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Best states for a software director
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- 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 directors? 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 director jobs.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 director jobs.
The median salary for software directors in California is $177,860. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $94,846, which ranked worst for software directors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for software director jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for software directors in 2026
1. California
Total software director jobs: 11,363 Average annual salary: $177,860 Lowest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
2. Washington
Total software director jobs: 3,414 Average annual salary: $144,784 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location Quotient: 2.17
3. Vermont
Total software director jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $140,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Oregon
Total software director jobs: 1,262 Average annual salary: $138,550 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
5. Nevada
Total software director jobs: 345 Average annual salary: $154,982 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
6. New Jersey
Total software director jobs: 1,633 Average annual salary: $149,506 Lowest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
7. Massachusetts
Total software director jobs: 2,151 Average annual salary: $140,292 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
8. Alaska
Total software director jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $160,733 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $235,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
9. Idaho
Total software director jobs: 269 Average annual salary: $138,126 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
10. Utah
Total software director jobs: 990 Average annual salary: $125,911 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
Software director jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software director
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software director
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $177,860 | $124,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,363 |
| 2 | Washington | $144,784 | $95,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,414 |
| 3 | Vermont | $140,467 | $100,000 | 623,657 | 223 |
| 4 | Oregon | $138,550 | $90,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,262 |
| 5 | Nevada | $154,982 | $104,000 | 2,998,039 | 345 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $149,506 | $106,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,633 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $140,292 | $100,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,151 |
| 8 | Alaska | $160,733 | $109,000 | 739,795 | 102 |
| 9 | Idaho | $138,126 | $89,000 | 1,716,943 | 269 |
| 10 | Utah | $125,911 | $81,000 | 3,101,833 | 990 |
| 11 | Virginia | $130,829 | $91,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,588 |
| 12 | Arizona | $132,459 | $85,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,101 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $137,335 | $97,000 | 1,342,795 | 279 |
| 14 | New York | $135,290 | $95,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,729 |
| 15 | Delaware | $126,392 | $88,000 | 961,939 | 368 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $123,951 | $87,000 | 1,059,639 | 357 |
| 17 | Texas | $127,867 | $82,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,898 |
| 18 | Maryland | $128,950 | $89,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,532 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $126,133 | $89,000 | 3,588,184 | 676 |
| 20 | Maine | $129,834 | $92,000 | 1,335,907 | 147 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $126,094 | $87,000 | 693,972 | 590 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $126,592 | $85,000 | 1,427,538 | 265 |
| 23 | Indiana | $121,861 | $83,000 | 6,666,818 | 963 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $114,690 | $74,000 | 579,315 | 120 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $118,810 | $82,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,612 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $119,046 | $83,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,860 |
| 27 | Ohio | $117,403 | $81,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,498 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $104,831 | $72,000 | 1,815,857 | 443 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $113,771 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 305 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $108,075 | $69,000 | 4,684,333 | 730 |
| 31 | Montana | $110,200 | $71,000 | 1,050,493 | 215 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $113,501 | $77,000 | 755,393 | 122 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $108,905 | $74,000 | 5,795,483 | 942 |
| 34 | Michigan | $115,346 | $79,000 | 9,962,311 | 955 |
| 35 | Colorado | $108,950 | $70,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,528 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $111,701 | $76,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,081 |
| 37 | Illinois | $111,845 | $76,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,039 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $104,794 | $71,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,049 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $103,356 | $67,000 | 3,930,864 | 666 |
| 40 | Georgia | $109,143 | $73,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,654 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $98,525 | $66,000 | 869,666 | 329 |
| 42 | Alabama | $98,480 | $65,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,094 |
| 43 | Iowa | $107,166 | $72,000 | 3,145,711 | 369 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $104,409 | $71,000 | 4,454,189 | 412 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $97,396 | $63,000 | 2,984,100 | 424 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $104,265 | $69,000 | 1,920,076 | 284 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $101,688 | $68,000 | 6,715,984 | 614 |
| 48 | Kansas | $98,471 | $65,000 | 2,913,123 | 485 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $94,891 | $62,000 | 3,004,279 | 421 |
| 50 | Missouri | $98,657 | $66,000 | 6,113,532 | 762 |
| 51 | Florida | $94,846 | $60,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,271 |
Highest paying states for software directors
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Director Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $177,860 |
| 2 | Washington | $144,784 |
| 3 | Vermont | $140,467 |
| 4 | Oregon | $138,550 |
| 5 | Nevada | $154,982 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $149,506 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $140,292 |
| 8 | Alaska | $160,733 |
| 9 | Idaho | $138,126 |
| 10 | Utah | $125,911 |
| 11 | Virginia | $130,829 |
| 12 | Arizona | $132,459 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $137,335 |
| 14 | New York | $135,290 |
| 15 | Delaware | $126,392 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $123,951 |
| 17 | Texas | $127,867 |
| 18 | Maryland | $128,950 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $126,133 |
| 20 | Maine | $129,834 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $126,094 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $126,592 |
| 23 | Indiana | $121,861 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $114,690 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $118,810 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $119,046 |
| 27 | Ohio | $117,403 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $104,831 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $113,771 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $108,075 |
| 31 | Montana | $110,200 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $113,501 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $108,905 |
| 34 | Michigan | $115,346 |
| 35 | Colorado | $108,950 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $111,701 |
| 37 | Illinois | $111,845 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $104,794 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $103,356 |
| 40 | Georgia | $109,143 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $98,525 |
| 42 | Alabama | $98,480 |
| 43 | Iowa | $107,166 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $104,409 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $97,396 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $104,265 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $101,688 |
| 48 | Kansas | $98,471 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $94,891 |
| 50 | Missouri | $98,657 |
| 51 | Florida | $94,846 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software directors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software directors 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