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Best states for a software development manager
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and computer and mathematical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to software development manager jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for software development managers.Our research found that Washington is the best state for software development managers, while Alaska and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $146,585 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for software development managers.
Washington is the best state for jobs for software development managers, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $146,585, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $96,326.Washington is the best state, and Anchorage is the city with the highest pay for software development managers.
10 best states for software development managers in 2025
1. Washington
Total software development manager jobs: 4,683 Average annual salary: $146,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 2.212. California
Total software development manager jobs: 11,814 Average annual salary: $155,583 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location Quotient: 1.43. Oregon
Total software development manager jobs: 1,534 Average annual salary: $139,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location Quotient: 1.284. Alaska
Total software development manager jobs: 229 Average annual salary: $171,415 Lowest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location Quotient: 0.955. Montana
Total software development manager jobs: 434 Average annual salary: $125,548 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.36. Delaware
Total software development manager jobs: 347 Average annual salary: $142,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 0.967. North Dakota
Total software development manager jobs: 270 Average annual salary: $128,566 Lowest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 18. Nevada
Total software development manager jobs: 574 Average annual salary: $128,635 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 0.959. Arizona
Total software development manager jobs: 1,819 Average annual salary: $118,192 Lowest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.0710. West Virginia
Total software development manager jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $133,290 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
Software development manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software development manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software development manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $146,585 | $102,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,683 |
| 2 | California | $155,583 | $111,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,814 |
| 3 | Oregon | $139,228 | $96,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,534 |
| 4 | Alaska | $171,415 | $124,000 | 739,795 | 229 |
| 5 | Montana | $125,548 | $89,000 | 1,050,493 | 434 |
| 6 | Delaware | $142,302 | $108,000 | 961,939 | 347 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $128,566 | $97,000 | 755,393 | 270 |
| 8 | Nevada | $128,635 | $91,000 | 2,998,039 | 574 |
| 9 | Arizona | $118,192 | $85,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,819 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $133,290 | $101,000 | 1,815,857 | 320 |
| 11 | Utah | $114,560 | $80,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,062 |
| 12 | Texas | $112,315 | $83,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,790 |
| 13 | Virginia | $120,036 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,949 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $110,486 | $83,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,395 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $115,983 | $88,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,890 |
| 16 | New York | $124,605 | $94,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,258 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $107,395 | $81,000 | 1,059,639 | 441 |
| 18 | Idaho | $113,063 | $78,000 | 1,716,943 | 368 |
| 19 | Maryland | $115,105 | $87,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,873 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $113,493 | $86,000 | 1,342,795 | 385 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $115,749 | $87,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,146 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $110,765 | $79,000 | 579,315 | 123 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $110,944 | $84,000 | 693,972 | 623 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $106,734 | $77,000 | 2,088,070 | 667 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $104,771 | $78,000 | 869,666 | 274 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $119,116 | $87,000 | 1,427,538 | 214 |
| 27 | Vermont | $107,641 | $82,000 | 623,657 | 217 |
| 28 | Maine | $112,255 | $86,000 | 1,335,907 | 202 |
| 29 | Michigan | $104,224 | $78,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,979 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $104,025 | $78,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,227 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $101,905 | $77,000 | 3,004,279 | 810 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $114,076 | $86,000 | 3,588,184 | 623 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $105,421 | $80,000 | 2,984,100 | 380 |
| 34 | Missouri | $104,003 | $78,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,503 |
| 35 | Georgia | $103,976 | $79,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,834 |
| 36 | Ohio | $102,506 | $77,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,403 |
| 37 | Alabama | $102,972 | $78,000 | 4,874,747 | 998 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $103,997 | $78,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,200 |
| 39 | Indiana | $102,506 | $77,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,595 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $102,084 | $77,000 | 4,454,189 | 827 |
| 41 | Iowa | $102,775 | $77,000 | 3,145,711 | 756 |
| 42 | Illinois | $105,503 | $79,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,532 |
| 43 | Colorado | $103,003 | $74,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,535 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $101,917 | $78,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,113 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $102,812 | $79,000 | 5,024,369 | 815 |
| 46 | Florida | $102,459 | $77,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,867 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $99,712 | $74,000 | 1,920,076 | 591 |
| 48 | Kansas | $99,458 | $74,000 | 2,913,123 | 774 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,022 | $74,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,284 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $101,413 | $76,000 | 4,684,333 | 583 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $96,326 | $72,000 | 3,930,864 | 559 |
Highest paying states for software development managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Development Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $146,585 |
| 2 | California | $155,583 |
| 3 | Oregon | $139,228 |
| 4 | Alaska | $171,415 |
| 5 | Montana | $125,548 |
| 6 | Delaware | $142,302 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $128,566 |
| 8 | Nevada | $128,635 |
| 9 | Arizona | $118,192 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $133,290 |
| 11 | Utah | $114,560 |
| 12 | Texas | $112,315 |
| 13 | Virginia | $120,036 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $110,486 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $115,983 |
| 16 | New York | $124,605 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $107,395 |
| 18 | Idaho | $113,063 |
| 19 | Maryland | $115,105 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $113,493 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $115,749 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $110,765 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $110,944 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $106,734 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $104,771 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $119,116 |
| 27 | Vermont | $107,641 |
| 28 | Maine | $112,255 |
| 29 | Michigan | $104,224 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $104,025 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $101,905 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $114,076 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $105,421 |
| 34 | Missouri | $104,003 |
| 35 | Georgia | $103,976 |
| 36 | Ohio | $102,506 |
| 37 | Alabama | $102,972 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $103,997 |
| 39 | Indiana | $102,506 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $102,084 |
| 41 | Iowa | $102,775 |
| 42 | Illinois | $105,503 |
| 43 | Colorado | $103,003 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $101,917 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $102,812 |
| 46 | Florida | $102,459 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $99,712 |
| 48 | Kansas | $99,458 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,022 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $101,413 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $96,326 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software development managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software development managers 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