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Best states for a principal systems engineer
Quoted expert
Vince Bowen
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a principal systems engineer and really want to work at Raytheon? Turns out, your chances to become a principal systems engineer are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for principal systems engineers in America. The best city in America for principal systems engineers with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
In order to get you the best states for principal systems 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 systems engineer jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for principal systems engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 2,700 Average annual salary: $149,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
2. California
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 7,875 Average annual salary: $158,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. Oregon
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 1,235 Average annual salary: $143,659 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Alaska
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 180 Average annual salary: $134,880 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Nevada
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 386 Average annual salary: $135,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. New Hampshire
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 404 Average annual salary: $126,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
7. New Jersey
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 1,738 Average annual salary: $135,624 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
8. Arizona
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 1,754 Average annual salary: $123,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
9. Texas
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 4,463 Average annual salary: $123,863 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. District of Columbia
Total principal systems engineer jobs: 742 Average annual salary: $137,421 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 2.01
Principal systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $149,936 | $104,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,700 |
| 2 | California | $158,590 | $113,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,875 |
| 3 | Oregon | $143,659 | $99,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,235 |
| 4 | Alaska | $134,880 | $94,000 | 739,795 | 180 |
| 5 | Nevada | $135,743 | $95,000 | 2,998,039 | 386 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $126,340 | $93,000 | 1,342,795 | 404 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $135,624 | $100,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,738 |
| 8 | Arizona | $123,454 | $87,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,754 |
| 9 | Texas | $123,863 | $88,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,463 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $137,421 | $102,000 | 693,972 | 742 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $140,704 | $102,000 | 4,684,333 | 359 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $118,983 | $88,000 | 1,059,639 | 377 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $126,246 | $93,000 | 3,588,184 | 770 |
| 14 | Ohio | $127,102 | $94,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,485 |
| 15 | New York | $130,677 | $96,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,621 |
| 16 | Virginia | $119,834 | $89,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,043 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $117,857 | $83,000 | 2,088,070 | 438 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $125,557 | $93,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,731 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $141,023 | $103,000 | 1,427,538 | 134 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $122,414 | $91,000 | 5,024,369 | 608 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $116,216 | $86,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,186 |
| 22 | Delaware | $118,112 | $87,000 | 961,939 | 276 |
| 23 | Maryland | $117,046 | $86,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,430 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $118,894 | $86,000 | 2,984,100 | 243 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $116,039 | $85,000 | 6,715,984 | 670 |
| 26 | Michigan | $115,196 | $85,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,279 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $113,928 | $83,000 | 869,666 | 169 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $113,149 | $82,000 | 3,004,279 | 426 |
| 29 | Florida | $112,475 | $83,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,620 |
| 30 | Maine | $115,001 | $85,000 | 1,335,907 | 191 |
| 31 | Vermont | $111,325 | $82,000 | 623,657 | 240 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $111,440 | $82,000 | 1,815,857 | 236 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $113,292 | $84,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,289 |
| 34 | Missouri | $114,455 | $83,000 | 6,113,532 | 795 |
| 35 | Kansas | $111,144 | $81,000 | 2,913,123 | 528 |
| 36 | Idaho | $106,975 | $73,000 | 1,716,943 | 391 |
| 37 | Montana | $110,469 | $77,000 | 1,050,493 | 238 |
| 38 | Georgia | $112,038 | $83,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,821 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $110,170 | $82,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,857 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $109,342 | $81,000 | 755,393 | 160 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $109,607 | $80,000 | 1,920,076 | 405 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $110,779 | $81,000 | 4,454,189 | 468 |
| 43 | Colorado | $105,805 | $75,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,012 |
| 44 | Alabama | $107,150 | $78,000 | 4,874,747 | 823 |
| 45 | Illinois | $105,928 | $78,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,671 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $98,943 | $70,000 | 579,315 | 147 |
| 47 | Utah | $102,585 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 632 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $107,140 | $79,000 | 5,795,483 | 879 |
| 49 | Indiana | $106,653 | $78,000 | 6,666,818 | 960 |
| 50 | Iowa | $107,436 | $79,000 | 3,145,711 | 487 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $99,187 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 339 |
Highest paying states for principal systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $149,936 |
| 2 | California | $158,590 |
| 3 | Oregon | $143,659 |
| 4 | Alaska | $134,880 |
| 5 | Nevada | $135,743 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $126,340 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $135,624 |
| 8 | Arizona | $123,454 |
| 9 | Texas | $123,863 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $137,421 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $140,704 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $118,983 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $126,246 |
| 14 | Ohio | $127,102 |
| 15 | New York | $130,677 |
| 16 | Virginia | $119,834 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $117,857 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $125,557 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $141,023 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $122,414 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $116,216 |
| 22 | Delaware | $118,112 |
| 23 | Maryland | $117,046 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $118,894 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $116,039 |
| 26 | Michigan | $115,196 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $113,928 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $113,149 |
| 29 | Florida | $112,475 |
| 30 | Maine | $115,001 |
| 31 | Vermont | $111,325 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $111,440 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $113,292 |
| 34 | Missouri | $114,455 |
| 35 | Kansas | $111,144 |
| 36 | Idaho | $106,975 |
| 37 | Montana | $110,469 |
| 38 | Georgia | $112,038 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $110,170 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $109,342 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $109,607 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $110,779 |
| 43 | Colorado | $105,805 |
| 44 | Alabama | $107,150 |
| 45 | Illinois | $105,928 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $98,943 |
| 47 | Utah | $102,585 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $107,140 |
| 49 | Indiana | $106,653 |
| 50 | Iowa | $107,436 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $99,187 |
Expert opinions on the best states for principal systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for principal systems engineers to find work opportunities?
Vince Bowen
Executive Director, Department Chair Energy Systems Technology & Education Center (ESTEC), Idaho State University
Any large city will have several openings. Beyond that, these people can work anywhere in the world.
Principal systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025