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Best states for a senior computer scientist
Quoted expert
Jeff Kinne Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a senior computer scientist at Computer Science, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for senior computer scientists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. We wanted to look at the best states for senior computer scientists -- where there are plenty of senior computer scientist jobs to go around and senior computer scientists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Washington is the best state for jobs for senior computer scientists, and Nebraska is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $171,079, while the median pay in Nebraska is $104,046.If you are currently seeking employment as a senior computer scientist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for senior computer scientists in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 872 Average annual salary: $171,079 Lowest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
2. Alaska
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $156,394 Lowest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
3. California
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 3,148 Average annual salary: $162,746 Lowest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. Oregon
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 402 Average annual salary: $161,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. Idaho
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $145,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Delaware
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 182 Average annual salary: $130,333 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
7. Virginia
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 1,326 Average annual salary: $131,844 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
8. Utah
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 297 Average annual salary: $126,387 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
9. Nevada
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 135 Average annual salary: $129,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. Pennsylvania
Total senior computer scientist jobs: 997 Average annual salary: $124,788 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Senior computer scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior computer scientist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior computer scientist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $171,079 | $125,000 | 7,405,743 | 872 |
| 2 | Alaska | $156,394 | $119,000 | 739,795 | 99 |
| 3 | California | $162,746 | $118,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,148 |
| 4 | Oregon | $161,349 | $117,000 | 4,142,776 | 402 |
| 5 | Idaho | $145,340 | $104,000 | 1,716,943 | 154 |
| 6 | Delaware | $130,333 | $94,000 | 961,939 | 182 |
| 7 | Virginia | $131,844 | $95,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,326 |
| 8 | Utah | $126,387 | $91,000 | 3,101,833 | 297 |
| 9 | Nevada | $129,745 | $93,000 | 2,998,039 | 135 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $124,788 | $90,000 | 12,805,537 | 997 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $127,691 | $96,000 | 5,576,606 | 466 |
| 12 | Maryland | $126,424 | $91,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,091 |
| 13 | Arizona | $125,762 | $90,000 | 7,016,270 | 460 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $127,994 | $92,000 | 693,972 | 279 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $125,136 | $91,000 | 9,005,644 | 927 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $125,962 | $93,000 | 6,715,984 | 286 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $121,233 | $87,000 | 2,088,070 | 218 |
| 18 | Texas | $123,671 | $90,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,405 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $131,071 | $102,000 | 1,427,538 | 112 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $123,295 | $90,000 | 3,588,184 | 392 |
| 21 | Ohio | $123,025 | $90,000 | 11,658,609 | 600 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $120,496 | $88,000 | 1,342,795 | 189 |
| 23 | Vermont | $120,714 | $88,000 | 623,657 | 87 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $115,623 | $86,000 | 869,666 | 124 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $120,181 | $88,000 | 1,059,639 | 117 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $117,577 | $86,000 | 10,273,419 | 893 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $118,573 | $86,000 | 1,815,857 | 84 |
| 28 | New York | $121,027 | $88,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,346 |
| 29 | Montana | $117,347 | $85,000 | 1,050,493 | 118 |
| 30 | Maine | $118,292 | $87,000 | 1,335,907 | 112 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $118,617 | $87,000 | 4,454,189 | 161 |
| 32 | Colorado | $118,922 | $86,000 | 5,607,154 | 593 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $109,429 | $80,000 | 579,315 | 80 |
| 34 | Georgia | $116,493 | $86,000 | 10,429,379 | 688 |
| 35 | Michigan | $114,716 | $84,000 | 9,962,311 | 452 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $111,768 | $83,000 | 5,795,483 | 472 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,649 | $81,000 | 755,393 | 96 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $117,013 | $85,000 | 6,859,819 | 846 |
| 39 | Indiana | $114,804 | $84,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $112,890 | $82,000 | 4,684,333 | 160 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $109,861 | $81,000 | 3,004,279 | 126 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $109,817 | $81,000 | 5,024,369 | 287 |
| 43 | Illinois | $107,223 | $79,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,158 |
| 44 | Missouri | $109,263 | $80,000 | 6,113,532 | 405 |
| 45 | Alabama | $106,444 | $78,000 | 4,874,747 | 260 |
| 46 | Florida | $112,483 | $83,000 | 20,984,400 | 0 |
| 47 | Kansas | $103,954 | $76,000 | 2,913,123 | 221 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $108,577 | $79,000 | 3,930,864 | 122 |
| 49 | Iowa | $104,384 | $77,000 | 3,145,711 | 218 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $104,675 | $77,000 | 2,984,100 | 92 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $104,046 | $77,000 | 1,920,076 | 121 |
Highest paying states for senior computer scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Computer Scientist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $171,079 |
| 2 | Alaska | $156,394 |
| 3 | California | $162,746 |
| 4 | Oregon | $161,349 |
| 5 | Idaho | $145,340 |
| 6 | Delaware | $130,333 |
| 7 | Virginia | $131,844 |
| 8 | Utah | $126,387 |
| 9 | Nevada | $129,745 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $124,788 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $127,691 |
| 12 | Maryland | $126,424 |
| 13 | Arizona | $125,762 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $127,994 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $125,136 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $125,962 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $121,233 |
| 18 | Texas | $123,671 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $131,071 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $123,295 |
| 21 | Ohio | $123,025 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $120,496 |
| 23 | Vermont | $120,714 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $115,623 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $120,181 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $117,577 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $118,573 |
| 28 | New York | $121,027 |
| 29 | Montana | $117,347 |
| 30 | Maine | $118,292 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $118,617 |
| 32 | Colorado | $118,922 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $109,429 |
| 34 | Georgia | $116,493 |
| 35 | Michigan | $114,716 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $111,768 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $107,649 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $117,013 |
| 39 | Indiana | $114,804 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $112,890 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $109,861 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $109,817 |
| 43 | Illinois | $107,223 |
| 44 | Missouri | $109,263 |
| 45 | Alabama | $106,444 |
| 46 | Florida | $112,483 |
| 47 | Kansas | $103,954 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $108,577 |
| 49 | Iowa | $104,384 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $104,675 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $104,046 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior computer scientists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior computer scientists to find work opportunities?
Jeff Kinne Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chairperson of Computer Science, Indiana State University
ISU graduates have continued to end up getting jobs primarily in the midwest but also throughout the country. I don't see this changing-computer science is an area in demand everywhere, which will continue to be the case.
Senior computer scientist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025