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Best states for a senior optical engineer
- 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 optical engineers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for senior optical engineer 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.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for senior optical engineers in America. The best city in America for senior optical engineers with the highest pay is Seattle, WA.
The median salary for senior optical engineers in Washington is $124,586. Compare that to the median salary in Kentucky of $61,621, which ranked worst for senior optical engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for senior optical engineers, and the West is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for senior optical engineer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior optical engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 921 Average annual salary: $124,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
2. District of Columbia
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $122,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 2.32
3. California
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 3,937 Average annual salary: $115,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
4. Texas
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 1,414 Average annual salary: $116,837 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
5. Utah
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 266 Average annual salary: $97,102 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
6. Colorado
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 665 Average annual salary: $102,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
7. Nevada
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $106,113 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
8. Vermont
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $99,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
9. Idaho
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $104,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
10. Alaska
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $99,858 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Senior optical engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior optical engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior optical engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $124,586 | $91,000 | 7,405,743 | 921 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $122,967 | $91,000 | 693,972 | 276 |
| 3 | California | $115,236 | $82,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,937 |
| 4 | Texas | $116,837 | $84,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,414 |
| 5 | Utah | $97,102 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 266 |
| 6 | Colorado | $102,590 | $74,000 | 5,607,154 | 665 |
| 7 | Nevada | $106,113 | $75,000 | 2,998,039 | 102 |
| 8 | Vermont | $99,136 | $73,000 | 623,657 | 47 |
| 9 | Idaho | $104,743 | $76,000 | 1,716,943 | 65 |
| 10 | Alaska | $99,858 | $78,000 | 739,795 | 45 |
| 11 | Michigan | $90,491 | $68,000 | 9,962,311 | 547 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $95,896 | $70,000 | 6,859,819 | 750 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $93,940 | $69,000 | 1,059,639 | 68 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $102,452 | $75,000 | 9,005,644 | 368 |
| 15 | Delaware | $93,345 | $69,000 | 961,939 | 105 |
| 16 | Maryland | $94,291 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 660 |
| 17 | Illinois | $93,438 | $70,000 | 12,802,023 | 680 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $93,071 | $67,000 | 2,088,070 | 95 |
| 19 | Arizona | $89,378 | $64,000 | 7,016,270 | 497 |
| 20 | Alabama | $88,376 | $64,000 | 4,874,747 | 273 |
| 21 | Virginia | $90,139 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,116 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $93,260 | $69,000 | 6,715,984 | 175 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $89,995 | $68,000 | 5,576,606 | 430 |
| 24 | Ohio | $88,229 | $66,000 | 11,658,609 | 454 |
| 25 | Florida | $91,327 | $65,000 | 20,984,400 | 795 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $91,086 | $66,000 | 3,930,864 | 95 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $84,401 | $62,000 | 579,315 | 43 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $86,294 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 505 |
| 29 | Indiana | $85,044 | $63,000 | 6,666,818 | 322 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $84,523 | $62,000 | 1,342,795 | 123 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $86,945 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 175 |
| 32 | Missouri | $88,326 | $65,000 | 6,113,532 | 197 |
| 33 | Georgia | $85,381 | $62,000 | 10,429,379 | 570 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $83,842 | $62,000 | 10,273,419 | 539 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $81,451 | $62,000 | 755,393 | 56 |
| 36 | Oregon | $80,591 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 472 |
| 37 | Kansas | $84,418 | $62,000 | 2,913,123 | 102 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $82,963 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 89 |
| 39 | New York | $80,197 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,060 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $84,773 | $61,000 | 2,984,100 | 59 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $85,041 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 106 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $82,487 | $62,000 | 1,427,538 | 47 |
| 43 | Maine | $80,368 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 51 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $73,747 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 107 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $79,430 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 167 |
| 46 | Montana | $68,953 | $51,000 | 1,050,493 | 49 |
| 47 | Iowa | $74,181 | $55,000 | 3,145,711 | 110 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $62,139 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 230 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $63,477 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 39 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $67,143 | $50,000 | 1,815,857 | 44 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $61,621 | $46,000 | 4,454,189 | 126 |
Highest paying states for senior optical engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Optical Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $124,586 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $122,967 |
| 3 | California | $115,236 |
| 4 | Texas | $116,837 |
| 5 | Utah | $97,102 |
| 6 | Colorado | $102,590 |
| 7 | Nevada | $106,113 |
| 8 | Vermont | $99,136 |
| 9 | Idaho | $104,743 |
| 10 | Alaska | $99,858 |
| 11 | Michigan | $90,491 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $95,896 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $93,940 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $102,452 |
| 15 | Delaware | $93,345 |
| 16 | Maryland | $94,291 |
| 17 | Illinois | $93,438 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $93,071 |
| 19 | Arizona | $89,378 |
| 20 | Alabama | $88,376 |
| 21 | Virginia | $90,139 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $93,260 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $89,995 |
| 24 | Ohio | $88,229 |
| 25 | Florida | $91,327 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $91,086 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $84,401 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $86,294 |
| 29 | Indiana | $85,044 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $84,523 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $86,945 |
| 32 | Missouri | $88,326 |
| 33 | Georgia | $85,381 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $83,842 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $81,451 |
| 36 | Oregon | $80,591 |
| 37 | Kansas | $84,418 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $82,963 |
| 39 | New York | $80,197 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $84,773 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $85,041 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $82,487 |
| 43 | Maine | $80,368 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $73,747 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $79,430 |
| 46 | Montana | $68,953 |
| 47 | Iowa | $74,181 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $62,139 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $63,477 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $67,143 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $61,621 |
Senior optical engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025