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Best states for a senior software programmer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become a senior software programmer at Client Network Services, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for senior software programmers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research found that Washington is the best state for senior software programmers, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $128,311 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for senior software programmers.
In order to get you the best states for senior software programmers, 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 the Midwest is best for senior software programmers, and the Northeast is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for senior software programmer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior software programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior software programmer jobs: 4,589 Average annual salary: $128,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 2.422. Virginia
Total senior software programmer jobs: 3,548 Average annual salary: $115,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.453. Oregon
Total senior software programmer jobs: 1,510 Average annual salary: $114,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.414. California
Total senior software programmer jobs: 12,717 Average annual salary: $119,501 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.685. North Carolina
Total senior software programmer jobs: 2,063 Average annual salary: $105,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.836. Vermont
Total senior software programmer jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $101,869 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.427. Texas
Total senior software programmer jobs: 5,120 Average annual salary: $104,216 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 0.988. Massachusetts
Total senior software programmer jobs: 2,887 Average annual salary: $103,955 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.219. Nevada
Total senior software programmer jobs: 406 Average annual salary: $107,771 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.7510. Indiana
Total senior software programmer jobs: 1,242 Average annual salary: $103,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
Senior software programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior software programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior software programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,311 | $95,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,589 |
| 2 | Virginia | $115,059 | $88,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,548 |
| 3 | Oregon | $114,722 | $84,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,510 |
| 4 | California | $119,501 | $87,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,717 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $105,167 | $80,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,063 |
| 6 | Vermont | $101,869 | $80,000 | 623,657 | 282 |
| 7 | Texas | $104,216 | $77,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,120 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $103,955 | $80,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,887 |
| 9 | Nevada | $107,771 | $78,000 | 2,998,039 | 406 |
| 10 | Indiana | $103,507 | $79,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,242 |
| 11 | Idaho | $102,063 | $75,000 | 1,716,943 | 385 |
| 12 | Georgia | $101,027 | $76,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,330 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $100,386 | $78,000 | 1,342,795 | 380 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $100,489 | $77,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,258 |
| 15 | Delaware | $98,829 | $76,000 | 961,939 | 472 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $101,991 | $78,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,020 |
| 17 | Maryland | $101,668 | $78,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,998 |
| 18 | Ohio | $99,346 | $76,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,830 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $99,623 | $76,000 | 693,972 | 718 |
| 20 | Arizona | $95,656 | $70,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,464 |
| 21 | Illinois | $97,796 | $75,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,722 |
| 22 | Utah | $92,143 | $68,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,209 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $91,045 | $69,000 | 579,315 | 181 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $92,521 | $72,000 | 1,059,639 | 410 |
| 25 | Michigan | $95,817 | $74,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,330 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $95,386 | $74,000 | 3,588,184 | 868 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $92,779 | $73,000 | 755,393 | 181 |
| 28 | New York | $97,173 | $75,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,191 |
| 29 | Colorado | $93,966 | $70,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,847 |
| 30 | Alaska | $94,757 | $80,000 | 739,795 | 184 |
| 31 | Iowa | $92,132 | $71,000 | 3,145,711 | 648 |
| 32 | Florida | $93,931 | $68,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,039 |
| 33 | Maine | $93,324 | $73,000 | 1,335,907 | 235 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $92,823 | $70,000 | 5,024,369 | 489 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $90,972 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 530 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $90,403 | $68,000 | 6,715,984 | 837 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $89,763 | $69,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,063 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $89,783 | $69,000 | 1,920,076 | 402 |
| 39 | Alabama | $87,425 | $66,000 | 4,874,747 | 850 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,890 | $67,000 | 4,684,333 | 382 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $89,617 | $67,000 | 3,930,864 | 336 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $89,813 | $74,000 | 1,427,538 | 176 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $88,244 | $69,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,299 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $86,083 | $66,000 | 1,815,857 | 252 |
| 45 | Kansas | $85,580 | $65,000 | 2,913,123 | 602 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $83,740 | $63,000 | 3,004,279 | 539 |
| 47 | Montana | $85,188 | $65,000 | 1,050,493 | 279 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $83,171 | $64,000 | 869,666 | 220 |
| 49 | Missouri | $86,772 | $66,000 | 6,113,532 | 934 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $84,792 | $62,000 | 2,088,070 | 352 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $84,804 | $63,000 | 2,984,100 | 226 |
Highest paying states for senior software programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Software Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $128,311 |
| 2 | Virginia | $115,059 |
| 3 | Oregon | $114,722 |
| 4 | California | $119,501 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $105,167 |
| 6 | Vermont | $101,869 |
| 7 | Texas | $104,216 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $103,955 |
| 9 | Nevada | $107,771 |
| 10 | Indiana | $103,507 |
| 11 | Idaho | $102,063 |
| 12 | Georgia | $101,027 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $100,386 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $100,489 |
| 15 | Delaware | $98,829 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $101,991 |
| 17 | Maryland | $101,668 |
| 18 | Ohio | $99,346 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $99,623 |
| 20 | Arizona | $95,656 |
| 21 | Illinois | $97,796 |
| 22 | Utah | $92,143 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $91,045 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $92,521 |
| 25 | Michigan | $95,817 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $95,386 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $92,779 |
| 28 | New York | $97,173 |
| 29 | Colorado | $93,966 |
| 30 | Alaska | $94,757 |
| 31 | Iowa | $92,132 |
| 32 | Florida | $93,931 |
| 33 | Maine | $93,324 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $92,823 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $90,972 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $90,403 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $89,763 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $89,783 |
| 39 | Alabama | $87,425 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,890 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $89,617 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $89,813 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $88,244 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $86,083 |
| 45 | Kansas | $85,580 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $83,740 |
| 47 | Montana | $85,188 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $83,171 |
| 49 | Missouri | $86,772 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $84,792 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $84,804 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior software programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior software programmers 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025