Career Atlas USA

Best States for Software Developers

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Washington96.7 / 100
  2. 2California95.6 / 100
  3. 3Massachusetts89.7 / 100
  4. 4New York86.3 / 100
  5. 5North Carolina86.1 / 100
  6. 6Virginia85.9 / 100
  7. 7Texas80.1 / 100
  8. 8Colorado77.7 / 100
  9. 9Oregon75.3 / 100
  10. 10New Hampshire74.5 / 100
  11. 11Georgia73.9 / 100
  12. 12Utah71.5 / 100
  13. 13Minnesota70.5 / 100
  14. 14Maryland65.3 / 100
  15. 15Alabama65.2 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).