,785 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $101,197 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $96,355 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $100,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $99,655 |
| 48 | Indiana | $96,623 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $96,677 |
| 50 | Missouri | $98,226 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $93,628 |
Expert opinions on the best states for lead systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for lead systems engineers to find work opportunities?
Vince Bowen
Executive Director, Department Chair Energy Systems Technology & Education Center (ESTEC), Idaho State University
Any large city will have several openings. Beyond that, these people can work anywhere in the world.
Lead systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025