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Best states for a senior manufacturing engineer
Quoted expert
Neil Littell
- 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 senior manufacturing engineers in the United States. Senior manufacturing 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 senior manufacturing engineers.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for senior manufacturing engineers in America. The best city in America for senior manufacturing engineers with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
The median salary for senior manufacturing engineers in California is $112,486. Compare that to the median salary in Kansas of $67,636, which ranked worst for senior manufacturing engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for senior manufacturing engineer jobs, whereas Kansas is the worst.
10 best states for senior manufacturing engineers in 2026
1. California
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 9,231 Average annual salary: $112,486 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.87
2. Arizona
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,211 Average annual salary: $105,485 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. Texas
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 3,297 Average annual salary: $104,426 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
4. Washington
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,507 Average annual salary: $101,314 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
5. Delaware
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 236 Average annual salary: $100,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. Colorado
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,232 Average annual salary: $98,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
7. Virginia
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,753 Average annual salary: $99,811 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. Massachusetts
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 1,932 Average annual salary: $95,223 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
9. Alabama
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 754 Average annual salary: $93,119 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. New Mexico
Total senior manufacturing engineer jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $108,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
Senior manufacturing engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior manufacturing engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior manufacturing engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $112,486 | $82,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,231 |
| 2 | Arizona | $105,485 | $79,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,211 |
| 3 | Texas | $104,426 | $78,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,297 |
| 4 | Washington | $101,314 | $76,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,507 |
| 5 | Delaware | $100,009 | $75,000 | 961,939 | 236 |
| 6 | Colorado | $98,625 | $74,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,232 |
| 7 | Virginia | $99,811 | $75,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,753 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $95,223 | $72,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,932 |
| 9 | Alabama | $93,119 | $70,000 | 4,874,747 | 754 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $108,382 | $81,000 | 2,088,070 | 217 |
| 11 | Idaho | $104,121 | $77,000 | 1,716,943 | 193 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $94,033 | $71,000 | 1,059,639 | 185 |
| 13 | Oregon | $89,165 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 957 |
| 14 | Maryland | $96,761 | $72,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,067 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $91,408 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 635 |
| 16 | Utah | $86,329 | $64,000 | 3,101,833 | 567 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $87,007 | $66,000 | 579,315 | 90 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $92,217 | $69,000 | 693,972 | 347 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,699 | $63,000 | 1,815,857 | 222 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $95,398 | $71,000 | 9,005,644 | 934 |
| 21 | Maine | $89,484 | $68,000 | 1,335,907 | 156 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $87,861 | $66,000 | 2,984,100 | 249 |
| 23 | Ohio | $83,608 | $63,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,539 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $85,338 | $65,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,143 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $83,479 | $62,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,669 |
| 26 | Michigan | $81,258 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,298 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $81,693 | $61,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,510 |
| 28 | Illinois | $84,881 | $64,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,663 |
| 29 | Vermont | $83,454 | $63,000 | 623,657 | 115 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $84,422 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 309 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $82,313 | $62,000 | 4,454,189 | 448 |
| 32 | Nevada | $84,334 | $62,000 | 2,998,039 | 236 |
| 33 | Montana | $85,597 | $65,000 | 1,050,493 | 118 |
| 34 | Georgia | $83,226 | $63,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,383 |
| 35 | Florida | $83,604 | $61,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,971 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $79,797 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 354 |
| 37 | Alaska | $87,929 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 73 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $81,322 | $61,000 | 5,024,369 | 596 |
| 39 | New York | $82,652 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,805 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $76,742 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 911 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $76,002 | $57,000 | 6,715,984 | 725 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $79,472 | $60,000 | 1,920,076 | 256 |
| 43 | Iowa | $75,984 | $58,000 | 3,145,711 | 443 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $76,594 | $59,000 | 869,666 | 87 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $78,970 | $66,000 | 1,427,538 | 59 |
| 46 | Missouri | $77,509 | $59,000 | 6,113,532 | 656 |
| 47 | Indiana | $65,349 | $49,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,004 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $71,770 | $54,000 | 3,004,279 | 315 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $66,658 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 116 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $74,161 | $56,000 | 3,930,864 | 266 |
| 51 | Kansas | $67,636 | $51,000 | 2,913,123 | 315 |
Highest paying states for senior manufacturing engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Manufacturing Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $112,486 |
| 2 | Arizona | $105,485 |
| 3 | Texas | $104,426 |
| 4 | Washington | $101,314 |
| 5 | Delaware | $100,009 |
| 6 | Colorado | $98,625 |
| 7 | Virginia | $99,811 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $95,223 |
| 9 | Alabama | $93,119 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $108,382 |
| 11 | Idaho | $104,121 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $94,033 |
| 13 | Oregon | $89,165 |
| 14 | Maryland | $96,761 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $91,408 |
| 16 | Utah | $86,329 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $87,007 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $92,217 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,699 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $95,398 |
| 21 | Maine | $89,484 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $87,861 |
| 23 | Ohio | $83,608 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $85,338 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $83,479 |
| 26 | Michigan | $81,258 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $81,693 |
| 28 | Illinois | $84,881 |
| 29 | Vermont | $83,454 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $84,422 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $82,313 |
| 32 | Nevada | $84,334 |
| 33 | Montana | $85,597 |
| 34 | Georgia | $83,226 |
| 35 | Florida | $83,604 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $79,797 |
| 37 | Alaska | $87,929 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $81,322 |
| 39 | New York | $82,652 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $76,742 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $76,002 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $79,472 |
| 43 | Iowa | $75,984 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $76,594 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $78,970 |
| 46 | Missouri | $77,509 |
| 47 | Indiana | $65,349 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $71,770 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $66,658 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $74,161 |
| 51 | Kansas | $67,636 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior manufacturing engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior manufacturing engineers to find work opportunities?
Neil Littell
Associate Professor and Kraft Family Scholar, Ohio University
Manufacturing in the United States is booming almost everywhere. California, Texas, Ohio, and Indiana are all doing exceptionally well. For new graduates, this is a terrific time to be in manufacturing because many openings are being created through workforce retirements and a desire to implement new technologies, such as robotic automation. Right now, we are at the beginning of the 4th industrial revolution. We are driven by technology to lower manufacturing costs while increasing the speed and technological innovation within manufacturing facilities. In the U.S., new digital engineering and manufacturing technologies are enabling companies to launch better products faster and with more options and advanced features. This is driving American product innovation and creating domestic jobs.
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Updated January 8, 2025