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Best states for a senior engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
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Senior engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for senior engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for senior engineers.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for senior engineers.
In order to get you the best states for senior engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a senior engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for senior engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior engineer jobs: 4,272 Average annual salary: $128,210 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.82
2. California
Total senior engineer jobs: 17,278 Average annual salary: $129,753 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
3. Arizona
Total senior engineer jobs: 2,134 Average annual salary: $117,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. Oregon
Total senior engineer jobs: 2,049 Average annual salary: $113,508 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
5. Massachusetts
Total senior engineer jobs: 4,308 Average annual salary: $109,111 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
6. Idaho
Total senior engineer jobs: 438 Average annual salary: $111,120 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
7. Utah
Total senior engineer jobs: 1,569 Average annual salary: $102,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
8. District of Columbia
Total senior engineer jobs: 1,049 Average annual salary: $116,633 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.95
9. New Mexico
Total senior engineer jobs: 459 Average annual salary: $109,022 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
10. Nevada
Total senior engineer jobs: 529 Average annual salary: $107,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Senior engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,210 | $94,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,272 |
| 2 | California | $129,753 | $94,000 | 39,536,653 | 17,278 |
| 3 | Arizona | $117,782 | $87,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,134 |
| 4 | Oregon | $113,508 | $83,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,049 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $109,111 | $83,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,308 |
| 6 | Idaho | $111,120 | $81,000 | 1,716,943 | 438 |
| 7 | Utah | $102,527 | $75,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,569 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $116,633 | $88,000 | 693,972 | 1,049 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $109,022 | $81,000 | 2,088,070 | 459 |
| 10 | Nevada | $107,236 | $78,000 | 2,998,039 | 529 |
| 11 | Texas | $104,343 | $77,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,046 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $101,690 | $78,000 | 1,059,639 | 496 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $101,710 | $78,000 | 1,342,795 | 583 |
| 14 | New York | $106,448 | $81,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,177 |
| 15 | Alaska | $107,081 | $86,000 | 739,795 | 178 |
| 16 | Maryland | $104,195 | $79,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,930 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,647 | $75,000 | 961,939 | 418 |
| 18 | Colorado | $100,513 | $75,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,609 |
| 19 | Virginia | $99,806 | $75,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,322 |
| 20 | Illinois | $98,535 | $75,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,191 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $102,229 | $76,000 | 4,684,333 | 459 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $101,342 | $77,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,407 |
| 23 | Montana | $97,845 | $73,000 | 1,050,493 | 321 |
| 24 | Maine | $99,372 | $76,000 | 1,335,907 | 249 |
| 25 | Alabama | $94,784 | $71,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,073 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $103,238 | $83,000 | 1,427,538 | 219 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $97,661 | $74,000 | 1,815,857 | 233 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $98,236 | $75,000 | 3,588,184 | 980 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $94,650 | $73,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,094 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $95,652 | $72,000 | 6,715,984 | 915 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $92,548 | $69,000 | 579,315 | 157 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $93,602 | $72,000 | 755,393 | 199 |
| 33 | Georgia | $94,736 | $71,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,444 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $93,092 | $70,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,855 |
| 35 | Michigan | $92,719 | $71,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,681 |
| 36 | Vermont | $91,973 | $71,000 | 623,657 | 266 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $94,736 | $71,000 | 3,930,864 | 422 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $90,835 | $69,000 | 869,666 | 191 |
| 39 | Florida | $93,569 | $68,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,432 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $89,042 | $67,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,760 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $89,536 | $67,000 | 1,920,076 | 466 |
| 42 | Ohio | $88,540 | $67,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,105 |
| 43 | Kansas | $88,766 | $67,000 | 2,913,123 | 592 |
| 44 | Iowa | $88,968 | $68,000 | 3,145,711 | 619 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $88,862 | $68,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,024 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $89,003 | $66,000 | 2,984,100 | 246 |
| 47 | Missouri | $88,391 | $67,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,202 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $87,676 | $66,000 | 4,454,189 | 546 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $88,534 | $66,000 | 5,024,369 | 721 |
| 50 | Indiana | $85,412 | $65,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,356 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $78,337 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 477 |
Highest paying states for senior engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,210 |
| 2 | California | $129,753 |
| 3 | Arizona | $117,782 |
| 4 | Oregon | $113,508 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $109,111 |
| 6 | Idaho | $111,120 |
| 7 | Utah | $102,527 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $116,633 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $109,022 |
| 10 | Nevada | $107,236 |
| 11 | Texas | $104,343 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $101,690 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $101,710 |
| 14 | New York | $106,448 |
| 15 | Alaska | $107,081 |
| 16 | Maryland | $104,195 |
| 17 | Delaware | $99,647 |
| 18 | Colorado | $100,513 |
| 19 | Virginia | $99,806 |
| 20 | Illinois | $98,535 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $102,229 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $101,342 |
| 23 | Montana | $97,845 |
| 24 | Maine | $99,372 |
| 25 | Alabama | $94,784 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $103,238 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $97,661 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $98,236 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $94,650 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $95,652 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $92,548 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $93,602 |
| 33 | Georgia | $94,736 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $93,092 |
| 35 | Michigan | $92,719 |
| 36 | Vermont | $91,973 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $94,736 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $90,835 |
| 39 | Florida | $93,569 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $89,042 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $89,536 |
| 42 | Ohio | $88,540 |
| 43 | Kansas | $88,766 |
| 44 | Iowa | $88,968 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $88,862 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $89,003 |
| 47 | Missouri | $88,391 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $87,676 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $88,534 |
| 50 | Indiana | $85,412 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $78,337 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior 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