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Best states for a software computer specialist
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for software computer specialists? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for software computer specialist jobs.We wanted to look at the best states for software computer specialists -- where there are plenty of software computer specialist jobs to go around and software computer specialists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for software computer specialists in Ohio is $104,519. Compare that to the median salary in Nebraska of $63,010, which ranked worst for software computer specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a software computer specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for software computer specialists in 2026
1. Ohio
Total software computer specialist jobs: 2,078 Average annual salary: $104,519 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
2. Nevada
Total software computer specialist jobs: 501 Average annual salary: $101,189 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
3. Arizona
Total software computer specialist jobs: 782 Average annual salary: $113,568 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. Delaware
Total software computer specialist jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $108,368 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Oregon
Total software computer specialist jobs: 459 Average annual salary: $112,995 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
6. Hawaii
Total software computer specialist jobs: 301 Average annual salary: $107,136 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 2.91
7. California
Total software computer specialist jobs: 3,161 Average annual salary: $119,509 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Louisiana
Total software computer specialist jobs: 515 Average annual salary: $97,121 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
9. Texas
Total software computer specialist jobs: 1,985 Average annual salary: $110,451 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. Virginia
Total software computer specialist jobs: 1,328 Average annual salary: $98,922 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
Software computer specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software computer specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software computer specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $104,519 | $70,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,078 |
| 2 | Nevada | $101,189 | $66,000 | 2,998,039 | 501 |
| 3 | Arizona | $113,568 | $76,000 | 7,016,270 | 782 |
| 4 | Delaware | $108,368 | $74,000 | 961,939 | 157 |
| 5 | Oregon | $112,995 | $74,000 | 4,142,776 | 459 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $107,136 | $80,000 | 1,427,538 | 301 |
| 7 | California | $119,509 | $80,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,161 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $97,121 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 515 |
| 9 | Texas | $110,451 | $73,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,985 |
| 10 | Virginia | $98,922 | $68,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,328 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $107,675 | $73,000 | 3,588,184 | 328 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $88,733 | $58,000 | 6,715,984 | 973 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $97,820 | $66,000 | 10,273,419 | 906 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $95,565 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 126 |
| 15 | Maryland | $95,959 | $65,000 | 6,052,177 | 966 |
| 16 | Washington | $100,430 | $65,000 | 7,405,743 | 714 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $93,391 | $64,000 | 1,342,795 | 193 |
| 18 | Kansas | $83,290 | $52,000 | 2,913,123 | 648 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $82,387 | $54,000 | 2,088,070 | 464 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $89,954 | $58,000 | 3,004,279 | 247 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $89,588 | $61,000 | 693,972 | 411 |
| 22 | Utah | $85,542 | $54,000 | 3,101,833 | 400 |
| 23 | Missouri | $83,005 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,090 |
| 24 | Michigan | $89,972 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 706 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $79,264 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 293 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $91,206 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 920 |
| 27 | Alabama | $86,235 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 437 |
| 28 | Georgia | $88,629 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 955 |
| 29 | Florida | $85,923 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,818 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $79,393 | $52,000 | 2,984,100 | 341 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $78,181 | $51,000 | 4,454,189 | 630 |
| 32 | Vermont | $81,102 | $55,000 | 623,657 | 113 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $77,078 | $49,000 | 3,930,864 | 515 |
| 34 | Colorado | $84,698 | $52,000 | 5,607,154 | 673 |
| 35 | Illinois | $85,872 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,066 |
| 36 | Maine | $79,802 | $54,000 | 1,335,907 | 165 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $77,402 | $52,000 | 5,024,369 | 705 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $79,903 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,140 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $72,235 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 243 |
| 40 | Alaska | $71,442 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 137 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $87,713 | $60,000 | 9,005,644 | 689 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $71,728 | $46,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,314 |
| 43 | Idaho | $78,522 | $50,000 | 1,716,943 | 180 |
| 44 | Montana | $77,837 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 135 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $73,753 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 129 |
| 46 | New York | $80,116 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,277 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $68,930 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 104 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $80,283 | $50,000 | 5,576,606 | 605 |
| 49 | Iowa | $73,414 | $46,000 | 3,145,711 | 409 |
| 50 | Indiana | $75,419 | $49,000 | 6,666,818 | 513 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $63,010 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 296 |
Highest paying states for software computer specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Computer Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $104,519 |
| 2 | Nevada | $101,189 |
| 3 | Arizona | $113,568 |
| 4 | Delaware | $108,368 |
| 5 | Oregon | $112,995 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $107,136 |
| 7 | California | $119,509 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $97,121 |
| 9 | Texas | $110,451 |
| 10 | Virginia | $98,922 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $107,675 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $88,733 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $97,820 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $95,565 |
| 15 | Maryland | $95,959 |
| 16 | Washington | $100,430 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $93,391 |
| 18 | Kansas | $83,290 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $82,387 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $89,954 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $89,588 |
| 22 | Utah | $85,542 |
| 23 | Missouri | $83,005 |
| 24 | Michigan | $89,972 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $79,264 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $91,206 |
| 27 | Alabama | $86,235 |
| 28 | Georgia | $88,629 |
| 29 | Florida | $85,923 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $79,393 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $78,181 |
| 32 | Vermont | $81,102 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $77,078 |
| 34 | Colorado | $84,698 |
| 35 | Illinois | $85,872 |
| 36 | Maine | $79,802 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $77,402 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $79,903 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $72,235 |
| 40 | Alaska | $71,442 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $87,713 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $71,728 |
| 43 | Idaho | $78,522 |
| 44 | Montana | $77,837 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $73,753 |
| 46 | New York | $80,116 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $68,930 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $80,283 |
| 49 | Iowa | $73,414 |
| 50 | Indiana | $75,419 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $63,010 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software computer specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software computer specialists to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
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Updated January 8, 2025