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Best states for a senior systems engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
It seems like senior systems engineers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for senior systems engineers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. 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 systems engineer jobs.
In order to get you the best states for senior systems 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 the South is best for senior systems engineers, and the West is the worst. Redwood City, CA is the best city in the country for senior systems engineer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for senior systems engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 1,864 Average annual salary: $126,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Oregon
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 1,076 Average annual salary: $113,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. California
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 8,529 Average annual salary: $122,979 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
4. Vermont
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $106,751 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. New Hampshire
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $104,250 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. Nevada
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 383 Average annual salary: $106,495 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. Idaho
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 291 Average annual salary: $106,705 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
8. District of Columbia
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 730 Average annual salary: $108,308 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 2.08
9. Massachusetts
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 1,975 Average annual salary: $104,474 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
10. Nebraska
Total senior systems engineer jobs: 404 Average annual salary: $100,785 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Senior systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $126,311 | $93,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,864 |
| 2 | Oregon | $113,621 | $83,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,076 |
| 3 | California | $122,979 | $90,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,529 |
| 4 | Vermont | $106,751 | $82,000 | 623,657 | 169 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $104,250 | $80,000 | 1,342,795 | 396 |
| 6 | Nevada | $106,495 | $78,000 | 2,998,039 | 383 |
| 7 | Idaho | $106,705 | $79,000 | 1,716,943 | 291 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $108,308 | $82,000 | 693,972 | 730 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $104,474 | $80,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,975 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $100,785 | $77,000 | 1,920,076 | 404 |
| 11 | Virginia | $102,069 | $77,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,913 |
| 12 | Texas | $98,541 | $74,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,517 |
| 13 | Maine | $104,149 | $80,000 | 1,335,907 | 189 |
| 14 | New York | $105,658 | $81,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,550 |
| 15 | Maryland | $102,393 | $78,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,374 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $96,379 | $73,000 | 579,315 | 128 |
| 17 | Arizona | $97,514 | $72,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,481 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $98,041 | $75,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,975 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $97,021 | $73,000 | 2,088,070 | 431 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $98,965 | $75,000 | 6,715,984 | 724 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $95,760 | $73,000 | 1,059,639 | 271 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $99,729 | $76,000 | 3,588,184 | 621 |
| 23 | Michigan | $95,894 | $74,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,309 |
| 24 | Alaska | $98,877 | $82,000 | 739,795 | 158 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $96,070 | $74,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,279 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $95,291 | $74,000 | 755,393 | 163 |
| 27 | Utah | $93,235 | $69,000 | 3,101,833 | 811 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $106,651 | $87,000 | 1,427,538 | 142 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $95,980 | $74,000 | 5,795,483 | 776 |
| 30 | Delaware | $95,731 | $73,000 | 961,939 | 235 |
| 31 | Colorado | $94,341 | $71,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,868 |
| 32 | Ohio | $93,645 | $72,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,528 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $98,113 | $75,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,400 |
| 34 | Alabama | $90,556 | $69,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,052 |
| 35 | Florida | $95,031 | $72,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,893 |
| 36 | Iowa | $94,548 | $73,000 | 3,145,711 | 467 |
| 37 | Illinois | $94,681 | $73,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,144 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $92,428 | $70,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,813 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $92,414 | $70,000 | 3,004,279 | 347 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $93,589 | $71,000 | 5,024,369 | 606 |
| 41 | Georgia | $92,985 | $71,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,691 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $90,812 | $70,000 | 869,666 | 162 |
| 43 | Montana | $92,553 | $70,000 | 1,050,493 | 199 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $88,708 | $68,000 | 1,815,857 | 226 |
| 45 | Missouri | $88,030 | $67,000 | 6,113,532 | 861 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $86,364 | $66,000 | 4,454,189 | 402 |
| 47 | Kansas | $85,809 | $65,000 | 2,913,123 | 433 |
| 48 | Indiana | $84,817 | $65,000 | 6,666,818 | 901 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $82,896 | $63,000 | 2,984,100 | 260 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $83,347 | $63,000 | 3,930,864 | 365 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $84,195 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 346 |
Highest paying states for senior systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $126,311 |
| 2 | Oregon | $113,621 |
| 3 | California | $122,979 |
| 4 | Vermont | $106,751 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $104,250 |
| 6 | Nevada | $106,495 |
| 7 | Idaho | $106,705 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $108,308 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $104,474 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $100,785 |
| 11 | Virginia | $102,069 |
| 12 | Texas | $98,541 |
| 13 | Maine | $104,149 |
| 14 | New York | $105,658 |
| 15 | Maryland | $102,393 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $96,379 |
| 17 | Arizona | $97,514 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $98,041 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $97,021 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $98,965 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $95,760 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $99,729 |
| 23 | Michigan | $95,894 |
| 24 | Alaska | $98,877 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $96,070 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $95,291 |
| 27 | Utah | $93,235 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $106,651 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $95,980 |
| 30 | Delaware | $95,731 |
| 31 | Colorado | $94,341 |
| 32 | Ohio | $93,645 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $98,113 |
| 34 | Alabama | $90,556 |
| 35 | Florida | $95,031 |
| 36 | Iowa | $94,548 |
| 37 | Illinois | $94,681 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $92,428 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $92,414 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $93,589 |
| 41 | Georgia | $92,985 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $90,812 |
| 43 | Montana | $92,553 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $88,708 |
| 45 | Missouri | $88,030 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $86,364 |
| 47 | Kansas | $85,809 |
| 48 | Indiana | $84,817 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $82,896 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $83,347 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $84,195 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior systems engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Senior systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025