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Best states for a principal network engineer
Quoted expert
Austin McCoy
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a principal network engineer and really want to work at Dell? Turns out, your chances to become a principal network engineer are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for principal network engineers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for principal network engineer jobs.
The median salary for principal network engineers in Washington is $139,177. Compare that to the median salary in Indiana of $83,305, which ranked worst for principal network engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a principal network engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for principal network engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total principal network engineer jobs: 1,859 Average annual salary: $139,177 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.732. Rhode Island
Total principal network engineer jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $123,396 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.623. California
Total principal network engineer jobs: 4,581 Average annual salary: $142,261 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 1.074. Connecticut
Total principal network engineer jobs: 502 Average annual salary: $122,844 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.035. Oregon
Total principal network engineer jobs: 870 Average annual salary: $115,846 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.436. Idaho
Total principal network engineer jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $132,650 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 0.877. Nevada
Total principal network engineer jobs: 269 Average annual salary: $119,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.888. New Hampshire
Total principal network engineer jobs: 290 Average annual salary: $106,547 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.139. West Virginia
Total principal network engineer jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $114,505 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.7910. Texas
Total principal network engineer jobs: 2,862 Average annual salary: $105,185 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
Principal network engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal network engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal network engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $139,177 | $102,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,859 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $123,396 | $95,000 | 1,059,639 | 289 |
| 3 | California | $142,261 | $105,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,581 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $122,844 | $94,000 | 3,588,184 | 502 |
| 5 | Oregon | $115,846 | $85,000 | 4,142,776 | 870 |
| 6 | Idaho | $132,650 | $97,000 | 1,716,943 | 211 |
| 7 | Nevada | $119,095 | $88,000 | 2,998,039 | 269 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $106,547 | $82,000 | 1,342,795 | 290 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $114,505 | $88,000 | 1,815,857 | 177 |
| 10 | Texas | $105,185 | $81,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,862 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $103,398 | $78,000 | 579,315 | 86 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $111,474 | $85,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,281 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $105,980 | $81,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,835 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $105,449 | $80,000 | 2,088,070 | 250 |
| 15 | Alaska | $104,819 | $80,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 16 | Arizona | $100,562 | $76,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,168 |
| 17 | New York | $109,898 | $84,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,821 |
| 18 | Delaware | $104,377 | $80,000 | 961,939 | 187 |
| 19 | Maryland | $103,744 | $80,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,619 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $106,770 | $87,000 | 1,427,538 | 140 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $99,475 | $77,000 | 5,795,483 | 623 |
| 22 | Georgia | $101,325 | $78,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,074 |
| 23 | Vermont | $96,849 | $75,000 | 623,657 | 193 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $98,815 | $77,000 | 5,024,369 | 395 |
| 25 | Florida | $97,927 | $75,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,252 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $95,870 | $74,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,328 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $95,446 | $74,000 | 869,666 | 107 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $98,542 | $76,000 | 4,684,333 | 203 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $96,995 | $75,000 | 2,984,100 | 132 |
| 30 | Utah | $95,509 | $71,000 | 3,101,833 | 433 |
| 31 | Virginia | $94,263 | $73,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,138 |
| 32 | Colorado | $94,727 | $72,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,481 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $95,209 | $73,000 | 1,920,076 | 277 |
| 34 | Illinois | $96,503 | $75,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,604 |
| 35 | Michigan | $95,340 | $74,000 | 9,962,311 | 613 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $93,774 | $72,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,504 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $93,353 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 597 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $92,792 | $72,000 | 3,004,279 | 306 |
| 39 | Iowa | $93,981 | $73,000 | 3,145,711 | 290 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $94,519 | $73,000 | 5,576,606 | 865 |
| 41 | Montana | $92,967 | $69,000 | 1,050,493 | 155 |
| 42 | Ohio | $91,950 | $71,000 | 11,658,609 | 998 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $92,592 | $72,000 | 4,454,189 | 278 |
| 44 | Missouri | $93,837 | $73,000 | 6,113,532 | 518 |
| 45 | Alabama | $90,029 | $70,000 | 4,874,747 | 582 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $91,765 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 207 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $89,792 | $70,000 | 755,393 | 87 |
| 48 | Kansas | $91,075 | $70,000 | 2,913,123 | 259 |
| 49 | Maine | $90,129 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 117 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $86,143 | $67,000 | 6,715,984 | 416 |
| 51 | Indiana | $83,305 | $64,000 | 6,666,818 | 522 |
Highest paying states for principal network engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Network Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $139,177 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $123,396 |
| 3 | California | $142,261 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $122,844 |
| 5 | Oregon | $115,846 |
| 6 | Idaho | $132,650 |
| 7 | Nevada | $119,095 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $106,547 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $114,505 |
| 10 | Texas | $105,185 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $103,398 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $111,474 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $105,980 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $105,449 |
| 15 | Alaska | $104,819 |
| 16 | Arizona | $100,562 |
| 17 | New York | $109,898 |
| 18 | Delaware | $104,377 |
| 19 | Maryland | $103,744 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $106,770 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $99,475 |
| 22 | Georgia | $101,325 |
| 23 | Vermont | $96,849 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $98,815 |
| 25 | Florida | $97,927 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $95,870 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $95,446 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $98,542 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $96,995 |
| 30 | Utah | $95,509 |
| 31 | Virginia | $94,263 |
| 32 | Colorado | $94,727 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $95,209 |
| 34 | Illinois | $96,503 |
| 35 | Michigan | $95,340 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $93,774 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $93,353 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $92,792 |
| 39 | Iowa | $93,981 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $94,519 |
| 41 | Montana | $92,967 |
| 42 | Ohio | $91,950 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $92,592 |
| 44 | Missouri | $93,837 |
| 45 | Alabama | $90,029 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $91,765 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $89,792 |
| 48 | Kansas | $91,075 |
| 49 | Maine | $90,129 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $86,143 |
| 51 | Indiana | $83,305 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal network engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal network engineers to find work opportunities?
Austin McCoy
Director of Javelina Engineering Student Success Center, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
-I think that if enough effort is put into looking for a job, there is an ability to find a job in just about any location
-The ABC's of job searching: Any job, Better job, Career job
Principal network engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025