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Best states for a network security engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to network security engineer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for network security engineers.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 network security engineer jobs.
The median salary for network security engineers in Washington is $94,431. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $67,054, which ranked worst for network security engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Washington is the best state for network security engineer jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for network security engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total network security engineer jobs: 1,588 Average annual salary: $94,431 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
2. West Virginia
Total network security engineer jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $96,569 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
3. Arizona
Total network security engineer jobs: 1,100 Average annual salary: $87,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
4. New Jersey
Total network security engineer jobs: 1,540 Average annual salary: $90,432 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
5. New York
Total network security engineer jobs: 2,708 Average annual salary: $90,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
6. Pennsylvania
Total network security engineer jobs: 2,179 Average annual salary: $86,217 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
7. Maryland
Total network security engineer jobs: 1,287 Average annual salary: $91,665 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. California
Total network security engineer jobs: 3,730 Average annual salary: $109,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
9. Oregon
Total network security engineer jobs: 795 Average annual salary: $87,495 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
10. District of Columbia
Total network security engineer jobs: 564 Average annual salary: $91,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 2.1
Network security engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a network security engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a network security engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $94,431 | $67,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,588 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $96,569 | $71,000 | 1,815,857 | 210 |
| 3 | Arizona | $87,538 | $63,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,100 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $90,432 | $66,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,540 |
| 5 | New York | $90,150 | $66,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,708 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $86,217 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,179 |
| 7 | Maryland | $91,665 | $67,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,287 |
| 8 | California | $109,438 | $77,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,730 |
| 9 | Oregon | $87,495 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 795 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $91,107 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 564 |
| 11 | Texas | $83,819 | $61,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,629 |
| 12 | Utah | $89,276 | $63,000 | 3,101,833 | 406 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $89,649 | $66,000 | 869,666 | 136 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $80,952 | $60,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,832 |
| 15 | Nevada | $82,433 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 365 |
| 16 | Illinois | $82,302 | $61,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,330 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $84,134 | $62,000 | 4,684,333 | 423 |
| 18 | Ohio | $79,616 | $58,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,624 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $81,130 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 281 |
| 20 | Virginia | $80,703 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,395 |
| 21 | Delaware | $80,576 | $59,000 | 961,939 | 256 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $78,357 | $57,000 | 1,059,639 | 241 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $87,054 | $64,000 | 6,859,819 | 866 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $78,226 | $57,000 | 2,088,070 | 295 |
| 25 | Indiana | $77,228 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 942 |
| 26 | Alabama | $75,095 | $56,000 | 4,874,747 | 776 |
| 27 | Missouri | $77,844 | $58,000 | 6,113,532 | 862 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $79,311 | $58,000 | 3,588,184 | 547 |
| 29 | Alaska | $81,241 | $64,000 | 739,795 | 112 |
| 30 | Michigan | $76,706 | $56,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,022 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $76,843 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,236 |
| 32 | Georgia | $75,543 | $57,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,666 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $74,592 | $56,000 | 6,715,984 | 770 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $76,074 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 593 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $81,226 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 115 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $75,039 | $56,000 | 3,930,864 | 403 |
| 37 | Colorado | $76,743 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 876 |
| 38 | Kansas | $76,172 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 357 |
| 39 | Montana | $75,009 | $54,000 | 1,050,493 | 162 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $74,683 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 116 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $73,504 | $54,000 | 1,920,076 | 351 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $73,440 | $54,000 | 5,795,483 | 743 |
| 43 | Iowa | $73,208 | $54,000 | 3,145,711 | 492 |
| 44 | Vermont | $71,293 | $52,000 | 623,657 | 158 |
| 45 | Idaho | $72,659 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 209 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $72,112 | $53,000 | 4,454,189 | 465 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $67,854 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 95 |
| 48 | Maine | $72,555 | $54,000 | 1,335,907 | 162 |
| 49 | Florida | $74,189 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,249 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $68,942 | $51,000 | 2,984,100 | 99 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $67,054 | $50,000 | 3,004,279 | 315 |
Highest paying states for network security engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Network Security Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $94,431 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $96,569 |
| 3 | Arizona | $87,538 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $90,432 |
| 5 | New York | $90,150 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $86,217 |
| 7 | Maryland | $91,665 |
| 8 | California | $109,438 |
| 9 | Oregon | $87,495 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $91,107 |
| 11 | Texas | $83,819 |
| 12 | Utah | $89,276 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $89,649 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $80,952 |
| 15 | Nevada | $82,433 |
| 16 | Illinois | $82,302 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $84,134 |
| 18 | Ohio | $79,616 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $81,130 |
| 20 | Virginia | $80,703 |
| 21 | Delaware | $80,576 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $78,357 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $87,054 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $78,226 |
| 25 | Indiana | $77,228 |
| 26 | Alabama | $75,095 |
| 27 | Missouri | $77,844 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $79,311 |
| 29 | Alaska | $81,241 |
| 30 | Michigan | $76,706 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $76,843 |
| 32 | Georgia | $75,543 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $74,592 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $76,074 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $81,226 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $75,039 |
| 37 | Colorado | $76,743 |
| 38 | Kansas | $76,172 |
| 39 | Montana | $75,009 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $74,683 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $73,504 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $73,440 |
| 43 | Iowa | $73,208 |
| 44 | Vermont | $71,293 |
| 45 | Idaho | $72,659 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $72,112 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $67,854 |
| 48 | Maine | $72,555 |
| 49 | Florida | $74,189 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $68,942 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $67,054 |
Expert opinions on the best states for network security engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for network security 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.
Network security engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025