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Best states for a system software developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to system software developer jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. As system software developers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for system software developers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a system software developer, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for system software developer 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 California is the best state for system software developer jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for system software developers in 2025
1. California
Total system software developer jobs: 14,528 Average annual salary: $129,618 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.522. Washington
Total system software developer jobs: 4,911 Average annual salary: $117,548 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 2.063. Vermont
Total system software developer jobs: 306 Average annual salary: $115,017 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.224. Oregon
Total system software developer jobs: 1,621 Average annual salary: $109,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.25. Massachusetts
Total system software developer jobs: 3,832 Average annual salary: $102,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.286. Delaware
Total system software developer jobs: 472 Average annual salary: $101,691 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.157. Idaho
Total system software developer jobs: 503 Average annual salary: $99,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.948. Rhode Island
Total system software developer jobs: 463 Average annual salary: $98,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.179. New Hampshire
Total system software developer jobs: 435 Average annual salary: $106,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.7610. Montana
Total system software developer jobs: 345 Average annual salary: $99,259 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
System software developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a system software developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a system software developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $129,618 | $94,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,528 |
| 2 | Washington | $117,548 | $87,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,911 |
| 3 | Vermont | $115,017 | $89,000 | 623,657 | 306 |
| 4 | Oregon | $109,203 | $81,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,621 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $102,966 | $79,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,832 |
| 6 | Delaware | $101,691 | $77,000 | 961,939 | 472 |
| 7 | Idaho | $99,257 | $73,000 | 1,716,943 | 503 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $98,722 | $76,000 | 1,059,639 | 463 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $106,211 | $82,000 | 1,342,795 | 435 |
| 10 | Montana | $99,259 | $75,000 | 1,050,493 | 345 |
| 11 | Utah | $95,521 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,364 |
| 12 | Nevada | $103,416 | $76,000 | 2,998,039 | 530 |
| 13 | New York | $103,841 | $79,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,130 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $103,098 | $79,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,330 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $93,470 | $70,000 | 579,315 | 212 |
| 16 | Arizona | $95,448 | $70,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,690 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $100,335 | $76,000 | 693,972 | 978 |
| 18 | Maine | $96,329 | $74,000 | 1,335,907 | 350 |
| 19 | Virginia | $94,337 | $72,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,588 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $94,172 | $73,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,033 |
| 21 | Alaska | $100,569 | $79,000 | 739,795 | 197 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $93,182 | $69,000 | 2,088,070 | 510 |
| 23 | Maryland | $92,208 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,110 |
| 24 | Michigan | $90,112 | $70,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,036 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $91,564 | $70,000 | 1,815,857 | 324 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $90,246 | $69,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,170 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $94,705 | $72,000 | 3,588,184 | 905 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $90,711 | $69,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,543 |
| 29 | Texas | $88,435 | $65,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,538 |
| 30 | Colorado | $89,551 | $67,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,345 |
| 31 | Illinois | $87,525 | $68,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,415 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $87,045 | $67,000 | 869,666 | 260 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $89,664 | $66,000 | 4,684,333 | 642 |
| 34 | Iowa | $86,589 | $67,000 | 3,145,711 | 858 |
| 35 | Georgia | $84,624 | $64,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,957 |
| 36 | Ohio | $85,048 | $65,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,414 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $84,921 | $66,000 | 755,393 | 231 |
| 38 | Indiana | $79,797 | $61,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,847 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $82,284 | $64,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,358 |
| 40 | Alabama | $80,230 | $60,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,141 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $83,567 | $63,000 | 2,984,100 | 325 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $80,921 | $62,000 | 4,454,189 | 826 |
| 43 | Missouri | $81,733 | $63,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,478 |
| 44 | Kansas | $78,104 | $60,000 | 2,913,123 | 852 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $79,581 | $61,000 | 1,920,076 | 527 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $78,648 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,065 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $76,564 | $58,000 | 3,004,279 | 670 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $75,146 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 235 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $78,894 | $60,000 | 5,024,369 | 686 |
| 50 | Florida | $76,493 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,563 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $76,804 | $58,000 | 3,930,864 | 475 |
Highest paying states for system software developers
| Rank | State | Avg. System Software Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $129,618 |
| 2 | Washington | $117,548 |
| 3 | Vermont | $115,017 |
| 4 | Oregon | $109,203 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $102,966 |
| 6 | Delaware | $101,691 |
| 7 | Idaho | $99,257 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $98,722 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $106,211 |
| 10 | Montana | $99,259 |
| 11 | Utah | $95,521 |
| 12 | Nevada | $103,416 |
| 13 | New York | $103,841 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $103,098 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $93,470 |
| 16 | Arizona | $95,448 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $100,335 |
| 18 | Maine | $96,329 |
| 19 | Virginia | $94,337 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $94,172 |
| 21 | Alaska | $100,569 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $93,182 |
| 23 | Maryland | $92,208 |
| 24 | Michigan | $90,112 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $91,564 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $90,246 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $94,705 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $90,711 |
| 29 | Texas | $88,435 |
| 30 | Colorado | $89,551 |
| 31 | Illinois | $87,525 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $87,045 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $89,664 |
| 34 | Iowa | $86,589 |
| 35 | Georgia | $84,624 |
| 36 | Ohio | $85,048 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $84,921 |
| 38 | Indiana | $79,797 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $82,284 |
| 40 | Alabama | $80,230 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $83,567 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $80,921 |
| 43 | Missouri | $81,733 |
| 44 | Kansas | $78,104 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $79,581 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $78,648 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $76,564 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $75,146 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $78,894 |
| 50 | Florida | $76,493 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $76,804 |
Expert opinions on the best states for system software developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for system software developers 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.
System software developer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025