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Best states for a senior software engineer/architect
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to senior software engineer/architect jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for senior software engineers/architect.In order to help you decide which state is the best for senior software engineers/architect, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for senior software engineer/architect jobs.
The median salary for senior software engineers/architect in Washington is $146,269. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $95,441, which ranked worst for senior software engineers/architect, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for senior software engineers/architect, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for senior software engineer/architect jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior software engineers/architect in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 5,028 Average annual salary: $146,269 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
2. California
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 15,318 Average annual salary: $151,515 Lowest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
3. Oregon
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 2,353 Average annual salary: $136,122 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
4. Massachusetts
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 3,984 Average annual salary: $138,636 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Nevada
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 722 Average annual salary: $139,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. New York
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 5,481 Average annual salary: $133,187 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
7. Arizona
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 2,175 Average annual salary: $122,805 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. Montana
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 504 Average annual salary: $118,803 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
9. Maine
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 401 Average annual salary: $125,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
10. South Carolina
Total senior software engineer/architect jobs: 873 Average annual salary: $133,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 0.51
Senior software engineer/architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior software engineer/architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior software engineer/architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $146,269 | $107,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,028 |
| 2 | California | $151,515 | $112,000 | 39,536,653 | 15,318 |
| 3 | Oregon | $136,122 | $100,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,353 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $138,636 | $105,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,984 |
| 5 | Nevada | $139,555 | $103,000 | 2,998,039 | 722 |
| 6 | New York | $133,187 | $101,000 | 19,849,399 | 5,481 |
| 7 | Arizona | $122,805 | $91,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,175 |
| 8 | Montana | $118,803 | $89,000 | 1,050,493 | 504 |
| 9 | Maine | $125,215 | $95,000 | 1,335,907 | 401 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $133,344 | $102,000 | 5,024,369 | 873 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $120,837 | $93,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,519 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $128,304 | $97,000 | 693,972 | 912 |
| 13 | Vermont | $117,649 | $89,000 | 623,657 | 384 |
| 14 | Idaho | $119,011 | $88,000 | 1,716,943 | 651 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $118,899 | $90,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,577 |
| 16 | Maryland | $118,988 | $90,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,245 |
| 17 | Florida | $122,474 | $90,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,446 |
| 18 | Texas | $115,343 | $86,000 | 28,304,596 | 8,698 |
| 19 | Utah | $114,642 | $85,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,437 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $116,573 | $89,000 | 1,920,076 | 701 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $116,449 | $88,000 | 1,342,795 | 678 |
| 22 | Virginia | $116,366 | $88,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,469 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $117,054 | $89,000 | 3,930,864 | 566 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $116,068 | $88,000 | 1,815,857 | 338 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $113,590 | $87,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,724 |
| 26 | Ohio | $114,772 | $87,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,803 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $112,866 | $85,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,015 |
| 28 | Michigan | $113,417 | $86,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,279 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $113,357 | $85,000 | 2,088,070 | 628 |
| 30 | Illinois | $113,069 | $86,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,760 |
| 31 | Georgia | $112,107 | $86,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,654 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $118,978 | $93,000 | 1,427,538 | 258 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $107,814 | $82,000 | 579,315 | 251 |
| 34 | Colorado | $110,812 | $84,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,687 |
| 35 | Indiana | $110,783 | $84,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,896 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $104,351 | $79,000 | 1,059,639 | 626 |
| 37 | Alabama | $108,422 | $82,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,162 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $103,263 | $79,000 | 755,393 | 372 |
| 39 | Missouri | $108,836 | $83,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,781 |
| 40 | Delaware | $103,452 | $78,000 | 961,939 | 592 |
| 41 | Iowa | $106,534 | $81,000 | 3,145,711 | 868 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $106,125 | $81,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,519 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $102,028 | $78,000 | 3,004,279 | 840 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $103,997 | $78,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,344 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $107,914 | $81,000 | 4,684,333 | 663 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $106,518 | $80,000 | 2,984,100 | 344 |
| 47 | Kansas | $99,539 | $76,000 | 2,913,123 | 958 |
| 48 | Alaska | $99,479 | $81,000 | 739,795 | 253 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,913 | $76,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,302 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $98,019 | $75,000 | 4,454,189 | 880 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $95,441 | $73,000 | 869,666 | 303 |
Highest paying states for senior software engineers/architect
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Software Engineer/Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $146,269 |
| 2 | California | $151,515 |
| 3 | Oregon | $136,122 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $138,636 |
| 5 | Nevada | $139,555 |
| 6 | New York | $133,187 |
| 7 | Arizona | $122,805 |
| 8 | Montana | $118,803 |
| 9 | Maine | $125,215 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $133,344 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $120,837 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $128,304 |
| 13 | Vermont | $117,649 |
| 14 | Idaho | $119,011 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $118,899 |
| 16 | Maryland | $118,988 |
| 17 | Florida | $122,474 |
| 18 | Texas | $115,343 |
| 19 | Utah | $114,642 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $116,573 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $116,449 |
| 22 | Virginia | $116,366 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $117,054 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $116,068 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $113,590 |
| 26 | Ohio | $114,772 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $112,866 |
| 28 | Michigan | $113,417 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $113,357 |
| 30 | Illinois | $113,069 |
| 31 | Georgia | $112,107 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $118,978 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $107,814 |
| 34 | Colorado | $110,812 |
| 35 | Indiana | $110,783 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $104,351 |
| 37 | Alabama | $108,422 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $103,263 |
| 39 | Missouri | $108,836 |
| 40 | Delaware | $103,452 |
| 41 | Iowa | $106,534 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $106,125 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $102,028 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $103,997 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $107,914 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $106,518 |
| 47 | Kansas | $99,539 |
| 48 | Alaska | $99,479 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,913 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $98,019 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $95,441 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior software engineers/architect
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior software engineer/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 engineer/architect best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025