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Best states for a senior hardware engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
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Are you thinking of becoming a senior hardware engineer and really want to work at Qualcomm? Turns out, your chances to become a senior hardware engineer are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for senior hardware engineers in America. The best city in America for senior hardware engineers with the highest pay is Seattle, WA.
The median salary for senior hardware engineers in Washington is $177,095. Compare that to the median salary in Tennessee of $71,552, which ranked worst for senior hardware engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for senior hardware engineers, and the Northeast is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for senior hardware engineer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior hardware engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 1,038 Average annual salary: $177,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location Quotient: 1.682. Oregon
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 519 Average annual salary: $129,572 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.483. California
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 5,289 Average annual salary: $133,716 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 2.144. Massachusetts
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 1,112 Average annual salary: $119,898 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.435. Maine
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $128,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.616. New Hampshire
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $118,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.967. Vermont
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $117,278 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.968. Texas
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 1,539 Average annual salary: $115,116 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.99. Arizona
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 683 Average annual salary: $114,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.3810. New Mexico
Total senior hardware engineer jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $118,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
Senior hardware engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior hardware engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior hardware engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $177,095 | $133,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,038 |
| 2 | Oregon | $129,572 | $95,000 | 4,142,776 | 519 |
| 3 | California | $133,716 | $98,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,289 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $119,898 | $93,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,112 |
| 5 | Maine | $128,150 | $102,000 | 1,335,907 | 68 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,083 | $92,000 | 1,342,795 | 142 |
| 7 | Vermont | $117,278 | $93,000 | 623,657 | 62 |
| 8 | Texas | $115,116 | $86,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,539 |
| 9 | Arizona | $114,205 | $85,000 | 7,016,270 | 683 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $118,355 | $89,000 | 2,088,070 | 100 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $118,573 | $92,000 | 3,588,184 | 226 |
| 12 | Virginia | $113,054 | $86,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,203 |
| 13 | Kansas | $115,752 | $88,000 | 2,913,123 | 144 |
| 14 | Alabama | $107,693 | $82,000 | 4,874,747 | 364 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $115,022 | $89,000 | 755,393 | 37 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $111,502 | $85,000 | 1,815,857 | 74 |
| 17 | Idaho | $112,624 | $83,000 | 1,716,943 | 100 |
| 18 | Colorado | $109,500 | $83,000 | 5,607,154 | 735 |
| 19 | New York | $112,442 | $87,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $109,670 | $84,000 | 6,052,177 | 841 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $107,616 | $82,000 | 10,273,419 | 602 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $109,874 | $84,000 | 3,004,279 | 105 |
| 23 | Georgia | $107,356 | $82,000 | 10,429,379 | 666 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $108,402 | $83,000 | 12,805,537 | 548 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $105,926 | $82,000 | 5,795,483 | 293 |
| 26 | Montana | $107,346 | $81,000 | 1,050,493 | 62 |
| 27 | Utah | $101,983 | $76,000 | 3,101,833 | 333 |
| 28 | Alaska | $106,484 | $86,000 | 739,795 | 51 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $101,765 | $78,000 | 693,972 | 268 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $109,084 | $84,000 | 9,005,644 | 403 |
| 31 | Delaware | $101,984 | $78,000 | 961,939 | 130 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $101,939 | $79,000 | 1,059,639 | 87 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $104,140 | $84,000 | 1,427,538 | 61 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $105,600 | $79,000 | 4,684,333 | 114 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $101,235 | $78,000 | 5,576,606 | 501 |
| 36 | Florida | $102,695 | $77,000 | 20,984,400 | 987 |
| 37 | Michigan | $97,070 | $75,000 | 9,962,311 | 597 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $100,621 | $77,000 | 869,666 | 44 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $102,908 | $78,000 | 5,024,369 | 176 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $95,064 | $72,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 41 | Illinois | $100,237 | $77,000 | 12,802,023 | 810 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $100,929 | $77,000 | 3,930,864 | 103 |
| 43 | Ohio | $98,209 | $75,000 | 11,658,609 | 445 |
| 44 | Indiana | $94,727 | $72,000 | 6,666,818 | 364 |
| 45 | Iowa | $96,689 | $74,000 | 3,145,711 | 175 |
| 46 | Missouri | $97,719 | $75,000 | 6,113,532 | 254 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $93,089 | $71,000 | 1,920,076 | 122 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $96,555 | $73,000 | 2,984,100 | 58 |
| 49 | Nevada | $91,116 | $67,000 | 2,998,039 | 120 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $73,938 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 133 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $71,552 | $54,000 | 6,715,984 | 175 |
Highest paying states for senior hardware engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Hardware Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $177,095 |
| 2 | Oregon | $129,572 |
| 3 | California | $133,716 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $119,898 |
| 5 | Maine | $128,150 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,083 |
| 7 | Vermont | $117,278 |
| 8 | Texas | $115,116 |
| 9 | Arizona | $114,205 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $118,355 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $118,573 |
| 12 | Virginia | $113,054 |
| 13 | Kansas | $115,752 |
| 14 | Alabama | $107,693 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $115,022 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $111,502 |
| 17 | Idaho | $112,624 |
| 18 | Colorado | $109,500 |
| 19 | New York | $112,442 |
| 20 | Maryland | $109,670 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $107,616 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $109,874 |
| 23 | Georgia | $107,356 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $108,402 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $105,926 |
| 26 | Montana | $107,346 |
| 27 | Utah | $101,983 |
| 28 | Alaska | $106,484 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $101,765 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $109,084 |
| 31 | Delaware | $101,984 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $101,939 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $104,140 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $105,600 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $101,235 |
| 36 | Florida | $102,695 |
| 37 | Michigan | $97,070 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $100,621 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $102,908 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $95,064 |
| 41 | Illinois | $100,237 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $100,929 |
| 43 | Ohio | $98,209 |
| 44 | Indiana | $94,727 |
| 45 | Iowa | $96,689 |
| 46 | Missouri | $97,719 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $93,089 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $96,555 |
| 49 | Nevada | $91,116 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $73,938 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $71,552 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior hardware engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior hardware 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.
Senior hardware engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025