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Best states for a senior software designer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
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- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a senior software designer and really want to work at Jackson National Life Insurance Company? Turns out, your chances to become a senior software designer are better in some states than others.As senior software designers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for senior software designers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a senior software designer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
The median salary for senior software designers in Washington is $129,870. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $86,439, which ranked worst for senior software designers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Washington is the best state for senior software designer jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for senior software designers in 2026
1. Washington
Total senior software designer jobs: 5,074 Average annual salary: $129,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 2.29
2. California
Total senior software designer jobs: 15,398 Average annual salary: $135,674 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
3. Oregon
Total senior software designer jobs: 2,010 Average annual salary: $119,656 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
4. Idaho
Total senior software designer jobs: 485 Average annual salary: $113,479 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
5. Utah
Total senior software designer jobs: 1,318 Average annual salary: $107,359 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
6. Arizona
Total senior software designer jobs: 1,494 Average annual salary: $112,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. Nevada
Total senior software designer jobs: 480 Average annual salary: $114,111 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
8. Massachusetts
Total senior software designer jobs: 3,841 Average annual salary: $105,822 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
9. Delaware
Total senior software designer jobs: 440 Average annual salary: $103,807 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
10. New York
Total senior software designer jobs: 4,485 Average annual salary: $108,222 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
Senior software designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior software designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior software designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $129,870 | $102,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,074 |
| 2 | California | $135,674 | $101,000 | 39,536,653 | 15,398 |
| 3 | Oregon | $119,656 | $92,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,010 |
| 4 | Idaho | $113,479 | $87,000 | 1,716,943 | 485 |
| 5 | Utah | $107,359 | $82,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,318 |
| 6 | Arizona | $112,873 | $86,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,494 |
| 7 | Nevada | $114,111 | $85,000 | 2,998,039 | 480 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $105,822 | $86,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,841 |
| 9 | Delaware | $103,807 | $82,000 | 961,939 | 440 |
| 10 | New York | $108,222 | $86,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,485 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $109,073 | $86,000 | 693,972 | 830 |
| 12 | Texas | $102,611 | $79,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,244 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $100,862 | $79,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,701 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $100,404 | $80,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,728 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $100,907 | $83,000 | 1,342,795 | 523 |
| 16 | Maine | $102,143 | $85,000 | 1,335,907 | 309 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $99,000 | $80,000 | 1,059,639 | 465 |
| 18 | Virginia | $102,394 | $81,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,601 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $102,453 | $82,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,613 |
| 20 | Michigan | $97,501 | $78,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,795 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $101,738 | $82,000 | 3,588,184 | 884 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $100,565 | $78,000 | 4,684,333 | 438 |
| 23 | Maryland | $98,880 | $78,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,541 |
| 24 | Vermont | $97,983 | $81,000 | 623,657 | 298 |
| 25 | Georgia | $97,207 | $76,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,702 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $97,019 | $74,000 | 2,088,070 | 453 |
| 27 | Illinois | $98,092 | $78,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,381 |
| 28 | Ohio | $96,040 | $76,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,029 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $96,008 | $79,000 | 755,393 | 211 |
| 30 | Montana | $95,823 | $76,000 | 1,050,493 | 370 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $96,778 | $78,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,907 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $95,750 | $75,000 | 1,920,076 | 510 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $95,393 | $74,000 | 6,715,984 | 793 |
| 34 | Colorado | $95,577 | $74,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,953 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $93,675 | $73,000 | 3,004,279 | 584 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $94,745 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 404 |
| 37 | Florida | $96,765 | $75,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,207 |
| 38 | Missouri | $95,273 | $75,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,157 |
| 39 | Alabama | $92,780 | $72,000 | 4,874,747 | 922 |
| 40 | Alaska | $97,009 | $86,000 | 739,795 | 160 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $92,649 | $74,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,139 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $93,895 | $73,000 | 2,984,100 | 250 |
| 43 | Indiana | $91,671 | $72,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,354 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $91,924 | $72,000 | 4,454,189 | 603 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $93,969 | $73,000 | 5,024,369 | 519 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $87,356 | $68,000 | 579,315 | 182 |
| 47 | Kansas | $90,938 | $71,000 | 2,913,123 | 681 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $92,297 | $77,000 | 1,427,538 | 177 |
| 49 | Iowa | $90,818 | $72,000 | 3,145,711 | 712 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $87,612 | $69,000 | 1,815,857 | 218 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $86,439 | $69,000 | 869,666 | 194 |
Highest paying states for senior software designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Software Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $129,870 |
| 2 | California | $135,674 |
| 3 | Oregon | $119,656 |
| 4 | Idaho | $113,479 |
| 5 | Utah | $107,359 |
| 6 | Arizona | $112,873 |
| 7 | Nevada | $114,111 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $105,822 |
| 9 | Delaware | $103,807 |
| 10 | New York | $108,222 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $109,073 |
| 12 | Texas | $102,611 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $100,862 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $100,404 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $100,907 |
| 16 | Maine | $102,143 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $99,000 |
| 18 | Virginia | $102,394 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $102,453 |
| 20 | Michigan | $97,501 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $101,738 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $100,565 |
| 23 | Maryland | $98,880 |
| 24 | Vermont | $97,983 |
| 25 | Georgia | $97,207 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $97,019 |
| 27 | Illinois | $98,092 |
| 28 | Ohio | $96,040 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $96,008 |
| 30 | Montana | $95,823 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $96,778 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $95,750 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $95,393 |
| 34 | Colorado | $95,577 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $93,675 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $94,745 |
| 37 | Florida | $96,765 |
| 38 | Missouri | $95,273 |
| 39 | Alabama | $92,780 |
| 40 | Alaska | $97,009 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $92,649 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $93,895 |
| 43 | Indiana | $91,671 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $91,924 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $93,969 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $87,356 |
| 47 | Kansas | $90,938 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $92,297 |
| 49 | Iowa | $90,818 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $87,612 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $86,439 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior software designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior software designers 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 designer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025