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Best states for a networking/software engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for networking/software engineers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for networking/software engineer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant networking/software engineer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Washington is the best state in the country for networking/software engineer jobs.
Washington is the best state for jobs for networking/software engineers, and Nebraska is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $143,205, while the median pay in Nebraska is $86,150.Washington is the best state, and Longview is the city with the highest pay for networking/software engineers.
10 best states for networking/software engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 5,388 Average annual salary: $143,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 2.51
2. Utah
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 1,181 Average annual salary: $121,110 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
3. California
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 14,661 Average annual salary: $130,232 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
4. Idaho
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $137,247 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
5. Oregon
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 1,848 Average annual salary: $119,447 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
6. New Jersey
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 2,090 Average annual salary: $121,721 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
7. Minnesota
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 1,687 Average annual salary: $118,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
8. Alabama
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 1,049 Average annual salary: $116,081 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
9. Wyoming
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 159 Average annual salary: $107,753 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
10. Arizona
Total networking/software engineer jobs: 1,502 Average annual salary: $112,702 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Networking/software engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a networking/software engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a networking/software engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $143,205 | $106,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,388 |
| 2 | Utah | $121,110 | $90,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,181 |
| 3 | California | $130,232 | $96,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,661 |
| 4 | Idaho | $137,247 | $101,000 | 1,716,943 | 396 |
| 5 | Oregon | $119,447 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,848 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $121,721 | $93,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,090 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $118,982 | $92,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,687 |
| 8 | Alabama | $116,081 | $88,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,049 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $107,753 | $81,000 | 579,315 | 159 |
| 10 | Arizona | $112,702 | $84,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,502 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $117,317 | $90,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,435 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $118,973 | $91,000 | 1,815,857 | 255 |
| 13 | Nevada | $115,308 | $85,000 | 2,998,039 | 427 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $108,051 | $83,000 | 1,342,795 | 461 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $107,668 | $82,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,472 |
| 16 | Delaware | $107,971 | $83,000 | 961,939 | 441 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $106,479 | $79,000 | 2,088,070 | 513 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $101,821 | $78,000 | 1,059,639 | 458 |
| 19 | Texas | $102,255 | $76,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,300 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $103,695 | $80,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,424 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $103,358 | $79,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,124 |
| 22 | Maryland | $101,836 | $78,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,062 |
| 23 | Georgia | $102,365 | $78,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,208 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $108,636 | $84,000 | 1,427,538 | 208 |
| 25 | New York | $101,782 | $78,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,615 |
| 26 | Illinois | $101,282 | $78,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,816 |
| 27 | Vermont | $98,623 | $76,000 | 623,657 | 250 |
| 28 | Alaska | $103,250 | $84,000 | 739,795 | 173 |
| 29 | Colorado | $96,482 | $73,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,379 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $100,974 | $77,000 | 5,024,369 | 690 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $99,018 | $75,000 | 6,715,984 | 900 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $99,623 | $76,000 | 869,666 | 163 |
| 33 | Montana | $97,043 | $73,000 | 1,050,493 | 291 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $95,839 | $73,000 | 693,972 | 948 |
| 35 | Iowa | $97,621 | $75,000 | 3,145,711 | 602 |
| 36 | Missouri | $95,825 | $73,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,295 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $95,869 | $73,000 | 4,454,189 | 615 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $94,037 | $71,000 | 3,004,279 | 620 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $96,690 | $73,000 | 2,984,100 | 282 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $97,652 | $73,000 | 4,684,333 | 481 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $95,275 | $73,000 | 3,588,184 | 743 |
| 42 | Virginia | $90,272 | $69,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,317 |
| 43 | Kansas | $94,803 | $72,000 | 2,913,123 | 534 |
| 44 | Ohio | $93,088 | $71,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,976 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $93,366 | $72,000 | 755,393 | 185 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $95,080 | $72,000 | 3,930,864 | 444 |
| 47 | Michigan | $88,428 | $68,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,622 |
| 48 | Florida | $92,310 | $68,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,179 |
| 49 | Indiana | $86,569 | $66,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,435 |
| 50 | Maine | $91,765 | $71,000 | 1,335,907 | 238 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $86,150 | $66,000 | 1,920,076 | 466 |
Highest paying states for networking/software engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Networking/Software Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $143,205 |
| 2 | Utah | $121,110 |
| 3 | California | $130,232 |
| 4 | Idaho | $137,247 |
| 5 | Oregon | $119,447 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $121,721 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $118,982 |
| 8 | Alabama | $116,081 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $107,753 |
| 10 | Arizona | $112,702 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $117,317 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $118,973 |
| 13 | Nevada | $115,308 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $108,051 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $107,668 |
| 16 | Delaware | $107,971 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $106,479 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $101,821 |
| 19 | Texas | $102,255 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $103,695 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $103,358 |
| 22 | Maryland | $101,836 |
| 23 | Georgia | $102,365 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $108,636 |
| 25 | New York | $101,782 |
| 26 | Illinois | $101,282 |
| 27 | Vermont | $98,623 |
| 28 | Alaska | $103,250 |
| 29 | Colorado | $96,482 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $100,974 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $99,018 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $99,623 |
| 33 | Montana | $97,043 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $95,839 |
| 35 | Iowa | $97,621 |
| 36 | Missouri | $95,825 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $95,869 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $94,037 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $96,690 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $97,652 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $95,275 |
| 42 | Virginia | $90,272 |
| 43 | Kansas | $94,803 |
| 44 | Ohio | $93,088 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $93,366 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $95,080 |
| 47 | Michigan | $88,428 |
| 48 | Florida | $92,310 |
| 49 | Indiana | $86,569 |
| 50 | Maine | $91,765 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $86,150 |
Expert opinions on the best states for networking/software engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for networking/software engineers 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.
Networking/software engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025