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Best states for a principal firmware engineer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like principal firmware engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for principal firmware engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Washington is the best state for principal firmware engineers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $160,651 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for principal firmware engineers.
Washington is the best state for jobs for principal firmware engineers, and Missouri is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $160,651, while the median pay in Missouri is $95,637.We found that Washington is the best state for principal firmware engineer jobs, whereas Missouri is the worst.
10 best states for principal firmware engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 1,124 Average annual salary: $160,651 Lowest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. California
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 4,550 Average annual salary: $145,655 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
3. Idaho
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 222 Average annual salary: $131,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
4. North Carolina
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 1,109 Average annual salary: $133,133 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
5. New York
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 1,631 Average annual salary: $137,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. Nevada
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $133,849 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. Oregon
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 805 Average annual salary: $126,246 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
8. Pennsylvania
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 1,360 Average annual salary: $122,305 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Utah
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $125,981 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
10. New Jersey
Total principal firmware engineer jobs: 1,398 Average annual salary: $127,531 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
Principal firmware engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal firmware engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal firmware engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $160,651 | $123,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,124 |
| 2 | California | $145,655 | $110,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,550 |
| 3 | Idaho | $131,190 | $99,000 | 1,716,943 | 222 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $133,133 | $103,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,109 |
| 5 | New York | $137,438 | $107,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,631 |
| 6 | Nevada | $133,849 | $101,000 | 2,998,039 | 218 |
| 7 | Oregon | $126,246 | $96,000 | 4,142,776 | 805 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $122,305 | $95,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,360 |
| 9 | Utah | $125,981 | $95,000 | 3,101,833 | 314 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $127,531 | $99,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,398 |
| 11 | Illinois | $125,424 | $97,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,446 |
| 12 | Arizona | $118,783 | $90,000 | 7,016,270 | 855 |
| 13 | Ohio | $120,088 | $93,000 | 11,658,609 | 915 |
| 14 | Vermont | $128,831 | $102,000 | 623,657 | 45 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $126,773 | $98,000 | 693,972 | 558 |
| 16 | Alabama | $119,618 | $92,000 | 4,874,747 | 402 |
| 17 | Alaska | $131,154 | $109,000 | 739,795 | 47 |
| 18 | Virginia | $118,245 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,512 |
| 19 | Maine | $125,982 | $101,000 | 1,335,907 | 64 |
| 20 | Montana | $113,277 | $87,000 | 1,050,493 | 158 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $114,970 | $88,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $112,601 | $89,000 | 1,342,795 | 269 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $130,050 | $105,000 | 1,427,538 | 59 |
| 24 | Maryland | $114,258 | $88,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,468 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $115,620 | $89,000 | 5,024,369 | 291 |
| 26 | Iowa | $114,966 | $89,000 | 3,145,711 | 172 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $115,635 | $91,000 | 6,859,819 | 903 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $111,195 | $86,000 | 5,795,483 | 487 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $109,561 | $84,000 | 3,004,279 | 224 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $110,017 | $86,000 | 5,576,606 | 820 |
| 31 | Texas | $107,831 | $82,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,400 |
| 32 | Colorado | $109,986 | $84,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,153 |
| 33 | Delaware | $112,397 | $87,000 | 961,939 | 123 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $107,595 | $81,000 | 2,088,070 | 212 |
| 35 | Michigan | $107,555 | $83,000 | 9,962,311 | 599 |
| 36 | Florida | $107,276 | $81,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,781 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,831 | $85,000 | 755,393 | 53 |
| 38 | Georgia | $106,327 | $82,000 | 10,429,379 | 778 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $104,280 | $81,000 | 1,815,857 | 88 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $105,125 | $81,000 | 6,715,984 | 296 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $104,864 | $82,000 | 1,059,639 | 100 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $104,551 | $82,000 | 3,588,184 | 343 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $105,301 | $81,000 | 869,666 | 44 |
| 44 | Kansas | $101,801 | $78,000 | 2,913,123 | 236 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $98,075 | $75,000 | 1,920,076 | 234 |
| 46 | Indiana | $98,694 | $76,000 | 6,666,818 | 428 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $102,581 | $78,000 | 4,684,333 | 114 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $99,968 | $76,000 | 2,984,100 | 66 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $96,857 | $75,000 | 4,454,189 | 223 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $99,525 | $76,000 | 3,930,864 | 104 |
| 51 | Missouri | $95,637 | $74,000 | 6,113,532 | 391 |
Highest paying states for principal firmware engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Firmware Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $160,651 |
| 2 | California | $145,655 |
| 3 | Idaho | $131,190 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $133,133 |
| 5 | New York | $137,438 |
| 6 | Nevada | $133,849 |
| 7 | Oregon | $126,246 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $122,305 |
| 9 | Utah | $125,981 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $127,531 |
| 11 | Illinois | $125,424 |
| 12 | Arizona | $118,783 |
| 13 | Ohio | $120,088 |
| 14 | Vermont | $128,831 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $126,773 |
| 16 | Alabama | $119,618 |
| 17 | Alaska | $131,154 |
| 18 | Virginia | $118,245 |
| 19 | Maine | $125,982 |
| 20 | Montana | $113,277 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $114,970 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $112,601 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $130,050 |
| 24 | Maryland | $114,258 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $115,620 |
| 26 | Iowa | $114,966 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $115,635 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $111,195 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $109,561 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $110,017 |
| 31 | Texas | $107,831 |
| 32 | Colorado | $109,986 |
| 33 | Delaware | $112,397 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $107,595 |
| 35 | Michigan | $107,555 |
| 36 | Florida | $107,276 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,831 |
| 38 | Georgia | $106,327 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $104,280 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $105,125 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $104,864 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $104,551 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $105,301 |
| 44 | Kansas | $101,801 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $98,075 |
| 46 | Indiana | $98,694 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $102,581 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $99,968 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $96,857 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $99,525 |
| 51 | Missouri | $95,637 |
Principal firmware engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025