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Best states for a senior systems software engineer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to senior systems software engineer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research shows that Oregon is the best state in the country for senior systems software engineers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for senior systems software engineers.We found that Oregon is the best state for senior systems software engineer jobs, whereas Missouri is the worst.
10 best states for senior systems software engineers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 2,390 Average annual salary: $149,546 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
2. California
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 17,234 Average annual salary: $148,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Washington
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 5,635 Average annual salary: $145,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 1.98
4. Montana
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 451 Average annual salary: $118,667 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Utah
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 1,619 Average annual salary: $113,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Nevada
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 674 Average annual salary: $135,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
7. Arizona
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 2,185 Average annual salary: $112,348 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. Idaho
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 572 Average annual salary: $112,598 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Alaska
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 271 Average annual salary: $115,760 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
10. Texas
Total senior systems software engineer jobs: 8,007 Average annual salary: $106,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Senior systems software engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior systems software engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior systems software engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $149,546 | $109,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,390 |
| 2 | California | $148,991 | $109,000 | 39,536,653 | 17,234 |
| 3 | Washington | $145,171 | $106,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,635 |
| 4 | Montana | $118,667 | $87,000 | 1,050,493 | 451 |
| 5 | Utah | $113,409 | $82,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,619 |
| 6 | Nevada | $135,638 | $99,000 | 2,998,039 | 674 |
| 7 | Arizona | $112,348 | $82,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,185 |
| 8 | Idaho | $112,598 | $81,000 | 1,716,943 | 572 |
| 9 | Alaska | $115,760 | $93,000 | 739,795 | 271 |
| 10 | Texas | $106,625 | $79,000 | 28,304,596 | 8,007 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $107,302 | $83,000 | 1,342,795 | 678 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $115,337 | $87,000 | 693,972 | 1,018 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $105,407 | $78,000 | 579,315 | 259 |
| 14 | Maryland | $109,072 | $82,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,614 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $108,897 | $83,000 | 1,815,857 | 359 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $106,602 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,867 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $107,564 | $83,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,056 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $106,568 | $78,000 | 2,088,070 | 728 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $105,647 | $80,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,367 |
| 20 | Delaware | $105,328 | $80,000 | 961,939 | 591 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $103,389 | $79,000 | 1,059,639 | 636 |
| 22 | New York | $107,994 | $82,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,938 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $104,557 | $79,000 | 3,004,279 | 779 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $106,960 | $80,000 | 4,684,333 | 622 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $105,155 | $80,000 | 4,454,189 | 796 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $119,041 | $93,000 | 1,427,538 | 207 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $104,338 | $79,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,007 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $103,409 | $79,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,122 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $103,101 | $79,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,461 |
| 30 | Virginia | $100,513 | $76,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,354 |
| 31 | Ohio | $100,267 | $76,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,791 |
| 32 | Michigan | $100,024 | $76,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,320 |
| 33 | Maine | $101,233 | $79,000 | 1,335,907 | 391 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $97,453 | $75,000 | 755,393 | 324 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $102,884 | $78,000 | 5,024,369 | 930 |
| 36 | Kansas | $99,581 | $75,000 | 2,913,123 | 932 |
| 37 | Iowa | $100,251 | $76,000 | 3,145,711 | 870 |
| 38 | Colorado | $97,788 | $73,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,655 |
| 39 | Illinois | $98,434 | $75,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,133 |
| 40 | Vermont | $94,190 | $73,000 | 623,657 | 389 |
| 41 | Alabama | $92,139 | $70,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,550 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $98,795 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 605 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $95,351 | $73,000 | 1,920,076 | 693 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $93,916 | $72,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,426 |
| 45 | Florida | $95,577 | $72,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,867 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $91,075 | $69,000 | 869,666 | 349 |
| 47 | Georgia | $94,503 | $72,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,190 |
| 48 | Indiana | $93,426 | $71,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,789 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $90,988 | $69,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,286 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $91,824 | $69,000 | 2,984,100 | 421 |
| 51 | Missouri | $90,993 | $69,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,631 |
Highest paying states for senior systems software engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Systems Software Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $149,546 |
| 2 | California | $148,991 |
| 3 | Washington | $145,171 |
| 4 | Montana | $118,667 |
| 5 | Utah | $113,409 |
| 6 | Nevada | $135,638 |
| 7 | Arizona | $112,348 |
| 8 | Idaho | $112,598 |
| 9 | Alaska | $115,760 |
| 10 | Texas | $106,625 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $107,302 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $115,337 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $105,407 |
| 14 | Maryland | $109,072 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $108,897 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $106,602 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $107,564 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $106,568 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $105,647 |
| 20 | Delaware | $105,328 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $103,389 |
| 22 | New York | $107,994 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $104,557 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $106,960 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $105,155 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $119,041 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $104,338 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $103,409 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $103,101 |
| 30 | Virginia | $100,513 |
| 31 | Ohio | $100,267 |
| 32 | Michigan | $100,024 |
| 33 | Maine | $101,233 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $97,453 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $102,884 |
| 36 | Kansas | $99,581 |
| 37 | Iowa | $100,251 |
| 38 | Colorado | $97,788 |
| 39 | Illinois | $98,434 |
| 40 | Vermont | $94,190 |
| 41 | Alabama | $92,139 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $98,795 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $95,351 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $93,916 |
| 45 | Florida | $95,577 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $91,075 |
| 47 | Georgia | $94,503 |
| 48 | Indiana | $93,426 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $90,988 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $91,824 |
| 51 | Missouri | $90,993 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior systems software engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior systems software 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 systems software engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025