Best states for a systems engineer/systems administrator

Q: What is the best state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

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

Q: What is the highest paying state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

The highest paying state for systems engineers/systems administrator is Alaska based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

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

Quoted expert

Vince Bowen

Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become a systems engineer/systems administrator at Amazon, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for systems engineers/systems administrator that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for systems engineers/systems administrator in America. The best city in America for systems engineers/systems administrator with the highest pay is Palo Alto, CA.

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 engineers/systems administrator.California is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for systems engineers/systems administrator.

10 best states for systems engineers/systems administrator in 2025

1. California
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 6,563
Average annual salary: $112,319
Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in California
2. Washington
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 1,634
Average annual salary: $99,111
Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Washington
3. New Hampshire
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 333
Average annual salary: $95,614
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in New Hampshire
4. Nevada
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 352
Average annual salary: $97,261
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Nevada
5. Connecticut
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 612
Average annual salary: $97,785
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Connecticut
6. Rhode Island
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 235
Average annual salary: $91,479
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Rhode Island
7. Virginia
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 3,704
Average annual salary: $91,364
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
2.01
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Virginia
8. Louisiana
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 331
Average annual salary: $104,129
Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
0.53
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Louisiana
9. Arizona
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 1,423
Average annual salary: $87,474
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Arizona
10. Pennsylvania
Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs: 1,957
Average annual salary: $90,246
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Systems engineer/systems administrator jobs in Pennsylvania

Systems engineer/systems administrator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a systems engineer/systems administrator

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

Detailed list of the best states for a systems engineer/systems administrator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$112,319	$81,000	39,536,653	6,563
2	Washington	$99,111	$74,000	7,405,743	1,634
3	New Hampshire	$95,614	$69,000	1,342,795	333
4	Nevada	$97,261	$70,000	2,998,039	352
5	Connecticut	$97,785	$70,000	3,588,184	612
6	Rhode Island	$91,479	$66,000	1,059,639	235
7	Virginia	$91,364	$66,000	8,470,020	3,704
8	Louisiana	$104,129	$77,000	4,684,333	331
9	Arizona	$87,474	$64,000	7,016,270	1,423
10	Pennsylvania	$90,246	$64,000	12,805,537	1,957
11	Nebraska	$89,810	$68,000	1,920,076	372
12	Maryland	$91,254	$65,000	6,052,177	2,604
13	Texas	$87,085	$64,000	28,304,596	4,204
14	District of Columbia	$90,391	$65,000	693,972	621
15	Delaware	$90,870	$65,000	961,939	201
16	Wisconsin	$90,104	$67,000	5,795,483	732
17	South Dakota	$85,112	$65,000	869,666	175
18	New Mexico	$83,137	$61,000	2,088,070	467
19	New York	$91,127	$65,000	19,849,399	2,113
20	Mississippi	$86,233	$64,000	2,984,100	305
21	Minnesota	$85,031	$64,000	5,576,606	1,157
22	Vermont	$83,480	$61,000	623,657	170
23	Massachusetts	$86,587	$62,000	6,859,819	1,895
24	West Virginia	$83,795	$61,000	1,815,857	230
25	North Dakota	$81,754	$63,000	755,393	176
26	Maine	$85,774	$63,000	1,335,907	183
27	Alabama	$77,901	$58,000	4,874,747	1,067
28	North Carolina	$81,893	$60,000	10,273,419	1,661
29	New Jersey	$88,215	$63,000	9,005,644	1,282
30	Kansas	$81,802	$61,000	2,913,123	475
31	Indiana	$82,382	$61,000	6,666,818	793
32	Ohio	$79,760	$58,000	11,658,609	1,540
33	Oregon	$80,694	$59,000	4,142,776	839
34	Georgia	$81,468	$60,000	10,429,379	1,575
35	Michigan	$77,854	$57,000	9,962,311	1,313
36	Florida	$78,675	$57,000	20,984,400	3,123
37	Montana	$79,295	$61,000	1,050,493	186
38	Missouri	$80,378	$60,000	6,113,532	867
39	Illinois	$79,870	$59,000	12,802,023	1,965
40	Utah	$73,147	$54,000	3,101,833	834
41	Wyoming	$73,326	$55,000	579,315	127
42	Alaska	$67,274	$58,000	739,795	188
43	Colorado	$72,257	$54,000	5,607,154	1,838
44	South Carolina	$77,246	$57,000	5,024,369	650
45	Idaho	$74,686	$56,000	1,716,943	283
46	Hawaii	$73,920	$58,000	1,427,538	157
47	Tennessee	$74,178	$55,000	6,715,984	727
48	Kentucky	$74,601	$55,000	4,454,189	407
49	Iowa	$73,744	$55,000	3,145,711	521
50	Arkansas	$71,658	$54,000	3,004,279	307
51	Oklahoma	$71,229	$53,000	3,930,864	373

Highest paying states for systems engineers/systems administrator

Rank	State	Avg. Systems Engineer/Systems Administrator Salary
1	California	$112,319
2	Washington	$99,111
3	New Hampshire	$95,614
4	Nevada	$97,261
5	Connecticut	$97,785
6	Rhode Island	$91,479
7	Virginia	$91,364
8	Louisiana	$104,129
9	Arizona	$87,474
10	Pennsylvania	$90,246
11	Nebraska	$89,810
12	Maryland	$91,254
13	Texas	$87,085
14	District of Columbia	$90,391
15	Delaware	$90,870
16	Wisconsin	$90,104
17	South Dakota	$85,112
18	New Mexico	$83,137
19	New York	$91,127
20	Mississippi	$86,233
21	Minnesota	$85,031
22	Vermont	$83,480
23	Massachusetts	$86,587
24	West Virginia	$83,795
25	North Dakota	$81,754
26	Maine	$85,774
27	Alabama	$77,901
28	North Carolina	$81,893
29	New Jersey	$88,215
30	Kansas	$81,802
31	Indiana	$82,382
32	Ohio	$79,760
33	Oregon	$80,694
34	Georgia	$81,468
35	Michigan	$77,854
36	Florida	$78,675
37	Montana	$79,295
38	Missouri	$80,378
39	Illinois	$79,870
40	Utah	$73,147
41	Wyoming	$73,326
42	Alaska	$67,274
43	Colorado	$72,257
44	South Carolina	$77,246
45	Idaho	$74,686
46	Hawaii	$73,920
47	Tennessee	$74,178
48	Kentucky	$74,601
49	Iowa	$73,744
50	Arkansas	$71,658
51	Oklahoma	$71,229

Expert opinions on the best states for systems engineers/systems administrator

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for systems engineer/systems administrators to find work opportunities?
Vince Bowen
Executive Director, Department Chair Energy Systems Technology & Education Center (ESTEC), Idaho State University
Any large city will have several openings. Beyond that, these people can work anywhere in the world.

Systems engineer/systems administrator best states FAQs

What is the best state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

What is the highest paying state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

What is the worst state for systems engineers/systems administrator?

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Best states for Systems Engineers/Systems Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total systems engineer/systems administrator jobs:	6,563
Average annual salary:	$112,319
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$81,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$155,000
Location Quotient:	1.15

Best states for a systems engineer/systems administrator

10 best states for systems engineers/systems administrator in 2025

1. California

2. Washington

3. New Hampshire

4. Nevada

5. Connecticut

6. Rhode Island

7. Virginia

8. Louisiana

9. Arizona

10. Pennsylvania