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Best states for a principal manufacturing engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to principal manufacturing engineer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Although there are abundant principal manufacturing engineer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Arizona is the best state in the country for principal manufacturing engineer jobs.
Arizona is the best state for jobs for principal manufacturing engineers, and North Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in Arizona is $106,163, while the median pay in North Dakota is $67,407.We found that the Midwest is best for principal manufacturing engineers, and the West is the worst. Santa Rosa, CA is the best city in the country for principal manufacturing engineer jobs, where as Arizona is the best state in the country.
10 best states for principal manufacturing engineers in 2026
1. Arizona
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,584 Average annual salary: $106,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
2. California
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 7,570 Average annual salary: $111,436 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. Texas
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 4,551 Average annual salary: $100,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
4. Idaho
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 326 Average annual salary: $105,616 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. New Mexico
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 365 Average annual salary: $108,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. Virginia
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 2,587 Average annual salary: $100,329 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
7. Colorado
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,406 Average annual salary: $100,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Delaware
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 242 Average annual salary: $101,000 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. Washington
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,271 Average annual salary: $103,119 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
10. Massachusetts
Total principal manufacturing engineer jobs: 2,084 Average annual salary: $96,398 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
Principal manufacturing engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal manufacturing engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal manufacturing engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $106,163 | $80,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,584 |
| 2 | California | $111,436 | $82,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,570 |
| 3 | Texas | $100,997 | $76,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,551 |
| 4 | Idaho | $105,616 | $80,000 | 1,716,943 | 326 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $108,190 | $81,000 | 2,088,070 | 365 |
| 6 | Virginia | $100,329 | $75,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,587 |
| 7 | Colorado | $100,309 | $76,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,406 |
| 8 | Delaware | $101,000 | $76,000 | 961,939 | 242 |
| 9 | Washington | $103,119 | $79,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,271 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $96,398 | $74,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,084 |
| 11 | Alabama | $93,418 | $71,000 | 4,874,747 | 891 |
| 12 | Illinois | $94,082 | $72,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,619 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $88,770 | $67,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,663 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $95,229 | $72,000 | 1,059,639 | 204 |
| 15 | Maryland | $97,299 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,560 |
| 16 | Oregon | $90,052 | $68,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,390 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $92,582 | $70,000 | 3,588,184 | 746 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $88,181 | $69,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,820 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $87,729 | $66,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,428 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $87,600 | $67,000 | 579,315 | 111 |
| 21 | Montana | $87,019 | $67,000 | 1,050,493 | 241 |
| 22 | Nevada | $85,268 | $63,000 | 2,998,039 | 431 |
| 23 | New York | $89,463 | $68,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,866 |
| 24 | Maine | $90,214 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 190 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $84,687 | $64,000 | 1,815,857 | 281 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $88,503 | $67,000 | 2,984,100 | 269 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $94,801 | $72,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,058 |
| 28 | Michigan | $81,292 | $62,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,589 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $92,963 | $70,000 | 693,972 | 288 |
| 30 | Utah | $82,829 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 611 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $82,279 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,051 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $80,505 | $61,000 | 1,342,795 | 523 |
| 33 | Florida | $85,314 | $63,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,911 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $85,313 | $64,000 | 4,684,333 | 364 |
| 35 | Ohio | $78,874 | $60,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,057 |
| 36 | Georgia | $83,643 | $64,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,698 |
| 37 | Alaska | $88,232 | $74,000 | 739,795 | 75 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $81,305 | $62,000 | 5,024,369 | 778 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $79,851 | $62,000 | 1,920,076 | 418 |
| 40 | Vermont | $84,166 | $65,000 | 623,657 | 118 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $77,245 | $59,000 | 4,454,189 | 682 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $77,431 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 120 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $75,550 | $58,000 | 6,715,984 | 873 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $79,345 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 78 |
| 45 | Indiana | $71,782 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,207 |
| 46 | Missouri | $76,352 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 881 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $71,769 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 428 |
| 48 | Iowa | $74,073 | $57,000 | 3,145,711 | 476 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $74,224 | $56,000 | 3,930,864 | 298 |
| 50 | Kansas | $67,643 | $52,000 | 2,913,123 | 468 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $67,407 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 139 |
Highest paying states for principal manufacturing engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Manufacturing Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $106,163 |
| 2 | California | $111,436 |
| 3 | Texas | $100,997 |
| 4 | Idaho | $105,616 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $108,190 |
| 6 | Virginia | $100,329 |
| 7 | Colorado | $100,309 |
| 8 | Delaware | $101,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $103,119 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $96,398 |
| 11 | Alabama | $93,418 |
| 12 | Illinois | $94,082 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $88,770 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $95,229 |
| 15 | Maryland | $97,299 |
| 16 | Oregon | $90,052 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $92,582 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $88,181 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $87,729 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $87,600 |
| 21 | Montana | $87,019 |
| 22 | Nevada | $85,268 |
| 23 | New York | $89,463 |
| 24 | Maine | $90,214 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $84,687 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $88,503 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $94,801 |
| 28 | Michigan | $81,292 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $92,963 |
| 30 | Utah | $82,829 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $82,279 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $80,505 |
| 33 | Florida | $85,314 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $85,313 |
| 35 | Ohio | $78,874 |
| 36 | Georgia | $83,643 |
| 37 | Alaska | $88,232 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $81,305 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $79,851 |
| 40 | Vermont | $84,166 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $77,245 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $77,431 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $75,550 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $79,345 |
| 45 | Indiana | $71,782 |
| 46 | Missouri | $76,352 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $71,769 |
| 48 | Iowa | $74,073 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $74,224 |
| 50 | Kansas | $67,643 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $67,407 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal manufacturing engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal manufacturing engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator, Assistant Chair, University of Houston - Downtown
Texas is a good place for Chemistry graduates, particularly the city of Houston, which houses the largest medical center in the world, and the largest petroleum industry hub in the world. Most of our graduates find employment in the oil industry but also in those companies that provide services to the petroleum industry, such as chemical supply, waste disposal, chemical safety, etc. Our graduates also find employment in the medical research field, in research labs such as the famous UT Anderson Cancer Center.
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Updated January 8, 2025