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Best states for a senior engineering manager
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for senior engineering managers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for senior engineering manager jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of senior engineering managers in America is $218,000.
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 senior engineering managers.If you are currently seeking employment as a senior engineering manager, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for senior engineering managers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 1,537 Average annual salary: $163,488 Lowest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
2. Alaska
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $183,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. California
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 5,064 Average annual salary: $174,646 Lowest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
4. Idaho
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $144,698 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
5. Oregon
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 540 Average annual salary: $160,277 Lowest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
6. Nevada
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $156,487 Lowest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
7. Massachusetts
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 1,594 Average annual salary: $146,434 Lowest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
8. New Hampshire
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $141,153 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
9. Rhode Island
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $139,254 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
10. Maine
Total senior engineering manager jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $140,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Senior engineering manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior engineering manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior engineering manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $163,488 | $119,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,537 |
| 2 | Alaska | $183,727 | $139,000 | 739,795 | 138 |
| 3 | California | $174,646 | $127,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,064 |
| 4 | Idaho | $144,698 | $104,000 | 1,716,943 | 268 |
| 5 | Oregon | $160,277 | $115,000 | 4,142,776 | 540 |
| 6 | Nevada | $156,487 | $112,000 | 2,998,039 | 243 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $146,434 | $108,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,594 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $141,153 | $104,000 | 1,342,795 | 274 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $139,254 | $102,000 | 1,059,639 | 209 |
| 10 | Maine | $140,764 | $104,000 | 1,335,907 | 188 |
| 11 | Arizona | $140,522 | $100,000 | 7,016,270 | 827 |
| 12 | New York | $149,172 | $109,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,941 |
| 13 | Montana | $138,025 | $102,000 | 1,050,493 | 177 |
| 14 | Utah | $132,037 | $95,000 | 3,101,833 | 565 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $135,196 | $99,000 | 3,588,184 | 539 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $147,833 | $110,000 | 1,427,538 | 130 |
| 17 | Indiana | $132,865 | $98,000 | 6,666,818 | 724 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $140,468 | $102,000 | 9,005,644 | 967 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $132,918 | $97,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,216 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $132,957 | $97,000 | 693,972 | 374 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $128,784 | $95,000 | 869,666 | 120 |
| 22 | Delaware | $128,320 | $93,000 | 961,939 | 225 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $123,208 | $93,000 | 755,393 | 146 |
| 24 | Michigan | $126,043 | $93,000 | 9,962,311 | 956 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $132,359 | $96,000 | 4,684,333 | 288 |
| 26 | Texas | $129,901 | $93,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,228 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $129,212 | $94,000 | 2,984,100 | 218 |
| 28 | Maryland | $131,004 | $95,000 | 6,052,177 | 940 |
| 29 | Vermont | $129,315 | $95,000 | 623,657 | 80 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $122,890 | $91,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,254 |
| 31 | Ohio | $125,601 | $92,000 | 11,658,609 | 975 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $125,060 | $92,000 | 4,454,189 | 358 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $123,610 | $92,000 | 5,576,606 | 916 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $121,598 | $89,000 | 1,920,076 | 277 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $121,285 | $87,000 | 2,088,070 | 253 |
| 36 | Georgia | $124,179 | $92,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,115 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $119,659 | $88,000 | 3,004,279 | 325 |
| 38 | Illinois | $123,288 | $91,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,493 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $122,134 | $90,000 | 6,715,984 | 490 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $118,291 | $87,000 | 1,815,857 | 172 |
| 41 | Colorado | $120,188 | $87,000 | 5,607,154 | 922 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $112,266 | $82,000 | 579,315 | 108 |
| 43 | Virginia | $118,615 | $86,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,610 |
| 44 | Florida | $121,099 | $88,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,679 |
| 45 | Kansas | $115,648 | $85,000 | 2,913,123 | 334 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $118,783 | $88,000 | 5,024,369 | 413 |
| 47 | Iowa | $115,501 | $85,000 | 3,145,711 | 377 |
| 48 | Missouri | $119,175 | $87,000 | 6,113,532 | 561 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $112,784 | $84,000 | 5,795,483 | 636 |
| 50 | Alabama | $113,898 | $83,000 | 4,874,747 | 455 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $112,766 | $82,000 | 3,930,864 | 221 |
Highest paying states for senior engineering managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Engineering Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $163,488 |
| 2 | Alaska | $183,727 |
| 3 | California | $174,646 |
| 4 | Idaho | $144,698 |
| 5 | Oregon | $160,277 |
| 6 | Nevada | $156,487 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $146,434 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $141,153 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $139,254 |
| 10 | Maine | $140,764 |
| 11 | Arizona | $140,522 |
| 12 | New York | $149,172 |
| 13 | Montana | $138,025 |
| 14 | Utah | $132,037 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $135,196 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $147,833 |
| 17 | Indiana | $132,865 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $140,468 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $132,918 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $132,957 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $128,784 |
| 22 | Delaware | $128,320 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $123,208 |
| 24 | Michigan | $126,043 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $132,359 |
| 26 | Texas | $129,901 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $129,212 |
| 28 | Maryland | $131,004 |
| 29 | Vermont | $129,315 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $122,890 |
| 31 | Ohio | $125,601 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $125,060 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $123,610 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $121,598 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $121,285 |
| 36 | Georgia | $124,179 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $119,659 |
| 38 | Illinois | $123,288 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $122,134 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $118,291 |
| 41 | Colorado | $120,188 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $112,266 |
| 43 | Virginia | $118,615 |
| 44 | Florida | $121,099 |
| 45 | Kansas | $115,648 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $118,783 |
| 47 | Iowa | $115,501 |
| 48 | Missouri | $119,175 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $112,784 |
| 50 | Alabama | $113,898 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $112,766 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior engineering managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior engineering managers 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.
Senior engineering manager best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025