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Best states for a programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to programmer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for programmers.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for programmers. We found that Washington is the best state in the nation for programmers, and people in Bremerton earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for programmer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Washington is the best state, and Bremerton is the city with the highest pay for programmers.
10 best states for programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total programmer jobs: 2,250 Average annual salary: $91,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
2. Oregon
Total programmer jobs: 1,010 Average annual salary: $81,648 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
3. Idaho
Total programmer jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $74,502 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. California
Total programmer jobs: 7,529 Average annual salary: $81,522 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
5. Maine
Total programmer jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $76,035 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. West Virginia
Total programmer jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $77,842 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
7. Pennsylvania
Total programmer jobs: 1,994 Average annual salary: $74,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
8. Arizona
Total programmer jobs: 1,124 Average annual salary: $74,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
9. North Dakota
Total programmer jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $74,819 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
10. District of Columbia
Total programmer jobs: 618 Average annual salary: $77,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
Programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $91,320 | $67,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,250 |
| 2 | Oregon | $81,648 | $60,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,010 |
| 3 | Idaho | $74,502 | $54,000 | 1,716,943 | 348 |
| 4 | California | $81,522 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,529 |
| 5 | Maine | $76,035 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 215 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $77,842 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 210 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $74,174 | $56,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,994 |
| 8 | Arizona | $74,296 | $55,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,124 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $74,819 | $56,000 | 755,393 | 138 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $77,323 | $58,000 | 693,972 | 618 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,392 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,170 |
| 12 | Maryland | $74,509 | $56,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,029 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $72,907 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,780 |
| 14 | Nevada | $76,243 | $55,000 | 2,998,039 | 257 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $74,383 | $56,000 | 3,588,184 | 660 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $73,653 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,214 |
| 17 | Illinois | $73,581 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,377 |
| 18 | Georgia | $73,144 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,738 |
| 19 | Virginia | $73,456 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,891 |
| 20 | Vermont | $71,787 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 202 |
| 21 | Indiana | $69,909 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,223 |
| 22 | New York | $74,663 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,152 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $70,065 | $52,000 | 1,059,639 | 284 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $71,637 | $52,000 | 2,984,100 | 196 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $70,779 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 283 |
| 26 | Texas | $69,160 | $50,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,772 |
| 27 | Utah | $68,253 | $49,000 | 3,101,833 | 722 |
| 28 | Iowa | $69,017 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 540 |
| 29 | Ohio | $68,555 | $52,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,438 |
| 30 | Delaware | $68,241 | $51,000 | 961,939 | 356 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $68,561 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 501 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $69,730 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,564 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $68,664 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 774 |
| 34 | Alaska | $70,579 | $58,000 | 739,795 | 138 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $68,484 | $51,000 | 6,715,984 | 692 |
| 36 | Alabama | $67,300 | $49,000 | 4,874,747 | 663 |
| 37 | Michigan | $67,584 | $51,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,263 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $66,984 | $50,000 | 3,004,279 | 387 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $69,099 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 377 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $68,237 | $49,000 | 4,684,333 | 381 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $67,637 | $50,000 | 3,930,864 | 285 |
| 42 | Colorado | $66,308 | $48,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,175 |
| 43 | Kansas | $65,609 | $49,000 | 2,913,123 | 505 |
| 44 | Missouri | $67,671 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 843 |
| 45 | Montana | $61,200 | $44,000 | 1,050,493 | 247 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $66,617 | $49,000 | 2,088,070 | 247 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $65,465 | $48,000 | 1,920,076 | 353 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $57,596 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 129 |
| 49 | Florida | $52,968 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,722 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $54,838 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 134 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $59,221 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 135 |
Highest paying states for programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $91,320 |
| 2 | Oregon | $81,648 |
| 3 | Idaho | $74,502 |
| 4 | California | $81,522 |
| 5 | Maine | $76,035 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $77,842 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $74,174 |
| 8 | Arizona | $74,296 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $74,819 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $77,323 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,392 |
| 12 | Maryland | $74,509 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $72,907 |
| 14 | Nevada | $76,243 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $74,383 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $73,653 |
| 17 | Illinois | $73,581 |
| 18 | Georgia | $73,144 |
| 19 | Virginia | $73,456 |
| 20 | Vermont | $71,787 |
| 21 | Indiana | $69,909 |
| 22 | New York | $74,663 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $70,065 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $71,637 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $70,779 |
| 26 | Texas | $69,160 |
| 27 | Utah | $68,253 |
| 28 | Iowa | $69,017 |
| 29 | Ohio | $68,555 |
| 30 | Delaware | $68,241 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $68,561 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $69,730 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $68,664 |
| 34 | Alaska | $70,579 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $68,484 |
| 36 | Alabama | $67,300 |
| 37 | Michigan | $67,584 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $66,984 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $69,099 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $68,237 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $67,637 |
| 42 | Colorado | $66,308 |
| 43 | Kansas | $65,609 |
| 44 | Missouri | $67,671 |
| 45 | Montana | $61,200 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $66,617 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $65,465 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $57,596 |
| 49 | Florida | $52,968 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $54,838 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $59,221 |
Expert opinions on the best states for programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for programmers 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