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Best states for a principal software engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
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Do you want to become a principal software engineer at Fidelity Technologies, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for principal software engineers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. We wanted to look at the best states for principal software engineers -- where there are plenty of principal software engineer jobs to go around and principal software engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for principal software engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Washington is the best state for principal software engineer jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for principal software engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total principal software engineer jobs: 7,149 Average annual salary: $173,680 Lowest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location Quotient: 2.3
2. Oregon
Total principal software engineer jobs: 2,958 Average annual salary: $157,990 Lowest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $220,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
3. California
Total principal software engineer jobs: 19,860 Average annual salary: $163,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
4. Idaho
Total principal software engineer jobs: 694 Average annual salary: $134,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Hawaii
Total principal software engineer jobs: 226 Average annual salary: $191,424 Lowest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
6. Nevada
Total principal software engineer jobs: 710 Average annual salary: $139,113 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
7. Alaska
Total principal software engineer jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $182,325 Lowest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
8. Arizona
Total principal software engineer jobs: 2,406 Average annual salary: $127,980 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Delaware
Total principal software engineer jobs: 644 Average annual salary: $125,866 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
10. Wyoming
Total principal software engineer jobs: 245 Average annual salary: $123,883 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
Principal software engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal software engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal software engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $173,680 | $126,000 | 7,405,743 | 7,149 |
| 2 | Oregon | $157,990 | $113,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,958 |
| 3 | California | $163,134 | $118,000 | 39,536,653 | 19,860 |
| 4 | Idaho | $134,309 | $96,000 | 1,716,943 | 694 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $191,424 | $147,000 | 1,427,538 | 226 |
| 6 | Nevada | $139,113 | $100,000 | 2,998,039 | 710 |
| 7 | Alaska | $182,325 | $139,000 | 739,795 | 220 |
| 8 | Arizona | $127,980 | $93,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,406 |
| 9 | Delaware | $125,866 | $95,000 | 961,939 | 644 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $123,883 | $92,000 | 579,315 | 245 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $127,267 | $94,000 | 2,088,070 | 602 |
| 12 | New York | $127,303 | $97,000 | 19,849,399 | 5,864 |
| 13 | Utah | $116,639 | $85,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,758 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $117,419 | $89,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,247 |
| 15 | Virginia | $118,546 | $90,000 | 8,470,020 | 6,161 |
| 16 | Montana | $116,746 | $86,000 | 1,050,493 | 553 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $120,118 | $91,000 | 693,972 | 1,238 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $119,020 | $92,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,437 |
| 19 | Texas | $115,396 | $87,000 | 28,304,596 | 8,428 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $120,751 | $92,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,245 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $114,214 | $88,000 | 1,342,795 | 765 |
| 22 | Maryland | $117,625 | $89,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,779 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $114,467 | $88,000 | 755,393 | 282 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $118,099 | $90,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,962 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $111,501 | $85,000 | 1,059,639 | 700 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $112,295 | $85,000 | 3,004,279 | 819 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $113,490 | $87,000 | 869,666 | 278 |
| 28 | Michigan | $113,386 | $86,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,216 |
| 29 | Florida | $114,835 | $87,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,794 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $112,977 | $87,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,644 |
| 31 | Illinois | $111,733 | $85,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,752 |
| 32 | Ohio | $110,197 | $83,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,849 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $110,714 | $84,000 | 1,815,857 | 302 |
| 34 | Vermont | $108,799 | $84,000 | 623,657 | 395 |
| 35 | Colorado | $108,768 | $81,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,970 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $109,164 | $83,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,192 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,138 | $81,000 | 1,920,076 | 773 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $107,269 | $81,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,718 |
| 39 | Georgia | $108,659 | $83,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,300 |
| 40 | Iowa | $108,412 | $83,000 | 3,145,711 | 836 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $109,832 | $84,000 | 2,984,100 | 302 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $107,866 | $82,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,487 |
| 43 | Maine | $105,801 | $82,000 | 1,335,907 | 370 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $104,744 | $80,000 | 4,454,189 | 834 |
| 45 | Indiana | $100,946 | $77,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,950 |
| 46 | Kansas | $101,774 | $77,000 | 2,913,123 | 921 |
| 47 | Alabama | $101,234 | $77,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,165 |
| 48 | Missouri | $105,371 | $80,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,507 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $103,780 | $79,000 | 5,024,369 | 839 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $103,418 | $78,000 | 4,684,333 | 558 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $97,936 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 496 |
Highest paying states for principal software engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Software Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $173,680 |
| 2 | Oregon | $157,990 |
| 3 | California | $163,134 |
| 4 | Idaho | $134,309 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $191,424 |
| 6 | Nevada | $139,113 |
| 7 | Alaska | $182,325 |
| 8 | Arizona | $127,980 |
| 9 | Delaware | $125,866 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $123,883 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $127,267 |
| 12 | New York | $127,303 |
| 13 | Utah | $116,639 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $117,419 |
| 15 | Virginia | $118,546 |
| 16 | Montana | $116,746 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $120,118 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $119,020 |
| 19 | Texas | $115,396 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $120,751 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $114,214 |
| 22 | Maryland | $117,625 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $114,467 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $118,099 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $111,501 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $112,295 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $113,490 |
| 28 | Michigan | $113,386 |
| 29 | Florida | $114,835 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $112,977 |
| 31 | Illinois | $111,733 |
| 32 | Ohio | $110,197 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $110,714 |
| 34 | Vermont | $108,799 |
| 35 | Colorado | $108,768 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $109,164 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $107,138 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $107,269 |
| 39 | Georgia | $108,659 |
| 40 | Iowa | $108,412 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $109,832 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $107,866 |
| 43 | Maine | $105,801 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $104,744 |
| 45 | Indiana | $100,946 |
| 46 | Kansas | $101,774 |
| 47 | Alabama | $101,234 |
| 48 | Missouri | $105,371 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $103,780 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $103,418 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $97,936 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal software engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal software engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
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Updated January 8, 2025