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Best states for a principal engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
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It seems like principal engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for principal engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that California is the best state for principal engineers, while California and Washington are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $150,913 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for principal engineers.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for principal engineers. California is the best state for principal engineers, where the median salary is $150,913.California is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for principal engineers.
10 best states for principal engineers in 2025
1. California
Total principal engineer jobs: 11,804 Average annual salary: $150,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
2. Washington
Total principal engineer jobs: 2,900 Average annual salary: $134,651 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
3. Arizona
Total principal engineer jobs: 1,790 Average annual salary: $128,540 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
4. Massachusetts
Total principal engineer jobs: 2,944 Average annual salary: $130,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
5. District of Columbia
Total principal engineer jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $138,193 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
6. Oregon
Total principal engineer jobs: 1,327 Average annual salary: $127,305 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
7. New Mexico
Total principal engineer jobs: 337 Average annual salary: $130,312 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
8. Idaho
Total principal engineer jobs: 395 Average annual salary: $122,609 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. New Hampshire
Total principal engineer jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $122,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. Texas
Total principal engineer jobs: 4,059 Average annual salary: $124,463 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
Principal engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $150,913 | $107,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,804 |
| 2 | Washington | $134,651 | $94,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,900 |
| 3 | Arizona | $128,540 | $91,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,790 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $130,183 | $96,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,944 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $138,193 | $100,000 | 693,972 | 553 |
| 6 | Oregon | $127,305 | $88,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,327 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $130,312 | $92,000 | 2,088,070 | 337 |
| 8 | Idaho | $122,609 | $85,000 | 1,716,943 | 395 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $122,845 | $90,000 | 1,342,795 | 396 |
| 10 | Texas | $124,463 | $88,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,059 |
| 11 | Nevada | $127,752 | $89,000 | 2,998,039 | 334 |
| 12 | Delaware | $123,881 | $90,000 | 961,939 | 267 |
| 13 | Maryland | $125,595 | $91,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,908 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $129,188 | $92,000 | 4,684,333 | 279 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $120,745 | $88,000 | 1,059,639 | 224 |
| 16 | Maine | $123,349 | $91,000 | 1,335,907 | 154 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $120,957 | $88,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,689 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $120,110 | $86,000 | 1,815,857 | 163 |
| 19 | Virginia | $116,745 | $84,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,063 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $117,063 | $85,000 | 3,588,184 | 750 |
| 21 | Michigan | $111,581 | $81,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,408 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $111,182 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,079 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $113,844 | $82,000 | 6,715,984 | 543 |
| 24 | Florida | $111,430 | $80,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,175 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $124,765 | $96,000 | 1,427,538 | 133 |
| 26 | Utah | $104,292 | $72,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,051 |
| 27 | Colorado | $109,170 | $77,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,915 |
| 28 | Illinois | $108,620 | $78,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,704 |
| 29 | Georgia | $110,040 | $79,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,763 |
| 30 | Alaska | $114,852 | $89,000 | 739,795 | 110 |
| 31 | Vermont | $106,444 | $78,000 | 623,657 | 229 |
| 32 | New York | $110,793 | $81,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,620 |
| 33 | Alabama | $101,770 | $73,000 | 4,874,747 | 818 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $107,252 | $78,000 | 5,024,369 | 507 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $104,531 | $77,000 | 755,393 | 107 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $102,027 | $75,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,554 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $105,618 | $76,000 | 869,666 | 93 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $101,052 | $73,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,863 |
| 39 | Ohio | $100,660 | $72,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,464 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $104,537 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 236 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $100,470 | $72,000 | 4,454,189 | 489 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $98,660 | $70,000 | 3,004,279 | 390 |
| 43 | Montana | $95,860 | $68,000 | 1,050,493 | 266 |
| 44 | Missouri | $101,208 | $72,000 | 6,113,532 | 812 |
| 45 | Indiana | $97,362 | $70,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,044 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $99,062 | $71,000 | 1,920,076 | 336 |
| 47 | Kansas | $95,451 | $68,000 | 2,913,123 | 532 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $92,196 | $67,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,038 |
| 49 | Iowa | $95,934 | $69,000 | 3,145,711 | 451 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $90,004 | $64,000 | 579,315 | 112 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $95,152 | $68,000 | 2,984,100 | 143 |
Highest paying states for principal engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $150,913 |
| 2 | Washington | $134,651 |
| 3 | Arizona | $128,540 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $130,183 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $138,193 |
| 6 | Oregon | $127,305 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $130,312 |
| 8 | Idaho | $122,609 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $122,845 |
| 10 | Texas | $124,463 |
| 11 | Nevada | $127,752 |
| 12 | Delaware | $123,881 |
| 13 | Maryland | $125,595 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $129,188 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $120,745 |
| 16 | Maine | $123,349 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $120,957 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $120,110 |
| 19 | Virginia | $116,745 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $117,063 |
| 21 | Michigan | $111,581 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $111,182 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $113,844 |
| 24 | Florida | $111,430 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $124,765 |
| 26 | Utah | $104,292 |
| 27 | Colorado | $109,170 |
| 28 | Illinois | $108,620 |
| 29 | Georgia | $110,040 |
| 30 | Alaska | $114,852 |
| 31 | Vermont | $106,444 |
| 32 | New York | $110,793 |
| 33 | Alabama | $101,770 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $107,252 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $104,531 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $102,027 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $105,618 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $101,052 |
| 39 | Ohio | $100,660 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $104,537 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $100,470 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $98,660 |
| 43 | Montana | $95,860 |
| 44 | Missouri | $101,208 |
| 45 | Indiana | $97,362 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $99,062 |
| 47 | Kansas | $95,451 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $92,196 |
| 49 | Iowa | $95,934 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $90,004 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $95,152 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025