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Best states for a senior systems developer
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 systems developer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for senior systems developers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of senior systems developers in America is $139,000.
The median salary for senior systems developers in Washington is $131,424. Compare that to the median salary in Hawaii of $85,612, which ranked worst for senior systems developers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Washington is the best state, and Longview is the city with the highest pay for senior systems developers.
10 best states for senior systems developers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior systems developer jobs: 3,181 Average annual salary: $131,424 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
2. Vermont
Total senior systems developer jobs: 285 Average annual salary: $124,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Rhode Island
Total senior systems developer jobs: 542 Average annual salary: $112,896 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
4. Oregon
Total senior systems developer jobs: 1,648 Average annual salary: $117,362 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. California
Total senior systems developer jobs: 9,829 Average annual salary: $129,168 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. New Hampshire
Total senior systems developer jobs: 545 Average annual salary: $114,455 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
7. New York
Total senior systems developer jobs: 3,898 Average annual salary: $124,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. New Jersey
Total senior systems developer jobs: 3,006 Average annual salary: $117,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
9. Utah
Total senior systems developer jobs: 1,068 Average annual salary: $109,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
10. Massachusetts
Total senior systems developer jobs: 2,533 Average annual salary: $120,473 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
Senior systems developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior systems developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior systems developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $131,424 | $100,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,181 |
| 2 | Vermont | $124,163 | $96,000 | 623,657 | 285 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $112,896 | $86,000 | 1,059,639 | 542 |
| 4 | Oregon | $117,362 | $89,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,648 |
| 5 | California | $129,168 | $97,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,829 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $114,455 | $88,000 | 1,342,795 | 545 |
| 7 | New York | $124,982 | $96,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,898 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $117,934 | $90,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,006 |
| 9 | Utah | $109,597 | $84,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,068 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $120,473 | $92,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,533 |
| 11 | Montana | $108,158 | $84,000 | 1,050,493 | 368 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $110,183 | $86,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,061 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $115,244 | $89,000 | 5,024,369 | 889 |
| 14 | Texas | $106,318 | $82,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,328 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $106,051 | $82,000 | 579,315 | 180 |
| 16 | Idaho | $107,285 | $82,000 | 1,716,943 | 496 |
| 17 | Michigan | $108,823 | $84,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,031 |
| 18 | Delaware | $110,204 | $85,000 | 961,939 | 364 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $107,110 | $82,000 | 693,972 | 845 |
| 20 | Ohio | $103,021 | $80,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,884 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $103,864 | $80,000 | 1,920,076 | 665 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $102,950 | $80,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,938 |
| 23 | Nevada | $104,779 | $79,000 | 2,998,039 | 619 |
| 24 | Virginia | $104,238 | $80,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,273 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $101,838 | $78,000 | 2,088,070 | 677 |
| 26 | Alaska | $106,946 | $89,000 | 739,795 | 242 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $102,516 | $79,000 | 1,815,857 | 319 |
| 28 | Maine | $103,684 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 340 |
| 29 | Colorado | $105,515 | $81,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,705 |
| 30 | Illinois | $102,721 | $80,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,470 |
| 31 | Indiana | $101,630 | $79,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,513 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $100,954 | $78,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,281 |
| 33 | Maryland | $100,929 | $78,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,952 |
| 34 | Arizona | $98,193 | $75,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,857 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $99,306 | $77,000 | 869,666 | 289 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $101,819 | $78,000 | 3,588,184 | 954 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $97,948 | $75,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,567 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $101,325 | $78,000 | 3,930,864 | 563 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $94,411 | $74,000 | 755,393 | 282 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $101,018 | $78,000 | 4,684,333 | 596 |
| 41 | Iowa | $98,807 | $77,000 | 3,145,711 | 827 |
| 42 | Missouri | $99,595 | $77,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,519 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $98,485 | $76,000 | 2,984,100 | 369 |
| 44 | Georgia | $94,320 | $73,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,939 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $95,086 | $74,000 | 4,454,189 | 760 |
| 46 | Kansas | $90,688 | $70,000 | 2,913,123 | 840 |
| 47 | Florida | $90,379 | $69,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,325 |
| 48 | Alabama | $92,570 | $72,000 | 4,874,747 | 851 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $89,315 | $69,000 | 3,004,279 | 625 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $91,077 | $71,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,244 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $85,612 | $69,000 | 1,427,538 | 166 |
Highest paying states for senior systems developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Systems Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $131,424 |
| 2 | Vermont | $124,163 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $112,896 |
| 4 | Oregon | $117,362 |
| 5 | California | $129,168 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $114,455 |
| 7 | New York | $124,982 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $117,934 |
| 9 | Utah | $109,597 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $120,473 |
| 11 | Montana | $108,158 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $110,183 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $115,244 |
| 14 | Texas | $106,318 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $106,051 |
| 16 | Idaho | $107,285 |
| 17 | Michigan | $108,823 |
| 18 | Delaware | $110,204 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $107,110 |
| 20 | Ohio | $103,021 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $103,864 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $102,950 |
| 23 | Nevada | $104,779 |
| 24 | Virginia | $104,238 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $101,838 |
| 26 | Alaska | $106,946 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $102,516 |
| 28 | Maine | $103,684 |
| 29 | Colorado | $105,515 |
| 30 | Illinois | $102,721 |
| 31 | Indiana | $101,630 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $100,954 |
| 33 | Maryland | $100,929 |
| 34 | Arizona | $98,193 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $99,306 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $101,819 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $97,948 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $101,325 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $94,411 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $101,018 |
| 41 | Iowa | $98,807 |
| 42 | Missouri | $99,595 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $98,485 |
| 44 | Georgia | $94,320 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $95,086 |
| 46 | Kansas | $90,688 |
| 47 | Florida | $90,379 |
| 48 | Alabama | $92,570 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $89,315 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $91,077 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $85,612 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior systems developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior systems developers 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 systems developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025