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Best states for a systems programmer
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 systems programmer 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. Our research shows that Oregon is the best state in the country for systems programmers.
The median salary for systems programmers in Oregon is $110,784. Compare that to the median salary in Hawaii of $61,860, which ranked worst for systems programmers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a systems programmer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for systems programmers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total systems programmer jobs: 1,358 Average annual salary: $110,784 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 1.342. Washington
Total systems programmer jobs: 2,252 Average annual salary: $104,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.263. California
Total systems programmer jobs: 7,512 Average annual salary: $114,770 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.054. Rhode Island
Total systems programmer jobs: 443 Average annual salary: $94,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.495. Connecticut
Total systems programmer jobs: 824 Average annual salary: $105,967 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.026. Maryland
Total systems programmer jobs: 2,221 Average annual salary: $100,995 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.447. Vermont
Total systems programmer jobs: 272 Average annual salary: $89,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.458. Pennsylvania
Total systems programmer jobs: 2,987 Average annual salary: $89,904 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.059. Nevada
Total systems programmer jobs: 468 Average annual salary: $93,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 0.9210. Idaho
Total systems programmer jobs: 459 Average annual salary: $87,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
Systems programmer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a systems programmer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a systems programmer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $110,784 | $76,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,358 |
| 2 | Washington | $104,614 | $72,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,252 |
| 3 | California | $114,770 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,512 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $94,282 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 443 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $105,967 | $73,000 | 3,588,184 | 824 |
| 6 | Maryland | $100,995 | $70,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,221 |
| 7 | Vermont | $89,083 | $62,000 | 623,657 | 272 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $89,904 | $62,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,987 |
| 9 | Nevada | $93,527 | $63,000 | 2,998,039 | 468 |
| 10 | Idaho | $87,244 | $60,000 | 1,716,943 | 459 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $95,946 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 702 |
| 12 | New York | $99,137 | $68,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,023 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $90,679 | $61,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,350 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $99,731 | $69,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,920 |
| 15 | Maine | $93,140 | $64,000 | 1,335,907 | 284 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $90,835 | $65,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,534 |
| 17 | Alaska | $93,199 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 207 |
| 18 | Texas | $86,903 | $57,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,317 |
| 19 | Delaware | $88,210 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 411 |
| 20 | Virginia | $87,764 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,230 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $86,721 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 464 |
| 22 | Arizona | $86,917 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,539 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $82,912 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 246 |
| 24 | Alabama | $80,603 | $53,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,201 |
| 25 | Ohio | $83,602 | $58,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,194 |
| 26 | Illinois | $84,790 | $60,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,988 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $85,678 | $59,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,149 |
| 28 | Colorado | $87,182 | $60,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,276 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $79,463 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 244 |
| 30 | Iowa | $81,294 | $57,000 | 3,145,711 | 698 |
| 31 | Montana | $75,980 | $53,000 | 1,050,493 | 322 |
| 32 | Indiana | $80,262 | $56,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,382 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $81,264 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,020 |
| 34 | Michigan | $79,321 | $56,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,759 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $78,327 | $53,000 | 3,004,279 | 511 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $72,862 | $50,000 | 579,315 | 182 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $80,202 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 342 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $75,613 | $52,000 | 1,920,076 | 579 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $81,783 | $52,000 | 4,684,333 | 487 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $73,711 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 523 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $77,083 | $52,000 | 6,715,984 | 954 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $73,762 | $51,000 | 1,815,857 | 275 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $74,793 | $51,000 | 3,930,864 | 465 |
| 44 | Kansas | $70,160 | $49,000 | 2,913,123 | 707 |
| 45 | Utah | $70,091 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 767 |
| 46 | Georgia | $71,790 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,306 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,800 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,769 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $71,573 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 606 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $70,773 | $46,000 | 5,024,369 | 696 |
| 50 | Missouri | $69,383 | $48,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,101 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,860 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 137 |
Highest paying states for systems programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. Systems Programmer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $110,784 |
| 2 | Washington | $104,614 |
| 3 | California | $114,770 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $94,282 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $105,967 |
| 6 | Maryland | $100,995 |
| 7 | Vermont | $89,083 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $89,904 |
| 9 | Nevada | $93,527 |
| 10 | Idaho | $87,244 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $95,946 |
| 12 | New York | $99,137 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $90,679 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $99,731 |
| 15 | Maine | $93,140 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $90,835 |
| 17 | Alaska | $93,199 |
| 18 | Texas | $86,903 |
| 19 | Delaware | $88,210 |
| 20 | Virginia | $87,764 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $86,721 |
| 22 | Arizona | $86,917 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $82,912 |
| 24 | Alabama | $80,603 |
| 25 | Ohio | $83,602 |
| 26 | Illinois | $84,790 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $85,678 |
| 28 | Colorado | $87,182 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $79,463 |
| 30 | Iowa | $81,294 |
| 31 | Montana | $75,980 |
| 32 | Indiana | $80,262 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $81,264 |
| 34 | Michigan | $79,321 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $78,327 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $72,862 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $80,202 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $75,613 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $81,783 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $73,711 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $77,083 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $73,762 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $74,793 |
| 44 | Kansas | $70,160 |
| 45 | Utah | $70,091 |
| 46 | Georgia | $71,790 |
| 47 | Florida | $65,800 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $71,573 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $70,773 |
| 50 | Missouri | $69,383 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,860 |
Expert opinions on the best states for systems programmers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for systems programmers 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025