Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a software project leader
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 project leader jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for software project leaders.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of software project leaders in America is $142,000.
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 project leaders.We found that Washington is the best state for software project leader jobs, whereas Missouri is the worst.
10 best states for software project leaders in 2025
1. Washington
Total software project leader jobs: 4,147 Average annual salary: $124,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.842. California
Total software project leader jobs: 11,883 Average annual salary: $142,848 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 1.323. Vermont
Total software project leader jobs: 493 Average annual salary: $112,367 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 2.084. Oregon
Total software project leader jobs: 1,838 Average annual salary: $118,810 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.445. Rhode Island
Total software project leader jobs: 663 Average annual salary: $108,550 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.776. Pennsylvania
Total software project leader jobs: 4,887 Average annual salary: $106,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.367. New Hampshire
Total software project leader jobs: 758 Average annual salary: $104,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.48. Virginia
Total software project leader jobs: 3,054 Average annual salary: $110,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.059. Montana
Total software project leader jobs: 516 Average annual salary: $101,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.4510. Nevada
Total software project leader jobs: 606 Average annual salary: $106,047 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
Software project leader jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software project leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software project leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $124,381 | $91,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,147 |
| 2 | California | $142,848 | $104,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,883 |
| 3 | Vermont | $112,367 | $87,000 | 623,657 | 493 |
| 4 | Oregon | $118,810 | $86,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,838 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $108,550 | $83,000 | 1,059,639 | 663 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $106,130 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,887 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $104,727 | $80,000 | 1,342,795 | 758 |
| 8 | Virginia | $110,739 | $84,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,054 |
| 9 | Montana | $101,190 | $74,000 | 1,050,493 | 516 |
| 10 | Nevada | $106,047 | $77,000 | 2,998,039 | 606 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $103,644 | $79,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,162 |
| 12 | Arizona | $109,313 | $80,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,340 |
| 13 | Alaska | $106,691 | $84,000 | 739,795 | 254 |
| 14 | Delaware | $104,237 | $79,000 | 961,939 | 424 |
| 15 | Texas | $100,113 | $74,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,002 |
| 16 | New York | $105,640 | $80,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,293 |
| 17 | Michigan | $102,388 | $78,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,971 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $98,007 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 360 |
| 19 | Maine | $98,981 | $76,000 | 1,335,907 | 501 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $108,971 | $83,000 | 3,588,184 | 737 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $100,786 | $74,000 | 2,088,070 | 536 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $95,211 | $70,000 | 579,315 | 261 |
| 23 | Idaho | $99,372 | $72,000 | 1,716,943 | 520 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $101,287 | $77,000 | 693,972 | 813 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $99,109 | $76,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,477 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $97,754 | $74,000 | 1,815,857 | 338 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $101,163 | $77,000 | 5,024,369 | 818 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $99,711 | $78,000 | 1,427,538 | 291 |
| 29 | Utah | $93,414 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,143 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $94,613 | $72,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,367 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $92,167 | $70,000 | 1,920,076 | 784 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $95,262 | $74,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,933 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $94,333 | $72,000 | 4,454,189 | 750 |
| 34 | Indiana | $92,959 | $71,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,773 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $86,438 | $67,000 | 755,393 | 365 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $92,366 | $70,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,653 |
| 37 | Colorado | $94,270 | $69,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,669 |
| 38 | Maryland | $94,814 | $72,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,661 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $93,526 | $70,000 | 3,930,864 | 549 |
| 40 | Kansas | $90,499 | $68,000 | 2,913,123 | 822 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $93,180 | $70,000 | 2,984,100 | 334 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $87,785 | $67,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,665 |
| 43 | Iowa | $88,582 | $68,000 | 3,145,711 | 886 |
| 44 | Illinois | $93,136 | $71,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,358 |
| 45 | Ohio | $84,928 | $64,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,756 |
| 46 | Alabama | $85,623 | $64,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,145 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $82,205 | $62,000 | 3,004,279 | 744 |
| 48 | Georgia | $88,746 | $67,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,930 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $86,502 | $64,000 | 4,684,333 | 586 |
| 50 | Florida | $83,599 | $62,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,994 |
| 51 | Missouri | $80,152 | $61,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,404 |
Highest paying states for software project leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Project Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $124,381 |
| 2 | California | $142,848 |
| 3 | Vermont | $112,367 |
| 4 | Oregon | $118,810 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $108,550 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $106,130 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $104,727 |
| 8 | Virginia | $110,739 |
| 9 | Montana | $101,190 |
| 10 | Nevada | $106,047 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $103,644 |
| 12 | Arizona | $109,313 |
| 13 | Alaska | $106,691 |
| 14 | Delaware | $104,237 |
| 15 | Texas | $100,113 |
| 16 | New York | $105,640 |
| 17 | Michigan | $102,388 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $98,007 |
| 19 | Maine | $98,981 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $108,971 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $100,786 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $95,211 |
| 23 | Idaho | $99,372 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $101,287 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $99,109 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $97,754 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $101,163 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $99,711 |
| 29 | Utah | $93,414 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $94,613 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $92,167 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $95,262 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $94,333 |
| 34 | Indiana | $92,959 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $86,438 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $92,366 |
| 37 | Colorado | $94,270 |
| 38 | Maryland | $94,814 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $93,526 |
| 40 | Kansas | $90,499 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $93,180 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $87,785 |
| 43 | Iowa | $88,582 |
| 44 | Illinois | $93,136 |
| 45 | Ohio | $84,928 |
| 46 | Alabama | $85,623 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $82,205 |
| 48 | Georgia | $88,746 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $86,502 |
| 50 | Florida | $83,599 |
| 51 | Missouri | $80,152 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software project leaders
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software project leaders 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 project leader best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for software project leader jobs
Updated January 8, 2025