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Best states for a software programmer
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 programmer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for software programmers.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for software programmers.
The median salary for software programmers in Washington is $87,923. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $60,875, which ranked worst for software programmers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for software programmers, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for software programmer jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for software programmers in 2025
1. Washington
Total software programmer jobs: 2,499 Average annual salary: $87,923 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.442. Oregon
Total software programmer jobs: 1,355 Average annual salary: $79,522 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.383. California
Total software programmer jobs: 9,256 Average annual salary: $84,716 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.344. Delaware
Total software programmer jobs: 407 Average annual salary: $75,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.375. District of Columbia
Total software programmer jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $81,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.766. Arizona
Total software programmer jobs: 1,206 Average annual salary: $75,152 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.877. Virginia
Total software programmer jobs: 3,499 Average annual salary: $73,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.578. Maryland
Total software programmer jobs: 2,484 Average annual salary: $75,392 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.659. Pennsylvania
Total software programmer jobs: 2,551 Average annual salary: $72,357 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.9210. Nevada
Total software programmer jobs: 373 Average annual salary: $75,433 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
Software programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,923 | $65,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,499 |
| 2 | Oregon | $79,522 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,355 |
| 3 | California | $84,716 | $63,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,256 |
| 4 | Delaware | $75,244 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 407 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $81,107 | $63,000 | 693,972 | 700 |
| 6 | Arizona | $75,152 | $57,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,206 |
| 7 | Virginia | $73,939 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,499 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,392 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,484 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $72,357 | $56,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,551 |
| 10 | Nevada | $75,433 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 373 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,368 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,366 |
| 12 | Idaho | $72,829 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 380 |
| 13 | Vermont | $71,920 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 226 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $71,130 | $56,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,049 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $73,459 | $56,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,279 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $74,097 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 670 |
| 17 | Indiana | $71,075 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,353 |
| 18 | Utah | $69,971 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 953 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $71,209 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 179 |
| 20 | Texas | $70,188 | $54,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,791 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $73,644 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 695 |
| 22 | New York | $73,592 | $57,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,891 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $70,279 | $55,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,050 |
| 24 | Maine | $70,797 | $55,000 | 1,335,907 | 233 |
| 25 | Illinois | $70,380 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,618 |
| 26 | Kansas | $67,672 | $52,000 | 2,913,123 | 807 |
| 27 | Ohio | $69,274 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,781 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $70,157 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,129 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $68,354 | $53,000 | 4,454,189 | 696 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $67,821 | $52,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,198 |
| 31 | Alaska | $71,685 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $68,367 | $51,000 | 869,666 | 171 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,831 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,915 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $65,972 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 430 |
| 35 | Colorado | $69,110 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,362 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $68,495 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 298 |
| 37 | Iowa | $67,610 | $52,000 | 3,145,711 | 590 |
| 38 | Michigan | $66,641 | $52,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,414 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $64,132 | $50,000 | 3,004,279 | 649 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $67,704 | $52,000 | 3,930,864 | 455 |
| 41 | Missouri | $65,542 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,298 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $65,784 | $51,000 | 1,342,795 | 373 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $65,522 | $50,000 | 1,920,076 | 456 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $66,654 | $52,000 | 4,684,333 | 544 |
| 45 | Florida | $66,622 | $52,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,845 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $68,235 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 143 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $61,135 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 138 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $60,152 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 522 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $62,181 | $48,000 | 1,815,857 | 284 |
| 50 | Montana | $59,188 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 287 |
| 51 | Alabama | $60,875 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 734 |
Highest paying states for software programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $87,923 |
| 2 | Oregon | $79,522 |
| 3 | California | $84,716 |
| 4 | Delaware | $75,244 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $81,107 |
| 6 | Arizona | $75,152 |
| 7 | Virginia | $73,939 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,392 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $72,357 |
| 10 | Nevada | $75,433 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $74,368 |
| 12 | Idaho | $72,829 |
| 13 | Vermont | $71,920 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $71,130 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $73,459 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $74,097 |
| 17 | Indiana | $71,075 |
| 18 | Utah | $69,971 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $71,209 |
| 20 | Texas | $70,188 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $73,644 |
| 22 | New York | $73,592 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $70,279 |
| 24 | Maine | $70,797 |
| 25 | Illinois | $70,380 |
| 26 | Kansas | $67,672 |
| 27 | Ohio | $69,274 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $70,157 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $68,354 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $67,821 |
| 31 | Alaska | $71,685 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $68,367 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,831 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $65,972 |
| 35 | Colorado | $69,110 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $68,495 |
| 37 | Iowa | $67,610 |
| 38 | Michigan | $66,641 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $64,132 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $67,704 |
| 41 | Missouri | $65,542 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $65,784 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $65,522 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $66,654 |
| 45 | Florida | $66,622 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $68,235 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $61,135 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $60,152 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $62,181 |
| 50 | Montana | $59,188 |
| 51 | Alabama | $60,875 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software programmers 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