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Best states for a software architect
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for software architects in the United States. Software architect positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for software architects.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 software architect jobs.
In order to get you the best states for software architects, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Washington is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for software architects.
10 best states for software architects in 2025
1. Washington
Total software architect jobs: 4,813 Average annual salary: $119,790 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 2.09
2. Oregon
Total software architect jobs: 1,817 Average annual salary: $118,605 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
3. California
Total software architect jobs: 14,526 Average annual salary: $128,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
4. Arizona
Total software architect jobs: 1,811 Average annual salary: $116,074 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Massachusetts
Total software architect jobs: 3,688 Average annual salary: $115,528 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
6. Utah
Total software architect jobs: 1,445 Average annual salary: $106,266 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
7. Wyoming
Total software architect jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $104,924 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. Idaho
Total software architect jobs: 569 Average annual salary: $106,652 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. Nevada
Total software architect jobs: 540 Average annual salary: $111,287 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
10. Vermont
Total software architect jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $104,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Software architect jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software architect
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software architect
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $119,790 | $83,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,813 |
| 2 | Oregon | $118,605 | $82,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,817 |
| 3 | California | $128,013 | $88,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,526 |
| 4 | Arizona | $116,074 | $80,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,811 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $115,528 | $86,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,688 |
| 6 | Utah | $106,266 | $73,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,445 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $104,924 | $74,000 | 579,315 | 213 |
| 8 | Idaho | $106,652 | $74,000 | 1,716,943 | 569 |
| 9 | Nevada | $111,287 | $76,000 | 2,998,039 | 540 |
| 10 | Vermont | $104,989 | $79,000 | 623,657 | 314 |
| 11 | Delaware | $105,949 | $78,000 | 961,939 | 508 |
| 12 | Alaska | $112,762 | $81,000 | 739,795 | 195 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $106,199 | $79,000 | 1,342,795 | 475 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $104,161 | $77,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,038 |
| 15 | Texas | $102,211 | $70,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,385 |
| 16 | New York | $106,477 | $79,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,599 |
| 17 | Colorado | $102,225 | $72,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,143 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $105,451 | $77,000 | 693,972 | 977 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $105,671 | $73,000 | 2,088,070 | 425 |
| 20 | Virginia | $101,421 | $74,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,754 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $95,010 | $71,000 | 1,059,639 | 511 |
| 22 | Maryland | $104,096 | $76,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,414 |
| 23 | Illinois | $98,904 | $73,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,116 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $100,091 | $74,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,132 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $97,045 | $71,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,528 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $101,270 | $75,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,301 |
| 27 | Ohio | $95,394 | $71,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,194 |
| 28 | Michigan | $94,960 | $71,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,807 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $97,197 | $71,000 | 1,920,076 | 472 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $95,670 | $71,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,249 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $94,610 | $70,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,796 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $97,546 | $70,000 | 3,930,864 | 416 |
| 33 | Indiana | $91,295 | $68,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,590 |
| 34 | Georgia | $90,389 | $65,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,120 |
| 35 | Alabama | $90,319 | $64,000 | 4,874,747 | 965 |
| 36 | Maine | $90,776 | $68,000 | 1,335,907 | 315 |
| 37 | Montana | $87,553 | $61,000 | 1,050,493 | 357 |
| 38 | Missouri | $90,420 | $66,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,311 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $84,337 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 663 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $84,016 | $62,000 | 755,393 | 276 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $86,875 | $64,000 | 4,454,189 | 732 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $84,422 | $62,000 | 1,815,857 | 261 |
| 43 | Iowa | $85,974 | $63,000 | 3,145,711 | 702 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $84,622 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 220 |
| 45 | Florida | $84,472 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,012 |
| 46 | Kansas | $83,633 | $61,000 | 2,913,123 | 721 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $82,968 | $60,000 | 869,666 | 228 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $82,287 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 926 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $84,883 | $59,000 | 2,984,100 | 245 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $82,731 | $57,000 | 4,684,333 | 508 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $80,593 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 609 |
Highest paying states for software architects
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Architect Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $119,790 |
| 2 | Oregon | $118,605 |
| 3 | California | $128,013 |
| 4 | Arizona | $116,074 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $115,528 |
| 6 | Utah | $106,266 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $104,924 |
| 8 | Idaho | $106,652 |
| 9 | Nevada | $111,287 |
| 10 | Vermont | $104,989 |
| 11 | Delaware | $105,949 |
| 12 | Alaska | $112,762 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $106,199 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $104,161 |
| 15 | Texas | $102,211 |
| 16 | New York | $106,477 |
| 17 | Colorado | $102,225 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $105,451 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $105,671 |
| 20 | Virginia | $101,421 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $95,010 |
| 22 | Maryland | $104,096 |
| 23 | Illinois | $98,904 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $100,091 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $97,045 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $101,270 |
| 27 | Ohio | $95,394 |
| 28 | Michigan | $94,960 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $97,197 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $95,670 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $94,610 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $97,546 |
| 33 | Indiana | $91,295 |
| 34 | Georgia | $90,389 |
| 35 | Alabama | $90,319 |
| 36 | Maine | $90,776 |
| 37 | Montana | $87,553 |
| 38 | Missouri | $90,420 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $84,337 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $84,016 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $86,875 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $84,422 |
| 43 | Iowa | $85,974 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $84,622 |
| 45 | Florida | $84,472 |
| 46 | Kansas | $83,633 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $82,968 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $82,287 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $84,883 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $82,731 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $80,593 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software architects
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025