Best states for a systems architect

Q: What is the best state for systems architects?

The best state to be a systems architect is California based on systems architect salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for systems architects?

The highest paying state for systems architects is Oklahoma based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for systems architects?

The worst state for systems architects is Oklahoma, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Ross Weinreb

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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for systems architects? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for systems architect jobs.In order to help you decide which state is the best for systems architects, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for systems architect jobs.

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 systems architects.We found that the Midwest is best for systems architects, and the Northeast is the worst. Cupertino, CA is the best city in the country for systems architect jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.

10 best states for systems architects in 2025

1. California
Total systems architect jobs: 9,538
Average annual salary: $118,301
Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Systems architect jobs in California
2. Virginia
Total systems architect jobs: 3,319
Average annual salary: $105,346
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000
Location Quotient:
1.37
Systems architect jobs in Virginia
3. Delaware
Total systems architect jobs: 337
Average annual salary: $104,269
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Systems architect jobs in Delaware
4. Maryland
Total systems architect jobs: 1,934
Average annual salary: $108,886
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Systems architect jobs in Maryland
5. Nevada
Total systems architect jobs: 476
Average annual salary: $105,932
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Systems architect jobs in Nevada
6. New Hampshire
Total systems architect jobs: 420
Average annual salary: $103,311
Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Systems architect jobs in New Hampshire
7. Arizona
Total systems architect jobs: 1,785
Average annual salary: $96,780
Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Systems architect jobs in Arizona
8. North Carolina
Total systems architect jobs: 2,532
Average annual salary: $97,543
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Systems architect jobs in North Carolina
9. District of Columbia
Total systems architect jobs: 1,040
Average annual salary: $108,122
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
2.42
Systems architect jobs in District of Columbia
10. Maine
Total systems architect jobs: 248
Average annual salary: $103,126
Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000
Location Quotient:
0.73
Systems architect jobs in Maine

Systems architect jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a systems architect

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

Detailed list of the best states for a systems architect

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$118,301	$81,000	39,536,653	9,538
2	Virginia	$105,346	$75,000	8,470,020	3,319
3	Delaware	$104,269	$75,000	961,939	337
4	Maryland	$108,886	$78,000	6,052,177	1,934
5	Nevada	$105,932	$73,000	2,998,039	476
6	New Hampshire	$103,311	$75,000	1,342,795	420
7	Arizona	$96,780	$67,000	7,016,270	1,785
8	North Carolina	$97,543	$70,000	10,273,419	2,532
9	District of Columbia	$108,122	$77,000	693,972	1,040
10	Maine	$103,126	$76,000	1,335,907	248
11	Washington	$98,942	$70,000	7,405,743	2,432
12	Massachusetts	$101,741	$74,000	6,859,819	2,586
13	Pennsylvania	$97,157	$70,000	12,805,537	2,562
14	Oregon	$95,726	$67,000	4,142,776	1,443
15	Texas	$93,471	$65,000	28,304,596	5,812
16	New Jersey	$101,379	$73,000	9,005,644	1,905
17	Connecticut	$96,033	$69,000	3,588,184	1,022
18	West Virginia	$94,859	$68,000	1,815,857	250
19	North Dakota	$90,336	$67,000	755,393	272
20	Idaho	$93,262	$66,000	1,716,943	432
21	Nebraska	$92,983	$67,000	1,920,076	452
22	New York	$99,609	$72,000	19,849,399	3,115
23	Wyoming	$90,495	$64,000	579,315	164
24	Georgia	$92,221	$66,000	10,429,379	2,817
25	Colorado	$94,365	$67,000	5,607,154	1,633
26	Illinois	$92,350	$66,000	12,802,023	3,456
27	Ohio	$91,331	$65,000	11,658,609	1,899
28	Kentucky	$91,807	$65,000	4,454,189	600
29	Vermont	$89,746	$65,000	623,657	250
30	Hawaii	$100,365	$77,000	1,427,538	181
31	Missouri	$90,725	$65,000	6,113,532	1,246
32	Michigan	$88,330	$63,000	9,962,311	1,695
33	South Carolina	$90,915	$65,000	5,024,369	682
34	Utah	$85,697	$60,000	3,101,833	953
35	Indiana	$88,650	$63,000	6,666,818	1,146
36	Rhode Island	$86,282	$63,000	1,059,639	421
37	Kansas	$88,423	$63,000	2,913,123	623
38	Wisconsin	$88,756	$64,000	5,795,483	1,004
39	Mississippi	$89,123	$63,000	2,984,100	295
40	Minnesota	$88,276	$64,000	5,576,606	1,689
41	Montana	$87,675	$63,000	1,050,493	280
42	Alaska	$89,305	$69,000	739,795	201
43	Arkansas	$86,164	$61,000	3,004,279	513
44	Tennessee	$85,207	$61,000	6,715,984	908
45	Alabama	$85,228	$60,000	4,874,747	706
46	South Dakota	$82,322	$60,000	869,666	209
47	Florida	$84,012	$59,000	20,984,400	3,777
48	Iowa	$83,962	$60,000	3,145,711	648
49	New Mexico	$83,167	$57,000	2,088,070	414
50	Louisiana	$83,193	$58,000	4,684,333	452
51	Oklahoma	$80,365	$57,000	3,930,864	423

