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Best states for a project manager/senior project engineer
Quoted expert
M. Stephen Enders Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like project managers/senior project engineer are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for project managers/senior project engineer aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for project managers/senior project engineer. We found that Massachusetts is the best state in the nation for project managers/senior project engineer, and people in Eureka earn the most in the field.
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 project managers/senior project engineer.If you are currently seeking employment as a project manager/senior project engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for project managers/senior project engineer in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 2,422 Average annual salary: $149,573 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. California
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 8,893 Average annual salary: $153,403 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
3. Texas
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 4,352 Average annual salary: $132,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. Rhode Island
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 262 Average annual salary: $129,255 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Virginia
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 2,471 Average annual salary: $132,651 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
6. Washington
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 2,475 Average annual salary: $126,598 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
7. Arizona
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 1,187 Average annual salary: $127,432 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
8. Arkansas
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 421 Average annual salary: $130,386 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
9. Illinois
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 2,260 Average annual salary: $129,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. Maryland
Total project manager/senior project engineer jobs: 1,482 Average annual salary: $130,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
Project manager/senior project engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a project manager/senior project engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a project manager/senior project engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $149,573 | $103,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,422 |
| 2 | California | $153,403 | $106,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,893 |
| 3 | Texas | $132,673 | $90,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,352 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $129,255 | $88,000 | 1,059,639 | 262 |
| 5 | Virginia | $132,651 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,471 |
| 6 | Washington | $126,598 | $81,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,475 |
| 7 | Arizona | $127,432 | $85,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,187 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $130,386 | $88,000 | 3,004,279 | 421 |
| 9 | Illinois | $129,033 | $86,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,260 |
| 10 | Maryland | $130,944 | $89,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,482 |
| 11 | New York | $131,558 | $89,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,563 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $131,131 | $87,000 | 3,930,864 | 335 |
| 13 | Colorado | $125,507 | $82,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,249 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $120,800 | $82,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,312 |
| 15 | Alabama | $125,180 | $85,000 | 4,874,747 | 664 |
| 16 | Michigan | $120,059 | $79,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,404 |
| 17 | Idaho | $119,298 | $76,000 | 1,716,943 | 341 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $128,277 | $87,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,380 |
| 19 | Kansas | $119,509 | $79,000 | 2,913,123 | 544 |
| 20 | Georgia | $122,130 | $84,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,756 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $119,815 | $81,000 | 4,454,189 | 559 |
| 22 | Oregon | $117,277 | $75,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,120 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $117,762 | $81,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,791 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $120,364 | $79,000 | 2,088,070 | 334 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $119,555 | $81,000 | 693,972 | 770 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $117,484 | $75,000 | 579,315 | 103 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $117,096 | $79,000 | 6,715,984 | 991 |
| 28 | Delaware | $117,214 | $79,000 | 961,939 | 265 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $120,298 | $81,000 | 4,684,333 | 391 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $114,278 | $74,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,113 |
| 31 | Maine | $118,198 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 215 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $105,652 | $87,000 | 1,427,538 | 197 |
| 33 | Utah | $109,270 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 696 |
| 34 | Florida | $116,915 | $82,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,636 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $110,833 | $75,000 | 1,342,795 | 362 |
| 36 | Indiana | $110,708 | $74,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,178 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $112,674 | $76,000 | 3,588,184 | 664 |
| 38 | Ohio | $108,730 | $72,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,851 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $111,122 | $71,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,342 |
| 40 | Nevada | $111,191 | $73,000 | 2,998,039 | 360 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $109,744 | $74,000 | 1,815,857 | 182 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $111,685 | $77,000 | 5,024,369 | 656 |
| 43 | Vermont | $100,954 | $67,000 | 623,657 | 159 |
| 44 | Montana | $101,487 | $63,000 | 1,050,493 | 218 |
| 45 | Alaska | $104,775 | $80,000 | 739,795 | 131 |
| 46 | Iowa | $104,088 | $68,000 | 3,145,711 | 550 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $97,339 | $63,000 | 1,920,076 | 397 |
| 48 | Missouri | $102,465 | $68,000 | 6,113,532 | 915 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $89,625 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 167 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $103,135 | $70,000 | 2,984,100 | 220 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $93,961 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 121 |
Highest paying states for project managers/senior project engineer
| Rank | State | Avg. Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $149,573 |
| 2 | California | $153,403 |
| 3 | Texas | $132,673 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $129,255 |
| 5 | Virginia | $132,651 |
| 6 | Washington | $126,598 |
| 7 | Arizona | $127,432 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $130,386 |
| 9 | Illinois | $129,033 |
| 10 | Maryland | $130,944 |
| 11 | New York | $131,558 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $131,131 |
| 13 | Colorado | $125,507 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $120,800 |
| 15 | Alabama | $125,180 |
| 16 | Michigan | $120,059 |
| 17 | Idaho | $119,298 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $128,277 |
| 19 | Kansas | $119,509 |
| 20 | Georgia | $122,130 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $119,815 |
| 22 | Oregon | $117,277 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $117,762 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $120,364 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $119,555 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $117,484 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $117,096 |
| 28 | Delaware | $117,214 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $120,298 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $114,278 |
| 31 | Maine | $118,198 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $105,652 |
| 33 | Utah | $109,270 |
| 34 | Florida | $116,915 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $110,833 |
| 36 | Indiana | $110,708 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $112,674 |
| 38 | Ohio | $108,730 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $111,122 |
| 40 | Nevada | $111,191 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $109,744 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $111,685 |
| 43 | Vermont | $100,954 |
| 44 | Montana | $101,487 |
| 45 | Alaska | $104,775 |
| 46 | Iowa | $104,088 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $97,339 |
| 48 | Missouri | $102,465 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $89,625 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $103,135 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $93,961 |
Expert opinions on the best states for project managers/senior project engineer
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for project manager/senior project engineers to find work opportunities?
M. Stephen Enders Ph.D.
Professor & Department Head, Colorado School of Mines
All states have some type of mining operations even if they are quarries for sand & gravel operations. The states that have very strong mining industries include: Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, and many others.
In the U.S. mining industry, there are >2 jobs for each mining engineering graduate. This has been about the same for the past 10+ years and is not expected to change in the foreseeable future. Similar situations exist worldwide.
Project manager/senior project engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025