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Best states for a principal project engineer
Quoted expert
M. Stephen Enders Ph.D.
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It seems like principal project engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for principal project engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As principal project engineers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for principal project engineers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a principal project engineer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Texas is the best state for jobs for principal project engineers, and Alaska is the worst. The most common pay in Texas is $154,780, while the median pay in Alaska is $45,342.We found that Texas is the best state for principal project engineer jobs, whereas Alaska is the worst.
10 best states for principal project engineers in 2025
1. Texas
Total principal project engineer jobs: 6,724 Average annual salary: $154,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. New Mexico
Total principal project engineer jobs: 552 Average annual salary: $139,545 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Virginia
Total principal project engineer jobs: 2,794 Average annual salary: $131,237 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
4. North Carolina
Total principal project engineer jobs: 1,983 Average annual salary: $134,899 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
5. South Carolina
Total principal project engineer jobs: 947 Average annual salary: $135,102 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. Georgia
Total principal project engineer jobs: 2,751 Average annual salary: $126,217 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
7. Alabama
Total principal project engineer jobs: 951 Average annual salary: $126,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. Mississippi
Total principal project engineer jobs: 305 Average annual salary: $131,515 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location Quotient: 0.61
9. New Jersey
Total principal project engineer jobs: 1,944 Average annual salary: $128,726 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
10. District of Columbia
Total principal project engineer jobs: 577 Average annual salary: $128,562 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
Principal project engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal project engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal project engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $154,780 | $100,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,724 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $139,545 | $85,000 | 2,088,070 | 552 |
| 3 | Virginia | $131,237 | $81,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,794 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $134,899 | $83,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,983 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $135,102 | $84,000 | 5,024,369 | 947 |
| 6 | Georgia | $126,217 | $77,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,751 |
| 7 | Alabama | $126,282 | $77,000 | 4,874,747 | 951 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $131,515 | $81,000 | 2,984,100 | 305 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $128,726 | $78,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,944 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $128,562 | $78,000 | 693,972 | 577 |
| 11 | Delaware | $122,254 | $73,000 | 961,939 | 409 |
| 12 | California | $129,415 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,603 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $128,517 | $77,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,243 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $131,048 | $79,000 | 3,588,184 | 608 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $129,130 | $80,000 | 4,684,333 | 491 |
| 16 | Michigan | $115,383 | $65,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,958 |
| 17 | Ohio | $114,046 | $65,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,823 |
| 18 | Arizona | $120,505 | $72,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,450 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $128,045 | $77,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,790 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $111,537 | $65,000 | 1,342,795 | 606 |
| 21 | Indiana | $113,647 | $64,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,495 |
| 22 | New York | $123,841 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,718 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $113,049 | $66,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,244 |
| 24 | Maryland | $121,375 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,509 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $109,703 | $60,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,500 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $115,485 | $67,000 | 1,815,857 | 244 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $109,973 | $63,000 | 3,004,279 | 577 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $115,139 | $66,000 | 3,930,864 | 457 |
| 29 | Nevada | $107,694 | $61,000 | 2,998,039 | 599 |
| 30 | Colorado | $110,577 | $60,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,477 |
| 31 | Kansas | $107,168 | $59,000 | 2,913,123 | 726 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $110,629 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 92 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $109,923 | $63,000 | 4,454,189 | 723 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $115,778 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 154 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $100,980 | $54,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,286 |
| 36 | Florida | $116,546 | $73,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,549 |
| 37 | Missouri | $104,394 | $57,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,365 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $98,508 | $52,000 | 1,920,076 | 615 |
| 39 | Oregon | $99,375 | $53,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,328 |
| 40 | Idaho | $92,941 | $48,000 | 1,716,943 | 499 |
| 41 | Illinois | $107,052 | $59,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,316 |
| 42 | Iowa | $102,869 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 662 |
| 43 | Maine | $101,540 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 265 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $114,526 | $82,000 | 1,427,538 | 92 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $86,725 | $45,000 | 755,393 | 212 |
| 46 | Utah | $94,630 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 556 |
| 47 | Washington | $86,848 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,463 |
| 48 | Montana | $84,864 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 233 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $89,133 | $46,000 | 869,666 | 161 |
| 50 | Vermont | $94,176 | $52,000 | 623,657 | 97 |
| 51 | Alaska | $45,342 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 83 |
Highest paying states for principal project engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Project Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $154,780 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $139,545 |
| 3 | Virginia | $131,237 |
| 4 | North Carolina | $134,899 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $135,102 |
| 6 | Georgia | $126,217 |
| 7 | Alabama | $126,282 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $131,515 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $128,726 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $128,562 |
| 11 | Delaware | $122,254 |
| 12 | California | $129,415 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $128,517 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $131,048 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $129,130 |
| 16 | Michigan | $115,383 |
| 17 | Ohio | $114,046 |
| 18 | Arizona | $120,505 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $128,045 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $111,537 |
| 21 | Indiana | $113,647 |
| 22 | New York | $123,841 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $113,049 |
| 24 | Maryland | $121,375 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $109,703 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $115,485 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $109,973 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $115,139 |
| 29 | Nevada | $107,694 |
| 30 | Colorado | $110,577 |
| 31 | Kansas | $107,168 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $110,629 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $109,923 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $115,778 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $100,980 |
| 36 | Florida | $116,546 |
| 37 | Missouri | $104,394 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $98,508 |
| 39 | Oregon | $99,375 |
| 40 | Idaho | $92,941 |
| 41 | Illinois | $107,052 |
| 42 | Iowa | $102,869 |
| 43 | Maine | $101,540 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $114,526 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $86,725 |
| 46 | Utah | $94,630 |
| 47 | Washington | $86,848 |
| 48 | Montana | $84,864 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $89,133 |
| 50 | Vermont | $94,176 |
| 51 | Alaska | $45,342 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal project engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal project engineers to find work opportunities?
M. Stephen Enders Ph.D.
Professor & Department Head, Colorado School of Mines
All states have some type of mining operations even if they are quarries for sand & gravel operations. The states that have very strong mining industries include: Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, and many others.
In the U.S. mining industry, there are >2 jobs for each mining engineering graduate. This has been about the same for the past 10+ years and is not expected to change in the foreseeable future. Similar situations exist worldwide.
Principal project engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025