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Best states for a process engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for process engineers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for process engineer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for process engineers. We found that Arizona is the best state in the nation for process engineers, and people in Las Cruces earn the most in the field.
The median salary for process engineers in Arizona is $90,214. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $66,978, which ranked worst for process engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for process engineers, and the West is the worst. Rio Rancho, NM is the best city in the country for process engineer jobs, where as Arizona is the best state in the country.
10 best states for process engineers in 2026
1. Arizona
Total process engineer jobs: 1,000 Average annual salary: $90,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. California
Total process engineer jobs: 6,810 Average annual salary: $99,397 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
3. Washington
Total process engineer jobs: 1,083 Average annual salary: $94,746 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. Massachusetts
Total process engineer jobs: 1,817 Average annual salary: $90,330 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
5. Texas
Total process engineer jobs: 2,338 Average annual salary: $88,286 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
6. Idaho
Total process engineer jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $86,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. New Mexico
Total process engineer jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $109,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
8. Oregon
Total process engineer jobs: 640 Average annual salary: $85,929 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
9. Rhode Island
Total process engineer jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $87,395 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
10. Wyoming
Total process engineer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $85,972 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
Process engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a process engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a process engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $90,214 | $68,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,000 |
| 2 | California | $99,397 | $74,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,810 |
| 3 | Washington | $94,746 | $71,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,083 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $90,330 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,817 |
| 5 | Texas | $88,286 | $66,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,338 |
| 6 | Idaho | $86,019 | $65,000 | 1,716,943 | 227 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $109,409 | $82,000 | 2,088,070 | 177 |
| 8 | Oregon | $85,929 | $64,000 | 4,142,776 | 640 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $87,395 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 126 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $85,972 | $66,000 | 579,315 | 54 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $82,929 | $55,000 | 1,342,795 | 257 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $87,760 | $66,000 | 4,684,333 | 170 |
| 13 | Nevada | $85,083 | $63,000 | 2,998,039 | 205 |
| 14 | Michigan | $77,594 | $60,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,209 |
| 15 | Utah | $77,931 | $59,000 | 3,101,833 | 517 |
| 16 | Delaware | $80,455 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 192 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $81,417 | $64,000 | 755,393 | 90 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $84,708 | $63,000 | 9,005,644 | 836 |
| 19 | Colorado | $80,356 | $61,000 | 5,607,154 | 846 |
| 20 | Alabama | $76,421 | $58,000 | 4,874,747 | 576 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $75,912 | $59,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,055 |
| 22 | Montana | $81,424 | $63,000 | 1,050,493 | 93 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $79,864 | $58,000 | 3,588,184 | 475 |
| 24 | Maryland | $80,382 | $62,000 | 6,052,177 | 878 |
| 25 | Virginia | $79,978 | $62,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,294 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $78,481 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 163 |
| 27 | New York | $79,502 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,456 |
| 28 | Florida | $75,572 | $57,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,686 |
| 29 | Maine | $77,470 | $48,000 | 1,335,907 | 110 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $73,162 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,207 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $71,189 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,404 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $72,474 | $56,000 | 693,972 | 280 |
| 33 | Illinois | $74,703 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,450 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $73,831 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 454 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $75,037 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 166 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $72,919 | $56,000 | 3,004,279 | 240 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $73,239 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 98 |
| 38 | Alaska | $77,094 | $64,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 39 | Missouri | $73,133 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 614 |
| 40 | Iowa | $71,217 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 362 |
| 41 | Indiana | $68,680 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 904 |
| 42 | Ohio | $68,753 | $53,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,231 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $70,781 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 230 |
| 44 | Vermont | $70,896 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 77 |
| 45 | Kansas | $69,967 | $54,000 | 2,913,123 | 326 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $75,930 | $62,000 | 1,427,538 | 56 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $69,380 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 490 |
| 48 | Georgia | $70,505 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,193 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $67,119 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 387 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $65,076 | $50,000 | 5,795,483 | 716 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $66,978 | $52,000 | 869,666 | 50 |
Highest paying states for process engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Process Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $90,214 |
| 2 | California | $99,397 |
| 3 | Washington | $94,746 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $90,330 |
| 5 | Texas | $88,286 |
| 6 | Idaho | $86,019 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $109,409 |
| 8 | Oregon | $85,929 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $87,395 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $85,972 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $82,929 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $87,760 |
| 13 | Nevada | $85,083 |
| 14 | Michigan | $77,594 |
| 15 | Utah | $77,931 |
| 16 | Delaware | $80,455 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $81,417 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $84,708 |
| 19 | Colorado | $80,356 |
| 20 | Alabama | $76,421 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $75,912 |
| 22 | Montana | $81,424 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $79,864 |
| 24 | Maryland | $80,382 |
| 25 | Virginia | $79,978 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $78,481 |
| 27 | New York | $79,502 |
| 28 | Florida | $75,572 |
| 29 | Maine | $77,470 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $73,162 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $71,189 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $72,474 |
| 33 | Illinois | $74,703 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $73,831 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $75,037 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $72,919 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $73,239 |
| 38 | Alaska | $77,094 |
| 39 | Missouri | $73,133 |
| 40 | Iowa | $71,217 |
| 41 | Indiana | $68,680 |
| 42 | Ohio | $68,753 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $70,781 |
| 44 | Vermont | $70,896 |
| 45 | Kansas | $69,967 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $75,930 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $69,380 |
| 48 | Georgia | $70,505 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $67,119 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $65,076 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $66,978 |
Expert opinions on the best states for process engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for process engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
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Updated January 8, 2025