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Best states for a software programmer/analyst
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Software programmer/analyst opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for software programmer/analysts, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for software programmer/analysts.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for software programmer/analysts.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for software programmer/analysts.If you are currently seeking employment as a software programmer/analyst, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for software programmer/analysts in 2026
1. Washington
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 2,762 Average annual salary: $87,983 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. Utah
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 1,208 Average annual salary: $82,494 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. Vermont
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 292 Average annual salary: $78,893 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. California
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 11,795 Average annual salary: $87,248 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
5. Rhode Island
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 502 Average annual salary: $76,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
6. Massachusetts
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 2,958 Average annual salary: $80,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. Delaware
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 449 Average annual salary: $77,622 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
8. Connecticut
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 795 Average annual salary: $81,897 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. Minnesota
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 1,636 Average annual salary: $77,932 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. Arizona
Total software programmer/analyst jobs: 1,359 Average annual salary: $76,090 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Software programmer/analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software programmer/analyst
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software programmer/analyst
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,983 | $68,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,762 |
| 2 | Utah | $82,494 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,208 |
| 3 | Vermont | $78,893 | $62,000 | 623,657 | 292 |
| 4 | California | $87,248 | $66,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,795 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $76,313 | $59,000 | 1,059,639 | 502 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,741 | $63,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,958 |
| 7 | Delaware | $77,622 | $60,000 | 961,939 | 449 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $81,897 | $64,000 | 3,588,184 | 795 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $77,932 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,636 |
| 10 | Arizona | $76,090 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,359 |
| 11 | New York | $78,230 | $61,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,478 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $77,491 | $61,000 | 4,454,189 | 695 |
| 13 | Virginia | $75,059 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,799 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $72,198 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 271 |
| 15 | Iowa | $75,091 | $59,000 | 3,145,711 | 723 |
| 16 | Oregon | $72,923 | $56,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,741 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $72,462 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,456 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $74,623 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,042 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $73,059 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 436 |
| 20 | Maryland | $73,647 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,270 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $71,574 | $56,000 | 693,972 | 762 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $72,151 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,449 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $70,762 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,763 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $72,933 | $57,000 | 5,024,369 | 670 |
| 25 | Ohio | $71,396 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,027 |
| 26 | Georgia | $71,951 | $57,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,233 |
| 27 | Colorado | $71,458 | $55,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,702 |
| 28 | Texas | $70,222 | $54,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,259 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $70,377 | $55,000 | 1,815,857 | 272 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $70,113 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,245 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $68,255 | $54,000 | 3,004,279 | 660 |
| 32 | Illinois | $70,910 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,985 |
| 33 | Missouri | $70,131 | $55,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,278 |
| 34 | Indiana | $68,240 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,475 |
| 35 | Maine | $69,413 | $55,000 | 1,335,907 | 282 |
| 36 | Montana | $67,194 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 331 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $66,415 | $51,000 | 579,315 | 167 |
| 38 | Nevada | $68,721 | $52,000 | 2,998,039 | 442 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $67,761 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 487 |
| 40 | Idaho | $66,140 | $50,000 | 1,716,943 | 427 |
| 41 | Alaska | $67,668 | $58,000 | 739,795 | 172 |
| 42 | Michigan | $67,016 | $52,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,558 |
| 43 | Florida | $68,442 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,185 |
| 44 | Kansas | $63,629 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 778 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $67,362 | $53,000 | 3,930,864 | 439 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $59,660 | $47,000 | 1,920,076 | 616 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $65,915 | $52,000 | 2,984,100 | 304 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $62,964 | $49,000 | 755,393 | 199 |
| 49 | Alabama | $61,402 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 904 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $58,201 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 174 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $59,718 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 513 |
Highest paying states for software programmer/analysts
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Programmer/Analyst Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,983 |
| 2 | Utah | $82,494 |
| 3 | Vermont | $78,893 |
| 4 | California | $87,248 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $76,313 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $80,741 |
| 7 | Delaware | $77,622 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $81,897 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $77,932 |
| 10 | Arizona | $76,090 |
| 11 | New York | $78,230 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $77,491 |
| 13 | Virginia | $75,059 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $72,198 |
| 15 | Iowa | $75,091 |
| 16 | Oregon | $72,923 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $72,462 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $74,623 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $73,059 |
| 20 | Maryland | $73,647 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $71,574 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $72,151 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $70,762 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $72,933 |
| 25 | Ohio | $71,396 |
| 26 | Georgia | $71,951 |
| 27 | Colorado | $71,458 |
| 28 | Texas | $70,222 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $70,377 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $70,113 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $68,255 |
| 32 | Illinois | $70,910 |
| 33 | Missouri | $70,131 |
| 34 | Indiana | $68,240 |
| 35 | Maine | $69,413 |
| 36 | Montana | $67,194 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $66,415 |
| 38 | Nevada | $68,721 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $67,761 |
| 40 | Idaho | $66,140 |
| 41 | Alaska | $67,668 |
| 42 | Michigan | $67,016 |
| 43 | Florida | $68,442 |
| 44 | Kansas | $63,629 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $67,362 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $59,660 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $65,915 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $62,964 |
| 49 | Alabama | $61,402 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $58,201 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $59,718 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software programmer/analysts
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software programmer/analysts 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 programmer/analyst best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025