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Best states for a software developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for software developers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for software developer jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for software developers.
Washington is the best state for jobs for software developers, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $105,203, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $69,953.We found that Washington is the best state for software developer jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for software developers in 2025
1. Washington
Total software developer jobs: 3,717 Average annual salary: $105,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
2. California
Total software developer jobs: 12,886 Average annual salary: $105,486 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
3. Oregon
Total software developer jobs: 1,790 Average annual salary: $91,925 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
4. Virginia
Total software developer jobs: 4,569 Average annual salary: $88,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
5. Delaware
Total software developer jobs: 465 Average annual salary: $86,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
6. Rhode Island
Total software developer jobs: 582 Average annual salary: $83,927 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
7. New Jersey
Total software developer jobs: 2,786 Average annual salary: $89,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
8. Massachusetts
Total software developer jobs: 3,120 Average annual salary: $87,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
9. New York
Total software developer jobs: 3,753 Average annual salary: $91,105 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. Nevada
Total software developer jobs: 522 Average annual salary: $90,445 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
Software developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $105,203 | $78,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,717 |
| 2 | California | $105,486 | $77,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,886 |
| 3 | Oregon | $91,925 | $68,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,790 |
| 4 | Virginia | $88,203 | $68,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,569 |
| 5 | Delaware | $86,941 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 465 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $83,927 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 582 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $89,454 | $69,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,786 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $87,621 | $68,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,120 |
| 9 | New York | $91,105 | $70,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,753 |
| 10 | Nevada | $90,445 | $67,000 | 2,998,039 | 522 |
| 11 | Vermont | $83,969 | $65,000 | 623,657 | 310 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $85,696 | $67,000 | 1,342,795 | 462 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $84,664 | $65,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,132 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $88,668 | $69,000 | 693,972 | 993 |
| 15 | Arizona | $83,223 | $62,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,642 |
| 16 | Texas | $81,030 | $61,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,386 |
| 17 | Maryland | $86,640 | $67,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,711 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $82,616 | $64,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,643 |
| 19 | Idaho | $80,470 | $59,000 | 1,716,943 | 467 |
| 20 | Ohio | $80,214 | $62,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,456 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $85,019 | $66,000 | 3,588,184 | 845 |
| 22 | Utah | $77,101 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,333 |
| 23 | Maine | $80,306 | $63,000 | 1,335,907 | 310 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $78,926 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,880 |
| 25 | Montana | $77,227 | $58,000 | 1,050,493 | 355 |
| 26 | Michigan | $77,535 | $60,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,720 |
| 27 | Illinois | $79,152 | $61,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,126 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $76,747 | $60,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,346 |
| 29 | Indiana | $74,593 | $58,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,704 |
| 30 | Georgia | $77,037 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,666 |
| 31 | Colorado | $75,164 | $57,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,949 |
| 32 | Iowa | $75,032 | $58,000 | 3,145,711 | 759 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $73,123 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 237 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $73,333 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 312 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $72,006 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 732 |
| 36 | Missouri | $73,986 | $57,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,497 |
| 37 | Alaska | $77,357 | $61,000 | 739,795 | 164 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $74,873 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 750 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $72,888 | $56,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,148 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $70,698 | $55,000 | 1,920,076 | 709 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $72,747 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 787 |
| 42 | Kansas | $70,041 | $54,000 | 2,913,123 | 914 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $69,233 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 299 |
| 44 | Florida | $73,869 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,322 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $73,773 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 195 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $71,312 | $53,000 | 2,088,070 | 492 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $72,312 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 606 |
| 48 | Alabama | $70,621 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 958 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $65,339 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 173 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $70,719 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 305 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $69,953 | $54,000 | 3,930,864 | 505 |
Highest paying states for software developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $105,203 |
| 2 | California | $105,486 |
| 3 | Oregon | $91,925 |
| 4 | Virginia | $88,203 |
| 5 | Delaware | $86,941 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $83,927 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $89,454 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $87,621 |
| 9 | New York | $91,105 |
| 10 | Nevada | $90,445 |
| 11 | Vermont | $83,969 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $85,696 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $84,664 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $88,668 |
| 15 | Arizona | $83,223 |
| 16 | Texas | $81,030 |
| 17 | Maryland | $86,640 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $82,616 |
| 19 | Idaho | $80,470 |
| 20 | Ohio | $80,214 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $85,019 |
| 22 | Utah | $77,101 |
| 23 | Maine | $80,306 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $78,926 |
| 25 | Montana | $77,227 |
| 26 | Michigan | $77,535 |
| 27 | Illinois | $79,152 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $76,747 |
| 29 | Indiana | $74,593 |
| 30 | Georgia | $77,037 |
| 31 | Colorado | $75,164 |
| 32 | Iowa | $75,032 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $73,123 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $73,333 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $72,006 |
| 36 | Missouri | $73,986 |
| 37 | Alaska | $77,357 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $74,873 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $72,888 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $70,698 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $72,747 |
| 42 | Kansas | $70,041 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $69,233 |
| 44 | Florida | $73,869 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $73,773 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $71,312 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $72,312 |
| 48 | Alabama | $70,621 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $65,339 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $70,719 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $69,953 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025