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Best states for a Systems Engineer
Quoted Expert
Jared Wilson
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for systems engineers? 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 engineer jobs.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for systems engineers.
In order to get you the best states for systems engineers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Washington is the best state for systems engineer jobs, whereas Maine is the worst.
10 best states for systems engineers in 2025
1. Washington
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 1,720 Average Annual Salary: $90,725 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.262. California
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 7,271 Average Annual Salary: $94,433 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $69,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.333. Nebraska
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 377 Average Annual Salary: $84,333 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $63,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.914. Virginia
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 3,892 Average Annual Salary: $84,865 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $65,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 2.215. Maryland
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 2,340 Average Annual Salary: $87,332 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.986. Oregon
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 922 Average Annual Salary: $83,353 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $61,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.197. Nevada
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 328 Average Annual Salary: $84,252 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 0.848. Delaware
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 229 Average Annual Salary: $83,883 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $64,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.989. Texas
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 4,082 Average Annual Salary: $80,940 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $61,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.0810. District of Columbia
Total Systems Engineer Jobs: 717 Average Annual Salary: $87,802 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $67,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 2.29
Systems Engineer JobsNear Ashburn, VA
How Zippia determines the best states to be a systems engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a systems engineer
| Rank | State | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,725 | $66,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,720 |
| 2 | California | $94,433 | $69,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,271 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $84,333 | $63,000 | 1,920,076 | 377 |
| 4 | Virginia | $84,865 | $65,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,892 |
| 5 | Maryland | $87,332 | $66,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,340 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,353 | $61,000 | 4,142,776 | 922 |
| 7 | Nevada | $84,252 | $62,000 | 2,998,039 | 328 |
| 8 | Delaware | $83,883 | $64,000 | 961,939 | 229 |
| 9 | Texas | $80,940 | $61,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,082 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $87,802 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 717 |
| 11 | Michigan | $80,612 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,274 |
| 12 | Vermont | $79,971 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 155 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $80,584 | $61,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,697 |
| 14 | Arizona | $77,825 | $58,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,316 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $81,550 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,771 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $80,166 | $61,000 | 1,815,857 | 188 |
| 17 | Idaho | $79,905 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 255 |
| 18 | Alabama | $76,777 | $58,000 | 4,874,747 | 775 |
| 19 | Ohio | $77,774 | $59,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,343 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $82,728 | $63,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,242 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $77,376 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 324 |
| 22 | Colorado | $77,473 | $58,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,760 |
| 23 | New York | $81,979 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,065 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $76,834 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 317 |
| 25 | Utah | $74,971 | $55,000 | 3,101,833 | 767 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $75,452 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 415 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $76,517 | $58,000 | 6,715,984 | 621 |
| 28 | Iowa | $76,265 | $57,000 | 3,145,711 | 417 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $80,120 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 132 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $76,235 | $58,000 | 3,588,184 | 598 |
| 31 | Georgia | $75,964 | $58,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,448 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $74,307 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,540 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $75,506 | $57,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,044 |
| 34 | Indiana | $74,910 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 759 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $74,909 | $57,000 | 2,984,100 | 250 |
| 36 | Illinois | $75,914 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,779 |
| 37 | Kansas | $73,434 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 399 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $72,522 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 241 |
| 39 | Florida | $73,249 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,688 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $70,006 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 119 |
| 41 | Alaska | $70,556 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 162 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $73,227 | $55,000 | 3,930,864 | 337 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $73,856 | $56,000 | 5,024,369 | 534 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $72,464 | $55,000 | 4,454,189 | 348 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $72,800 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 655 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $70,593 | $53,000 | 869,666 | 160 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $69,310 | $52,000 | 755,393 | 154 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $73,095 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 271 |
| 49 | Montana | $70,491 | $52,000 | 1,050,493 | 171 |
| 50 | Missouri | $71,725 | $54,000 | 6,113,532 | 743 |
| 51 | Maine | $70,466 | $54,000 | 1,335,907 | 170 |
Highest paying states for systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Systems Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,725 |
| 2 | California | $94,433 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $84,333 |
| 4 | Virginia | $84,865 |
| 5 | Maryland | $87,332 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,353 |
| 7 | Nevada | $84,252 |
| 8 | Delaware | $83,883 |
| 9 | Texas | $80,940 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $87,802 |
| 11 | Michigan | $80,612 |
| 12 | Vermont | $79,971 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $80,584 |
| 14 | Arizona | $77,825 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $81,550 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $80,166 |
| 17 | Idaho | $79,905 |
| 18 | Alabama | $76,777 |
| 19 | Ohio | $77,774 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $82,728 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $77,376 |
| 22 | Colorado | $77,473 |
| 23 | New York | $81,979 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $76,834 |
| 25 | Utah | $74,971 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $75,452 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $76,517 |
| 28 | Iowa | $76,265 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $80,120 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $76,235 |
| 31 | Georgia | $75,964 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $74,307 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $75,506 |
| 34 | Indiana | $74,910 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $74,909 |
| 36 | Illinois | $75,914 |
| 37 | Kansas | $73,434 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $72,522 |
| 39 | Florida | $73,249 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $70,006 |
| 41 | Alaska | $70,556 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $73,227 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $73,856 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $72,464 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $72,800 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $70,593 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $69,310 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $73,095 |
| 49 | Montana | $70,491 |
| 50 | Missouri | $71,725 |
| 51 | Maine | $70,466 |
Expert opinions on the best states for systems engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Systems Engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Systems Engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025