Highest paying states for systems architects

Rank	State	Avg. Systems Architect Salary
1	California	$118,301
2	Virginia	$105,346
3	Delaware	$104,269
4	Maryland	$108,886
5	Nevada	$105,932
6	New Hampshire	$103,311
7	Arizona	$96,780
8	North Carolina	$97,543
9	District of Columbia	$108,122
10	Maine	$103,126
11	Washington	$98,942
12	Massachusetts	$101,741
13	Pennsylvania	$97,157
14	Oregon	$95,726
15	Texas	$93,471
16	New Jersey	$101,379
17	Connecticut	$96,033
18	West Virginia	$94,859
19	North Dakota	$90,336
20	Idaho	$93,262
21	Nebraska	$92,983
22	New York	$99,609
23	Wyoming	$90,495
24	Georgia	$92,221
25	Colorado	$94,365
26	Illinois	$92,350
27	Ohio	$91,331
28	Kentucky	$91,807
29	Vermont	$89,746
30	Hawaii	$100,365
31	Missouri	$90,725
32	Michigan	$88,330
33	South Carolina	$90,915
34	Utah	$85,697
35	Indiana	$88,650
36	Rhode Island	$86,282
37	Kansas	$88,423
38	Wisconsin	$88,756
39	Mississippi	$89,123
40	Minnesota	$88,276
41	Montana	$87,675
42	Alaska	$89,305
43	Arkansas	$86,164
44	Tennessee	$85,207
45	Alabama	$85,228
46	South Dakota	$82,322
47	Florida	$84,012
48	Iowa	$83,962
49	New Mexico	$83,167
50	Louisiana	$83,193
51	Oklahoma	$80,365

Expert opinions on the best states for systems architects

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for systems architects to find work opportunities?
Ross Weinreb
Instructor | Career Adviser, The Pennsylvania State University
Not that I am aware of. Our Penn State graduates generally find work in the Northeast (Philadelphia, New York, etc.).

Systems architect best states FAQs

What is the best state for systems architects?

What is the highest paying state for systems architects?

What is the worst state for systems architects?

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Search for systems architect jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total systems architect jobs:	9,538
Average annual salary:	$118,301
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$170,000
Location Quotient:	1.27

Best states for a systems architect

10 best states for systems architects in 2025

1. California

2. Virginia

3. Delaware

4. Maryland

5. Nevada

6. New Hampshire

7. Arizona

8. North Carolina

9. District of Columbia

10. Maine