Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a principal design engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for principal design engineers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for principal design engineer jobs.We wanted to look at the best states for principal design engineers -- where there are plenty of principal design engineer jobs to go around and principal design engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
California is the best state for jobs for principal design engineers, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in California is $160,399, while the median pay in South Dakota is $87,995.California is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for principal design engineers.
10 best states for principal design engineers in 2025
1. California
Total principal design engineer jobs: 8,183 Average annual salary: $160,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
2. District of Columbia
Total principal design engineer jobs: 594 Average annual salary: $158,937 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
3. Texas
Total principal design engineer jobs: 4,048 Average annual salary: $143,335 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. Nevada
Total principal design engineer jobs: 360 Average annual salary: $148,510 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
5. Washington
Total principal design engineer jobs: 1,571 Average annual salary: $140,636 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
6. Idaho
Total principal design engineer jobs: 293 Average annual salary: $136,401 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
7. Virginia
Total principal design engineer jobs: 2,727 Average annual salary: $131,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
8. Arizona
Total principal design engineer jobs: 1,517 Average annual salary: $126,571 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
9. Alabama
Total principal design engineer jobs: 659 Average annual salary: $134,393 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
10. New Mexico
Total principal design engineer jobs: 317 Average annual salary: $132,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Principal design engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal design engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal design engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $160,399 | $116,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,183 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $158,937 | $120,000 | 693,972 | 594 |
| 3 | Texas | $143,335 | $105,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,048 |
| 4 | Nevada | $148,510 | $107,000 | 2,998,039 | 360 |
| 5 | Washington | $140,636 | $101,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,571 |
| 6 | Idaho | $136,401 | $98,000 | 1,716,943 | 293 |
| 7 | Virginia | $131,183 | $99,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,727 |
| 8 | Arizona | $126,571 | $91,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,517 |
| 9 | Alabama | $134,393 | $100,000 | 4,874,747 | 659 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $132,221 | $95,000 | 2,088,070 | 317 |
| 11 | Alaska | $136,333 | $107,000 | 739,795 | 102 |
| 12 | Oregon | $123,521 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,447 |
| 13 | Colorado | $125,039 | $91,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,461 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $129,686 | $99,000 | 1,059,639 | 145 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $118,960 | $92,000 | 1,342,795 | 407 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $147,092 | $114,000 | 1,427,538 | 102 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $128,767 | $95,000 | 3,930,864 | 225 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $123,220 | $95,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,725 |
| 19 | Maryland | $121,616 | $92,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,612 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $117,120 | $86,000 | 579,315 | 102 |
| 21 | Delaware | $119,435 | $90,000 | 961,939 | 224 |
| 22 | Michigan | $114,537 | $87,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,358 |
| 23 | Missouri | $122,759 | $91,000 | 6,113,532 | 685 |
| 24 | Georgia | $118,847 | $89,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,524 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $129,154 | $98,000 | 9,005,644 | 826 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $112,005 | $84,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,804 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $117,333 | $88,000 | 6,715,984 | 544 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $114,911 | $85,000 | 3,004,279 | 307 |
| 29 | Kansas | $113,635 | $84,000 | 2,913,123 | 427 |
| 30 | Maine | $116,046 | $92,000 | 1,335,907 | 151 |
| 31 | Florida | $112,898 | $84,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,534 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $114,477 | $85,000 | 2,984,100 | 141 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $115,769 | $85,000 | 4,684,333 | 226 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $110,133 | $84,000 | 3,588,184 | 621 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $104,773 | $79,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,422 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $104,256 | $79,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,070 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,286 | $81,000 | 755,393 | 127 |
| 38 | Illinois | $102,656 | $77,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,239 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $102,859 | $76,000 | 1,920,076 | 335 |
| 40 | Utah | $99,889 | $72,000 | 3,101,833 | 554 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $106,280 | $80,000 | 5,024,369 | 525 |
| 42 | Indiana | $103,042 | $77,000 | 6,666,818 | 849 |
| 43 | New York | $96,468 | $73,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,796 |
| 44 | Vermont | $101,326 | $79,000 | 623,657 | 115 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $102,963 | $77,000 | 4,454,189 | 385 |
| 46 | Ohio | $98,533 | $74,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,502 |
| 47 | Montana | $86,335 | $63,000 | 1,050,493 | 245 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $91,413 | $69,000 | 5,795,483 | 850 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $89,607 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 134 |
| 50 | Iowa | $90,000 | $67,000 | 3,145,711 | 361 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $87,995 | $65,000 | 869,666 | 107 |
Highest paying states for principal design engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Design Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $160,399 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $158,937 |
| 3 | Texas | $143,335 |
| 4 | Nevada | $148,510 |
| 5 | Washington | $140,636 |
| 6 | Idaho | $136,401 |
| 7 | Virginia | $131,183 |
| 8 | Arizona | $126,571 |
| 9 | Alabama | $134,393 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $132,221 |
| 11 | Alaska | $136,333 |
| 12 | Oregon | $123,521 |
| 13 | Colorado | $125,039 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $129,686 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $118,960 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $147,092 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $128,767 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $123,220 |
| 19 | Maryland | $121,616 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $117,120 |
| 21 | Delaware | $119,435 |
| 22 | Michigan | $114,537 |
| 23 | Missouri | $122,759 |
| 24 | Georgia | $118,847 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $129,154 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $112,005 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $117,333 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $114,911 |
| 29 | Kansas | $113,635 |
| 30 | Maine | $116,046 |
| 31 | Florida | $112,898 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $114,477 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $115,769 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $110,133 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $104,773 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $104,256 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,286 |
| 38 | Illinois | $102,656 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $102,859 |
| 40 | Utah | $99,889 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $106,280 |
| 42 | Indiana | $103,042 |
| 43 | New York | $96,468 |
| 44 | Vermont | $101,326 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $102,963 |
| 46 | Ohio | $98,533 |
| 47 | Montana | $86,335 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $91,413 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $89,607 |
| 50 | Iowa | $90,000 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $87,995 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal design engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal design 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.
Principal design engineer best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
Search for principal design engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025