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Best states for a senior software architect
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for senior software architects? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for senior software architect jobs.As senior software architects are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for senior software architects. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a senior software architect, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for senior software architect jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Oregon is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for senior software architects.
10 best states for senior software architects in 2026
1. Oregon
Total senior software architect jobs: 2,011 Average annual salary: $138,506 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
2. Washington
Total senior software architect jobs: 4,084 Average annual salary: $138,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
3. California
Total senior software architect jobs: 13,659 Average annual salary: $145,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
4. New Hampshire
Total senior software architect jobs: 577 Average annual salary: $130,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Utah
Total senior software architect jobs: 1,315 Average annual salary: $119,218 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
6. Delaware
Total senior software architect jobs: 520 Average annual salary: $121,030 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
7. Arizona
Total senior software architect jobs: 1,888 Average annual salary: $122,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. New York
Total senior software architect jobs: 4,808 Average annual salary: $125,132 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
9. Massachusetts
Total senior software architect jobs: 3,614 Average annual salary: $121,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. Rhode Island
Total senior software architect jobs: 577 Average annual salary: $112,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
Senior software architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior software architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior software architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $138,506 | $93,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,011 |
| 2 | Washington | $138,118 | $93,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,084 |
| 3 | California | $145,742 | $101,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,659 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $130,236 | $96,000 | 1,342,795 | 577 |
| 5 | Utah | $119,218 | $81,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,315 |
| 6 | Delaware | $121,030 | $88,000 | 961,939 | 520 |
| 7 | Arizona | $122,943 | $85,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,888 |
| 8 | New York | $125,132 | $91,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,808 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $121,026 | $89,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,614 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $112,782 | $83,000 | 1,059,639 | 577 |
| 11 | Alaska | $124,282 | $84,000 | 739,795 | 209 |
| 12 | Nevada | $117,110 | $80,000 | 2,998,039 | 656 |
| 13 | Vermont | $113,917 | $84,000 | 623,657 | 305 |
| 14 | Idaho | $115,670 | $77,000 | 1,716,943 | 555 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $118,959 | $86,000 | 693,972 | 1,035 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $115,298 | $84,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,243 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $111,696 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,529 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $115,503 | $84,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,144 |
| 19 | Texas | $112,026 | $77,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,772 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $112,099 | $82,000 | 4,454,189 | 790 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $109,988 | $80,000 | 1,815,857 | 270 |
| 22 | Iowa | $110,246 | $80,000 | 3,145,711 | 779 |
| 23 | Virginia | $108,800 | $79,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,975 |
| 24 | Michigan | $108,583 | $80,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,966 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $109,197 | $75,000 | 2,088,070 | 555 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $110,656 | $79,000 | 3,930,864 | 483 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $110,421 | $78,000 | 2,984,100 | 297 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $104,932 | $75,000 | 3,004,279 | 755 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $104,044 | $72,000 | 579,315 | 201 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $103,019 | $75,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,422 |
| 31 | Maryland | $104,132 | $76,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,763 |
| 32 | Ohio | $103,628 | $76,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,613 |
| 33 | Colorado | $105,328 | $73,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,183 |
| 34 | Maine | $106,851 | $79,000 | 1,335,907 | 323 |
| 35 | Illinois | $103,699 | $76,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,352 |
| 36 | Montana | $100,873 | $69,000 | 1,050,493 | 439 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $100,213 | $73,000 | 755,393 | 320 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $103,746 | $76,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,330 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $102,414 | $75,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,193 |
| 40 | Georgia | $100,293 | $72,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,346 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $103,068 | $74,000 | 5,024,369 | 723 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $103,736 | $77,000 | 1,427,538 | 214 |
| 43 | Kansas | $97,978 | $70,000 | 2,913,123 | 774 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $99,648 | $68,000 | 4,684,333 | 548 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $95,479 | $69,000 | 1,920,076 | 615 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $96,452 | $70,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,062 |
| 47 | Florida | $92,696 | $62,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,161 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $92,578 | $66,000 | 869,666 | 228 |
| 49 | Indiana | $92,187 | $67,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,648 |
| 50 | Alabama | $92,423 | $66,000 | 4,874,747 | 988 |
| 51 | Missouri | $89,029 | $64,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,596 |
Highest paying states for senior software architects
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Software Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $138,506 |
| 2 | Washington | $138,118 |
| 3 | California | $145,742 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $130,236 |
| 5 | Utah | $119,218 |
| 6 | Delaware | $121,030 |
| 7 | Arizona | $122,943 |
| 8 | New York | $125,132 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $121,026 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $112,782 |
| 11 | Alaska | $124,282 |
| 12 | Nevada | $117,110 |
| 13 | Vermont | $113,917 |
| 14 | Idaho | $115,670 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $118,959 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $115,298 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $111,696 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $115,503 |
| 19 | Texas | $112,026 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $112,099 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $109,988 |
| 22 | Iowa | $110,246 |
| 23 | Virginia | $108,800 |
| 24 | Michigan | $108,583 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $109,197 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $110,656 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $110,421 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $104,932 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $104,044 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $103,019 |
| 31 | Maryland | $104,132 |
| 32 | Ohio | $103,628 |
| 33 | Colorado | $105,328 |
| 34 | Maine | $106,851 |
| 35 | Illinois | $103,699 |
| 36 | Montana | $100,873 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $100,213 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $103,746 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $102,414 |
| 40 | Georgia | $100,293 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $103,068 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $103,736 |
| 43 | Kansas | $97,978 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $99,648 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $95,479 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $96,452 |
| 47 | Florida | $92,696 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $92,578 |
| 49 | Indiana | $92,187 |
| 50 | Alabama | $92,423 |
| 51 | Missouri | $89,029 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior software architects
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior software architects to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
Senior software architect best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025