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Best states for a principal technologist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like principal technologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for principal technologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for principal technologists.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for principal technologists.If you are currently seeking employment as a principal technologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for principal technologists in 2026
1. Washington
Total principal technologist jobs: 1,343 Average annual salary: $145,176 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
2. Oregon
Total principal technologist jobs: 561 Average annual salary: $155,697 Lowest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Arizona
Total principal technologist jobs: 991 Average annual salary: $129,198 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
4. Alabama
Total principal technologist jobs: 425 Average annual salary: $132,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
5. Nevada
Total principal technologist jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $130,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
6. Texas
Total principal technologist jobs: 2,286 Average annual salary: $124,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Kansas
Total principal technologist jobs: 364 Average annual salary: $121,771 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
8. Utah
Total principal technologist jobs: 200 Average annual salary: $136,955 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
9. Florida
Total principal technologist jobs: 2,619 Average annual salary: $118,551 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
10. Idaho
Total principal technologist jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $116,760 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
Principal technologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a principal technologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a principal technologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $145,176 | $105,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,343 |
| 2 | Oregon | $155,697 | $112,000 | 4,142,776 | 561 |
| 3 | Arizona | $129,198 | $94,000 | 7,016,270 | 991 |
| 4 | Alabama | $132,444 | $100,000 | 4,874,747 | 425 |
| 5 | Nevada | $130,253 | $93,000 | 2,998,039 | 214 |
| 6 | Texas | $124,828 | $92,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,286 |
| 7 | Kansas | $121,771 | $91,000 | 2,913,123 | 364 |
| 8 | Utah | $136,955 | $100,000 | 3,101,833 | 200 |
| 9 | Florida | $118,551 | $92,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,619 |
| 10 | Idaho | $116,760 | $85,000 | 1,716,943 | 243 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $119,549 | $94,000 | 3,588,184 | 500 |
| 12 | California | $148,801 | $108,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,673 |
| 13 | Michigan | $122,651 | $95,000 | 9,962,311 | 565 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $117,620 | $91,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,351 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $122,324 | $94,000 | 5,024,369 | 359 |
| 16 | New York | $123,241 | $97,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,607 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $118,921 | $93,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,172 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $112,843 | $84,000 | 3,004,279 | 377 |
| 19 | Indiana | $114,104 | $87,000 | 6,666,818 | 784 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $113,775 | $85,000 | 4,684,333 | 360 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $117,168 | $88,000 | 2,984,100 | 149 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $118,878 | $95,000 | 6,859,819 | 872 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $132,406 | $103,000 | 1,427,538 | 56 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $113,638 | $83,000 | 2,088,070 | 211 |
| 25 | Virginia | $113,708 | $88,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,334 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $112,421 | $86,000 | 4,454,189 | 356 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $109,417 | $88,000 | 1,342,795 | 255 |
| 28 | Illinois | $112,467 | $86,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,528 |
| 29 | Maryland | $119,636 | $92,000 | 6,052,177 | 671 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $109,914 | $86,000 | 755,393 | 101 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $111,095 | $85,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $121,445 | $94,000 | 693,972 | 125 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $109,995 | $85,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,022 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $105,412 | $84,000 | 1,059,639 | 267 |
| 35 | Delaware | $113,454 | $88,000 | 961,939 | 114 |
| 36 | Iowa | $111,469 | $85,000 | 3,145,711 | 232 |
| 37 | Montana | $107,936 | $81,000 | 1,050,493 | 165 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $109,475 | $83,000 | 1,920,076 | 221 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $111,353 | $87,000 | 5,576,606 | 616 |
| 40 | Georgia | $108,513 | $83,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,213 |
| 41 | Vermont | $104,626 | $84,000 | 623,657 | 155 |
| 42 | Ohio | $108,926 | $84,000 | 11,658,609 | 810 |
| 43 | Alaska | $110,423 | $91,000 | 739,795 | 83 |
| 44 | Colorado | $107,874 | $80,000 | 5,607,154 | 835 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $107,543 | $83,000 | 5,795,483 | 547 |
| 46 | Missouri | $109,042 | $82,000 | 6,113,532 | 457 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $103,455 | $78,000 | 6,715,984 | 506 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $97,482 | $73,000 | 579,315 | 84 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $101,243 | $77,000 | 869,666 | 90 |
| 50 | Maine | $96,474 | $79,000 | 1,335,907 | 149 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $97,703 | $72,000 | 3,930,864 | 184 |
Highest paying states for principal technologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Principal Technologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $145,176 |
| 2 | Oregon | $155,697 |
| 3 | Arizona | $129,198 |
| 4 | Alabama | $132,444 |
| 5 | Nevada | $130,253 |
| 6 | Texas | $124,828 |
| 7 | Kansas | $121,771 |
| 8 | Utah | $136,955 |
| 9 | Florida | $118,551 |
| 10 | Idaho | $116,760 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $119,549 |
| 12 | California | $148,801 |
| 13 | Michigan | $122,651 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $117,620 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $122,324 |
| 16 | New York | $123,241 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $118,921 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $112,843 |
| 19 | Indiana | $114,104 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $113,775 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $117,168 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $118,878 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $132,406 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $113,638 |
| 25 | Virginia | $113,708 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $112,421 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $109,417 |
| 28 | Illinois | $112,467 |
| 29 | Maryland | $119,636 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $109,914 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $111,095 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $121,445 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $109,995 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $105,412 |
| 35 | Delaware | $113,454 |
| 36 | Iowa | $111,469 |
| 37 | Montana | $107,936 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $109,475 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $111,353 |
| 40 | Georgia | $108,513 |
| 41 | Vermont | $104,626 |
| 42 | Ohio | $108,926 |
| 43 | Alaska | $110,423 |
| 44 | Colorado | $107,874 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $107,543 |
| 46 | Missouri | $109,042 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $103,455 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $97,482 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $101,243 |
| 50 | Maine | $96,474 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $97,703 |
Principal technologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025