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Best states for a software systems engineer
Quoted expert
Md Mahmudur Rahman Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for software systems engineers in the United States. Software systems engineer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for software systems engineers.As software systems engineers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for software systems engineers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a software systems engineer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
The median salary for software systems engineers in Washington is $122,875. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $75,455, which ranked worst for software systems engineers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a software systems engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for software systems engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total software systems engineer jobs: 5,722 Average annual salary: $122,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 2.06
2. California
Total software systems engineer jobs: 16,938 Average annual salary: $128,642 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Oregon
Total software systems engineer jobs: 2,274 Average annual salary: $111,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
4. Idaho
Total software systems engineer jobs: 630 Average annual salary: $110,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Vermont
Total software systems engineer jobs: 402 Average annual salary: $103,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
6. Wyoming
Total software systems engineer jobs: 271 Average annual salary: $101,039 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. New Hampshire
Total software systems engineer jobs: 684 Average annual salary: $104,654 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. Utah
Total software systems engineer jobs: 1,618 Average annual salary: $101,261 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
9. Alaska
Total software systems engineer jobs: 277 Average annual salary: $117,300 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
10. Nevada
Total software systems engineer jobs: 648 Average annual salary: $110,292 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
Software systems engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a software systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a software systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $122,875 | $92,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,722 |
| 2 | California | $128,642 | $95,000 | 39,536,653 | 16,938 |
| 3 | Oregon | $111,597 | $83,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,274 |
| 4 | Idaho | $110,340 | $82,000 | 1,716,943 | 630 |
| 5 | Vermont | $103,184 | $79,000 | 623,657 | 402 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $101,039 | $76,000 | 579,315 | 271 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $104,654 | $80,000 | 1,342,795 | 684 |
| 8 | Utah | $101,261 | $75,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,618 |
| 9 | Alaska | $117,300 | $96,000 | 739,795 | 277 |
| 10 | Nevada | $110,292 | $82,000 | 2,998,039 | 648 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $101,604 | $77,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,944 |
| 12 | Arizona | $98,217 | $73,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,130 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $96,827 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 723 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $91,886 | $69,000 | 1,059,639 | 680 |
| 15 | New York | $98,741 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,670 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $97,520 | $73,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,859 |
| 17 | Texas | $90,629 | $68,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,744 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $91,463 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,635 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $91,365 | $69,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,179 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $96,318 | $72,000 | 693,972 | 981 |
| 21 | Maryland | $91,558 | $69,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,716 |
| 22 | Montana | $89,034 | $67,000 | 1,050,493 | 443 |
| 23 | Colorado | $91,402 | $68,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,635 |
| 24 | Delaware | $89,815 | $67,000 | 961,939 | 594 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $92,327 | $70,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,121 |
| 26 | Maine | $89,794 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 402 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $88,504 | $68,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,268 |
| 28 | Virginia | $87,865 | $66,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,461 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $81,752 | $63,000 | 755,393 | 344 |
| 30 | Michigan | $83,806 | $64,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,392 |
| 31 | Ohio | $83,129 | $63,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,669 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $82,376 | $62,000 | 1,920,076 | 711 |
| 33 | Illinois | $84,140 | $64,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,848 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $81,909 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,430 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $79,531 | $61,000 | 869,666 | 335 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $81,345 | $62,000 | 3,930,864 | 601 |
| 37 | Missouri | $81,915 | $62,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,566 |
| 38 | Georgia | $81,469 | $62,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,997 |
| 39 | Kansas | $79,784 | $60,000 | 2,913,123 | 911 |
| 40 | Iowa | $80,021 | $61,000 | 3,145,711 | 932 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $78,057 | $59,000 | 1,815,857 | 346 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $79,906 | $61,000 | 2,984,100 | 427 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $81,154 | $61,000 | 4,684,333 | 611 |
| 44 | Alabama | $75,711 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,596 |
| 45 | Florida | $79,943 | $60,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,688 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $78,935 | $60,000 | 4,454,189 | 782 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $77,989 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 243 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $77,241 | $59,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,214 |
| 49 | Indiana | $77,788 | $59,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,799 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $79,151 | $60,000 | 5,024,369 | 905 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $75,455 | $57,000 | 3,004,279 | 776 |
Highest paying states for software systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Software Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $122,875 |
| 2 | California | $128,642 |
| 3 | Oregon | $111,597 |
| 4 | Idaho | $110,340 |
| 5 | Vermont | $103,184 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $101,039 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $104,654 |
| 8 | Utah | $101,261 |
| 9 | Alaska | $117,300 |
| 10 | Nevada | $110,292 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $101,604 |
| 12 | Arizona | $98,217 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $96,827 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $91,886 |
| 15 | New York | $98,741 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $97,520 |
| 17 | Texas | $90,629 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $91,463 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $91,365 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $96,318 |
| 21 | Maryland | $91,558 |
| 22 | Montana | $89,034 |
| 23 | Colorado | $91,402 |
| 24 | Delaware | $89,815 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $92,327 |
| 26 | Maine | $89,794 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $88,504 |
| 28 | Virginia | $87,865 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $81,752 |
| 30 | Michigan | $83,806 |
| 31 | Ohio | $83,129 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $82,376 |
| 33 | Illinois | $84,140 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $81,909 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $79,531 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $81,345 |
| 37 | Missouri | $81,915 |
| 38 | Georgia | $81,469 |
| 39 | Kansas | $79,784 |
| 40 | Iowa | $80,021 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $78,057 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $79,906 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $81,154 |
| 44 | Alabama | $75,711 |
| 45 | Florida | $79,943 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $78,935 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $77,989 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $77,241 |
| 49 | Indiana | $77,788 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $79,151 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $75,455 |
Expert opinions on the best states for software systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for software systems engineers to find work opportunities?
Md Mahmudur Rahman Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Morgan State University
For any CS graduates, generally, Silicon Valley is the first choice, followed by the DC metro (DMV) area and New York to find work opportunities in tech, defense, and cyber security-related industries. For Morgan students, the local market (Baltimore and DMV area) seems to be the right place due to the existence of a vibrant IT industry dominated by government labs and private contractors (such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Deloitte, etc.).
Due to the pandemic, many Big Tech industries (Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) recently announced their plan to work from home this year and next year (some even thinking about it indefinitely). As a result, the location might not be a concern now for our graduates as long as they can secure a job during this difficult time and work from anywhere!
Software systems engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025