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Best states for a semiconductor engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for semiconductor engineers in the United States. Semiconductor engineer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for semiconductor engineers.We wanted to look at the best states for semiconductor engineers -- where there are plenty of semiconductor engineer jobs to go around and semiconductor engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Washington is the best state for jobs for semiconductor engineers, and Iowa is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $137,977, while the median pay in Iowa is $73,549.Washington is the best state, and Bellingham is the city with the highest pay for semiconductor engineers.
10 best states for semiconductor engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 531 Average annual salary: $137,977 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. California
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 2,938 Average annual salary: $119,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
3. Michigan
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 428 Average annual salary: $101,961 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1
4. Idaho
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $104,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
5. Nevada
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $104,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
6. Wyoming
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $109,368 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
7. New Jersey
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 321 Average annual salary: $111,188 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
8. Utah
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 201 Average annual salary: $97,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. Massachusetts
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 728 Average annual salary: $100,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
10. Georgia
Total semiconductor engineer jobs: 458 Average annual salary: $101,565 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
Semiconductor engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a semiconductor engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a semiconductor engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $137,977 | $100,000 | 7,405,743 | 531 |
| 2 | California | $119,134 | $85,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,938 |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,961 | $74,000 | 9,962,311 | 428 |
| 4 | Idaho | $104,136 | $75,000 | 1,716,943 | 77 |
| 5 | Nevada | $104,526 | $74,000 | 2,998,039 | 95 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $109,368 | $79,000 | 579,315 | 21 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $111,188 | $80,000 | 9,005,644 | 321 |
| 8 | Utah | $97,911 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 201 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $100,205 | $72,000 | 6,859,819 | 728 |
| 10 | Georgia | $101,565 | $74,000 | 10,429,379 | 458 |
| 11 | Arizona | $96,517 | $70,000 | 7,016,270 | 346 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $105,801 | $76,000 | 2,088,070 | 60 |
| 13 | Montana | $103,290 | $75,000 | 1,050,493 | 25 |
| 14 | Virginia | $94,164 | $68,000 | 8,470,020 | 759 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $93,340 | $69,000 | 5,576,606 | 361 |
| 16 | Colorado | $94,499 | $68,000 | 5,607,154 | 378 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $95,581 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 174 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $97,690 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 63 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $94,511 | $68,000 | 693,972 | 183 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $94,205 | $70,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 21 | Delaware | $89,874 | $64,000 | 961,939 | 92 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $89,479 | $65,000 | 2,984,100 | 77 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $87,774 | $63,000 | 1,342,795 | 109 |
| 24 | Alaska | $96,246 | $74,000 | 739,795 | 22 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $88,983 | $64,000 | 12,805,537 | 449 |
| 26 | New York | $92,035 | $66,000 | 19,849,399 | 684 |
| 27 | Missouri | $92,017 | $67,000 | 6,113,532 | 193 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $89,143 | $65,000 | 5,795,483 | 209 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $89,148 | $65,000 | 6,715,984 | 191 |
| 30 | Maryland | $89,050 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 491 |
| 31 | Texas | $87,454 | $63,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,050 |
| 32 | Alabama | $86,017 | $62,000 | 4,874,747 | 237 |
| 33 | Oregon | $86,766 | $63,000 | 4,142,776 | 329 |
| 34 | Ohio | $84,707 | $62,000 | 11,658,609 | 477 |
| 35 | Illinois | $88,803 | $65,000 | 12,802,023 | 538 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $87,842 | $63,000 | 1,059,639 | 39 |
| 37 | Maine | $87,917 | $63,000 | 1,335,907 | 42 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $84,256 | $61,000 | 5,024,369 | 206 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $83,277 | $61,000 | 1,815,857 | 32 |
| 40 | Indiana | $78,099 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 347 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $84,844 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 70 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $79,232 | $58,000 | 1,920,076 | 93 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $76,255 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 525 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $80,004 | $59,000 | 4,454,189 | 132 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $81,352 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 19 |
| 46 | Florida | $77,982 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 641 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $82,590 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 23 |
| 48 | Vermont | $77,162 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 31 |
| 49 | Kansas | $77,747 | $57,000 | 2,913,123 | 93 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $75,289 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 90 |
| 51 | Iowa | $73,549 | $54,000 | 3,145,711 | 99 |
Highest paying states for semiconductor engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Semiconductor Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $137,977 |
| 2 | California | $119,134 |
| 3 | Michigan | $101,961 |
| 4 | Idaho | $104,136 |
| 5 | Nevada | $104,526 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $109,368 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $111,188 |
| 8 | Utah | $97,911 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $100,205 |
| 10 | Georgia | $101,565 |
| 11 | Arizona | $96,517 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $105,801 |
| 13 | Montana | $103,290 |
| 14 | Virginia | $94,164 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $93,340 |
| 16 | Colorado | $94,499 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $95,581 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $97,690 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $94,511 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $94,205 |
| 21 | Delaware | $89,874 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $89,479 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $87,774 |
| 24 | Alaska | $96,246 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $88,983 |
| 26 | New York | $92,035 |
| 27 | Missouri | $92,017 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $89,143 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $89,148 |
| 30 | Maryland | $89,050 |
| 31 | Texas | $87,454 |
| 32 | Alabama | $86,017 |
| 33 | Oregon | $86,766 |
| 34 | Ohio | $84,707 |
| 35 | Illinois | $88,803 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $87,842 |
| 37 | Maine | $87,917 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $84,256 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $83,277 |
| 40 | Indiana | $78,099 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $84,844 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $79,232 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $76,255 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $80,004 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $81,352 |
| 46 | Florida | $77,982 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $82,590 |
| 48 | Vermont | $77,162 |
| 49 | Kansas | $77,747 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $75,289 |
| 51 | Iowa | $73,549 |
Expert opinions on the best states for semiconductor engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for semiconductor 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.
Semiconductor engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025