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Best states for a senior software development engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- 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 software development engineers in the United States. Senior software development 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 software development engineers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for senior software development engineer jobs.
In order to get you the best states for senior software development engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Washington is the best state for senior software development engineer jobs, whereas Kentucky is the worst.
10 best states for senior software development engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 6,289 Average annual salary: $147,708 Lowest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location Quotient: 2.25
2. California
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 17,001 Average annual salary: $139,289 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Oregon
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 2,134 Average annual salary: $125,985 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Arizona
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 2,335 Average annual salary: $112,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Montana
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 546 Average annual salary: $104,292 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Nevada
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 705 Average annual salary: $115,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
7. Wyoming
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $102,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
8. Utah
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 1,488 Average annual salary: $102,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
9. Arkansas
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 919 Average annual salary: $100,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
10. Idaho
Total senior software development engineer jobs: 476 Average annual salary: $105,210 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Senior software development engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior software development engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior software development engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $147,708 | $108,000 | 7,405,743 | 6,289 |
| 2 | California | $139,289 | $102,000 | 39,536,653 | 17,001 |
| 3 | Oregon | $125,985 | $92,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,134 |
| 4 | Arizona | $112,219 | $83,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,335 |
| 5 | Montana | $104,292 | $76,000 | 1,050,493 | 546 |
| 6 | Nevada | $115,638 | $84,000 | 2,998,039 | 705 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $102,318 | $75,000 | 579,315 | 287 |
| 8 | Utah | $102,214 | $74,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,488 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $100,683 | $76,000 | 3,004,279 | 919 |
| 10 | Idaho | $105,210 | $76,000 | 1,716,943 | 476 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $100,554 | $74,000 | 2,088,070 | 776 |
| 12 | Virginia | $101,312 | $76,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,449 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $98,498 | $74,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,246 |
| 14 | Texas | $97,214 | $73,000 | 28,304,596 | 8,697 |
| 15 | New York | $104,340 | $79,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,340 |
| 16 | Indiana | $98,293 | $74,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,148 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $101,604 | $76,000 | 4,684,333 | 706 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $99,934 | $75,000 | 1,815,857 | 374 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $103,839 | $79,000 | 3,588,184 | 871 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $100,578 | $75,000 | 693,972 | 847 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $94,902 | $73,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,787 |
| 22 | Colorado | $99,242 | $73,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,186 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $100,825 | $76,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,613 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $93,913 | $72,000 | 755,393 | 335 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $97,522 | $74,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,916 |
| 26 | Vermont | $93,826 | $72,000 | 623,657 | 339 |
| 27 | Maryland | $97,242 | $73,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,664 |
| 28 | Georgia | $94,460 | $72,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,619 |
| 29 | Ohio | $95,026 | $72,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,934 |
| 30 | Michigan | $94,222 | $71,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,481 |
| 31 | Illinois | $96,570 | $73,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,432 |
| 32 | Delaware | $95,148 | $71,000 | 961,939 | 489 |
| 33 | Maine | $94,386 | $73,000 | 1,335,907 | 302 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $92,086 | $70,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,662 |
| 35 | Kansas | $89,413 | $67,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,036 |
| 36 | Alaska | $93,233 | $77,000 | 739,795 | 277 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $95,580 | $81,000 | 1,427,538 | 280 |
| 38 | Alabama | $91,479 | $69,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,278 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $89,287 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 600 |
| 40 | Florida | $93,802 | $72,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,751 |
| 41 | Iowa | $92,040 | $69,000 | 3,145,711 | 922 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $86,980 | $66,000 | 869,666 | 378 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $92,289 | $70,000 | 1,342,795 | 552 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $89,360 | $67,000 | 1,920,076 | 748 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $89,386 | $67,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,433 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $89,374 | $68,000 | 5,024,369 | 958 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $87,324 | $66,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,775 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $87,080 | $65,000 | 2,984,100 | 423 |
| 49 | Missouri | $86,350 | $65,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,710 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $86,580 | $65,000 | 3,930,864 | 643 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $84,797 | $64,000 | 4,454,189 | 947 |
Highest paying states for senior software development engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Software Development Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $147,708 |
| 2 | California | $139,289 |
| 3 | Oregon | $125,985 |
| 4 | Arizona | $112,219 |
| 5 | Montana | $104,292 |
| 6 | Nevada | $115,638 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $102,318 |
| 8 | Utah | $102,214 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $100,683 |
| 10 | Idaho | $105,210 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $100,554 |
| 12 | Virginia | $101,312 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $98,498 |
| 14 | Texas | $97,214 |
| 15 | New York | $104,340 |
| 16 | Indiana | $98,293 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $101,604 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $99,934 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $103,839 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $100,578 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $94,902 |
| 22 | Colorado | $99,242 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $100,825 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $93,913 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $97,522 |
| 26 | Vermont | $93,826 |
| 27 | Maryland | $97,242 |
| 28 | Georgia | $94,460 |
| 29 | Ohio | $95,026 |
| 30 | Michigan | $94,222 |
| 31 | Illinois | $96,570 |
| 32 | Delaware | $95,148 |
| 33 | Maine | $94,386 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $92,086 |
| 35 | Kansas | $89,413 |
| 36 | Alaska | $93,233 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $95,580 |
| 38 | Alabama | $91,479 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $89,287 |
| 40 | Florida | $93,802 |
| 41 | Iowa | $92,040 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $86,980 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $92,289 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $89,360 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $89,386 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $89,374 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $87,324 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $87,080 |
| 49 | Missouri | $86,350 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $86,580 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $84,797 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior software development engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior software development engineers 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 development engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025