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Best states for a software development engineer lead
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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Are you thinking of becoming a software development engineer lead and really want to work at Microsoft? Turns out, your chances to become a software development engineer lead are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for software development engineers lead in America. The best city in America for software development engineers lead with the highest pay is Seattle, WA.
In order to get you the best states for software development engineers lead, 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 Longview is the city with the highest pay for software development engineers lead.
10 best states for software development engineers lead in 2026
1. Washington
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 6,342 Average annual salary: $153,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location Quotient: 2.11
2. California
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 18,499 Average annual salary: $140,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
3. Oregon
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 2,396 Average annual salary: $129,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. Utah
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 1,576 Average annual salary: $131,181 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
5. Vermont
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $123,417 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
6. Delaware
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 547 Average annual salary: $120,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. District of Columbia
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 939 Average annual salary: $132,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
8. Montana
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 683 Average annual salary: $112,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
9. Nevada
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 1,021 Average annual salary: $111,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
10. Idaho
Total software development engineer lead jobs: 707 Average annual salary: $113,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
Software development engineer lead jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software development engineer lead
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software development engineer lead
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $153,013 | $115,000 | 7,405,743 | 6,342 |
| 2 | California | $140,936 | $106,000 | 39,536,653 | 18,499 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,870 | $97,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,396 |
| 4 | Utah | $131,181 | $98,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,576 |
| 5 | Vermont | $123,417 | $97,000 | 623,657 | 348 |
| 6 | Delaware | $120,818 | $93,000 | 961,939 | 547 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $132,149 | $101,000 | 693,972 | 939 |
| 8 | Montana | $112,100 | $85,000 | 1,050,493 | 683 |
| 9 | Nevada | $111,199 | $83,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,021 |
| 10 | Idaho | $113,735 | $85,000 | 1,716,943 | 707 |
| 11 | Alaska | $116,789 | $97,000 | 739,795 | 365 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $110,798 | $86,000 | 869,666 | 457 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $116,043 | $90,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,186 |
| 14 | New York | $123,795 | $95,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,809 |
| 15 | Texas | $109,685 | $84,000 | 28,304,596 | 9,081 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $113,395 | $89,000 | 1,342,795 | 572 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $108,167 | $84,000 | 1,059,639 | 651 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $105,614 | $80,000 | 579,315 | 299 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $115,076 | $89,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,024 |
| 20 | Maryland | $119,136 | $91,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,761 |
| 21 | Arizona | $110,632 | $84,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,409 |
| 22 | Michigan | $103,924 | $80,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,495 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $107,210 | $82,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,350 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $108,970 | $84,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,902 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $115,578 | $89,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,844 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $108,295 | $83,000 | 1,815,857 | 372 |
| 27 | Virginia | $107,482 | $82,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,899 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $101,758 | $78,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,163 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $112,530 | $87,000 | 3,588,184 | 957 |
| 30 | Maine | $108,330 | $86,000 | 1,335,907 | 301 |
| 31 | Iowa | $103,809 | $80,000 | 3,145,711 | 930 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $101,249 | $77,000 | 2,088,070 | 941 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $103,200 | $80,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,702 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $103,164 | $79,000 | 3,930,864 | 922 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $103,290 | $80,000 | 2,984,100 | 432 |
| 36 | Colorado | $103,386 | $79,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,374 |
| 37 | Illinois | $104,311 | $80,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,626 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $100,089 | $77,000 | 1,920,076 | 960 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $106,008 | $88,000 | 1,427,538 | 282 |
| 40 | Georgia | $102,489 | $79,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,750 |
| 41 | Alabama | $101,065 | $78,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,289 |
| 42 | Ohio | $100,011 | $77,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,008 |
| 43 | Kansas | $98,444 | $76,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,273 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $102,291 | $79,000 | 4,684,333 | 715 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $98,611 | $77,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,877 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $97,700 | $76,000 | 755,393 | 331 |
| 47 | Missouri | $100,857 | $78,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,715 |
| 48 | Florida | $100,005 | $78,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,985 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,150 | $76,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,448 |
| 50 | Indiana | $95,719 | $74,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,204 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $96,080 | $74,000 | 4,454,189 | 959 |
Highest paying states for software development engineers lead
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Development Engineer Lead Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $153,013 |
| 2 | California | $140,936 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,870 |
| 4 | Utah | $131,181 |
| 5 | Vermont | $123,417 |
| 6 | Delaware | $120,818 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $132,149 |
| 8 | Montana | $112,100 |
| 9 | Nevada | $111,199 |
| 10 | Idaho | $113,735 |
| 11 | Alaska | $116,789 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $110,798 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $116,043 |
| 14 | New York | $123,795 |
| 15 | Texas | $109,685 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $113,395 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $108,167 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $105,614 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $115,076 |
| 20 | Maryland | $119,136 |
| 21 | Arizona | $110,632 |
| 22 | Michigan | $103,924 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $107,210 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $108,970 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $115,578 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $108,295 |
| 27 | Virginia | $107,482 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $101,758 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $112,530 |
| 30 | Maine | $108,330 |
| 31 | Iowa | $103,809 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $101,249 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $103,200 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $103,164 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $103,290 |
| 36 | Colorado | $103,386 |
| 37 | Illinois | $104,311 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $100,089 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $106,008 |
| 40 | Georgia | $102,489 |
| 41 | Alabama | $101,065 |
| 42 | Ohio | $100,011 |
| 43 | Kansas | $98,444 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $102,291 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $98,611 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $97,700 |
| 47 | Missouri | $100,857 |
| 48 | Florida | $100,005 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,150 |
| 50 | Indiana | $95,719 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $96,080 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software development engineers lead
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software development engineer leads 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.
Software development engineer lead best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025