Best states for a structural designer

Q: What is the best state for structural designers?

The best state to be a structural designer is California based on structural designer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for structural designers?

The highest paying state for structural designers is Wyoming based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for structural designers?

The worst state for structural designers is Wyoming, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a structural designer and really want to work at Jacobs Engineering Group? Turns out, your chances to become a structural designer are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for structural designers. We found that California is the best state in the nation for structural designers, and people in Pacifica earn the most in the field.

We figured that the best places for structural designer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the Midwest is best for structural designers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for structural designer jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.

10 best states for structural designers in 2026

1. California
Total structural designer jobs: 2,851
Average annual salary: $78,323
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.62
Structural designer jobs in California
2. New York
Total structural designer jobs: 1,065
Average annual salary: $68,788
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Structural designer jobs in New York
3. Maine
Total structural designer jobs: 74
Average annual salary: $66,823
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Structural designer jobs in Maine
4. Texas
Total structural designer jobs: 1,143
Average annual salary: $66,500
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Structural designer jobs in Texas
5. Oregon
Total structural designer jobs: 423
Average annual salary: $65,367
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
1.69
Structural designer jobs in Oregon
6. Tennessee
Total structural designer jobs: 225
Average annual salary: $67,788
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.63
Structural designer jobs in Tennessee
7. Kentucky
Total structural designer jobs: 126
Average annual salary: $68,948
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Structural designer jobs in Kentucky
8. Alaska
Total structural designer jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $70,325
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.73
Structural designer jobs in Alaska
9. Oklahoma
Total structural designer jobs: 102
Average annual salary: $68,116
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Structural designer jobs in Oklahoma
10. Connecticut
Total structural designer jobs: 188
Average annual salary: $64,973
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Structural designer jobs in Connecticut

Structural designer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a structural designer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a structural designer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$78,323	$56,000	39,536,653	2,851
2	New York	$68,788	$52,000	19,849,399	1,065
3	Maine	$66,823	$52,000	1,335,907	74
4	Texas	$66,500	$48,000	28,304,596	1,143
5	Oregon	$65,367	$49,000	4,142,776	423
6	Tennessee	$67,788	$52,000	6,715,984	225
7	Kentucky	$68,948	$53,000	4,454,189	126
8	Alaska	$70,325	$61,000	739,795	37
9	Oklahoma	$68,116	$52,000	3,930,864	102
10	Connecticut	$64,973	$49,000	3,588,184	188
11	Massachusetts	$64,591	$49,000	6,859,819	585
12	Vermont	$63,543	$49,000	623,657	33
13	Rhode Island	$61,604	$47,000	1,059,639	62
14	New Jersey	$66,385	$50,000	9,005,644	342
15	Louisiana	$64,833	$47,000	4,684,333	89
16	District of Columbia	$63,739	$48,000	693,972	198
17	Delaware	$64,496	$48,000	961,939	51
18	Minnesota	$60,794	$49,000	5,576,606	403
19	Pennsylvania	$59,732	$45,000	12,805,537	586
20	North Carolina	$59,664	$45,000	10,273,419	500
21	Virginia	$61,241	$46,000	8,470,020	657
22	Colorado	$61,044	$47,000	5,607,154	402
23	Nevada	$60,989	$44,000	2,998,039	80
24	Iowa	$59,187	$47,000	3,145,711	163
25	Mississippi	$61,969	$46,000	2,984,100	55
26	New Hampshire	$59,980	$46,000	1,342,795	86
27	Idaho	$59,556	$45,000	1,716,943	74
28	Illinois	$59,680	$47,000	12,802,023	700
29	Ohio	$58,457	$45,000	11,658,609	435
30	Washington	$58,675	$45,000	7,405,743	762
31	North Dakota	$58,260	$48,000	755,393	38
32	Utah	$57,083	$43,000	3,101,833	240
33	Arizona	$58,225	$42,000	7,016,270	332
34	Wisconsin	$55,692	$44,000	5,795,483	343
35	West Virginia	$58,014	$44,000	1,815,857	41
36	Michigan	$55,470	$43,000	9,962,311	408
37	Hawaii	$63,617	$48,000	1,427,538	21
38	Maryland	$58,343	$44,000	6,052,177	330
39	Florida	$57,368	$41,000	20,984,400	760
40	Alabama	$55,217	$41,000	4,874,747	203
41	Kansas	$55,185	$43,000	2,913,123	152
42	New Mexico	$57,664	$42,000	2,088,070	74
43	Georgia	$53,897	$40,000	10,429,379	840
44	Missouri	$57,469	$45,000	6,113,532	232
45	Arkansas	$55,274	$42,000	3,004,279	94
46	Nebraska	$55,617	$44,000	1,920,076	90
47	Indiana	$54,724	$42,000	6,666,818	243
48	South Carolina	$52,463	$39,000	5,024,369	191
49	Montana	$51,265	$41,000	1,050,493	53
50	South Dakota	$51,759	$42,000	869,666	38
51	Wyoming	$50,073	$39,000	579,315	21

Highest paying states for structural designers

Rank	State	Avg. Structural Designer Salary
1	California	$78,323
2	New York	$68,788
3	Maine	$66,823
4	Texas	$66,500
5	Oregon	$65,367
6	Tennessee	$67,788
7	Kentucky	$68,948
8	Alaska	$70,325
9	Oklahoma	$68,116
10	Connecticut	$64,973
11	Massachusetts	$64,591
12	Vermont	$63,543
13	Rhode Island	$61,604
14	New Jersey	$66,385
15	Louisiana	$64,833
16	District of Columbia	$63,739
17	Delaware	$64,496
18	Minnesota	$60,794
19	Pennsylvania	$59,732
20	North Carolina	$59,664
21	Virginia	$61,241
22	Colorado	$61,044
23	Nevada	$60,989
24	Iowa	$59,187
25	Mississippi	$61,969
26	New Hampshire	$59,980
27	Idaho	$59,556
28	Illinois	$59,680
29	Ohio	$58,457
30	Washington	$58,675
31	North Dakota	$58,260
32	Utah	$57,083
33	Arizona	$58,225
34	Wisconsin	$55,692
35	West Virginia	$58,014
36	Michigan	$55,470
37	Hawaii	$63,617
38	Maryland	$58,343
39	Florida	$57,368
40	Alabama	$55,217
41	Kansas	$55,185
42	New Mexico	$57,664
43	Georgia	$53,897
44	Missouri	$57,469
45	Arkansas	$55,274
46	Nebraska	$55,617
47	Indiana	$54,724
48	South Carolina	$52,463
49	Montana	$51,265
50	South Dakota	$51,759
51	Wyoming	$50,073

Structural designer best states FAQs

What is the best state for structural designers?

What is the highest paying state for structural designers?

What is the worst state for structural designers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

Search for structural designer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs

Total structural designer jobs:	2,851
Average annual salary:	$78,323
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$109,000
Location Quotient:	1.62

Best states for a structural designer

10 best states for structural designers in 2026

1. California

2. New York

3. Maine

4. Texas

5. Oregon

6. Tennessee

7. Kentucky

8. Alaska

9. Oklahoma

10. Connecticut