Washington has emerged as the leading US state for technology careers, according to a new analysis that considers salaries, living costs, job availability, and the financial returns of earning a degree.
The study by AI video creator Revid AI assessed all 50 states using five equally weighted factors
- Cost-adjusted median tech salaries
- Number of tech jobs per 1,000 jobs
- Entry-level pay compared with local rent
- Cost-adjusted senior salaries
- Financial payback from a tech degree
Each factor was scored out of 100 and combined to create a Tech Career Index, with higher scores indicating stronger conditions for technology workers.
Top performing tech states
- Washington topped the ranking with a Tech Career Index score of 85.9, more than 20 points ahead of any other state. It recorded the highest cost-adjusted median tech salary in the US at $127,863, alongside the greatest concentration of tech jobs, at 67.5 per 1,000 jobs. Cost-adjusted senior pay reached $199,789, while its tech degree payback stood at 2.68, meaning the additional earnings associated with studying technology were worth 2.68 times the median student debt.
- Virginia (Score: 65.3): Cost-adjusted median tech salary reached $127,295, with 60.4 tech jobs per 1,000 jobs. Senior workers at the 90th percentile earned a cost-adjusted $199,705, although degree payback was weaker at 0.62.
- Massachusetts (Score: 64.2): Recorded a cost-adjusted median salary of $123,510, senior pay of $195,552, and 42.3 tech jobs per 1,000. Degree payback was 1.97, but entry-level pay reached only 0.92 against the local rent affordability threshold.
- California (Score: 64.1): Posted the highest cost-adjusted senior tech pay nationwide at $202,231, alongside a median of $125,244 and 39.4 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay stood at 0.91 against the local rent threshold.
- Colorado (Score: 60.8): Recorded a cost-adjusted median salary of $124,296, senior pay of $191,185, and 47.3 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay reached 1.16 times the rent threshold, with degree payback at 0.95.
- Maryland (Score: 59.9): Had the 3rd-highest job concentration, with 50.5 tech jobs per 1,000. Its cost-adjusted median salary was $122,372, senior pay reached $187,206, and entry-level pay stood at 0.97 against the local rent threshold.
- Utah (Score: 57.0): Performed particularly strongly on degree payback, at 2.47. The state recorded 42.3 tech jobs per 1,000, entry-level pay of 1.18 against rent, and cost-adjusted median pay of $105,003.
- North Carolina (Score: 53.8): Recorded a cost-adjusted median salary of $114,072, with 39.6 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay was 1.23 times the rent threshold, while senior pay reached $179,092.
- Oregon (Score: 53.6): Posted cost-adjusted median pay of $106,143, senior pay of $180,871, and degree payback of 2.23, alongside 32.5 tech jobs per 1,000.
- Wyoming (Score: 53.4): Recorded the strongest entry-level pay result nationwide, at 1.92 times the local rent threshold, and tied Washington for the highest degree payback at 2.68. However, it had just 15.8 tech jobs per 1,000 and the lowest cost-adjusted median salary among the top 10, at $91,422.
Lowest performing tech states
- Alaska ranked last with a score of 14.1. Its cost-adjusted senior tech salary of $131,732 was the lowest in the US, while the median stood at $89,587. It offered 16.9 tech jobs per 1,000 jobs and a degree payback of just 0.34.
- Hawaii (Score: 14.6): Entry-level pay was the weakest overall, at 0.73 against the local rent threshold. Cost-adjusted median salary reached $90,031, senior pay was $147,529, and job density stood at 19.5 per 1,000.
- Nevada (Score: 19.4): Recorded a cost-adjusted median salary of $92,819 and 19.2 tech jobs per 1,000. Degree payback was the lowest in the nation, at 0.21, while entry-level pay stood at 1.01 against rent.
- Louisiana (Score: 22.4): Registered the lowest concentration of tech jobs nationwide, at 13.6 per 1,000. Cost-adjusted median salary was $89,437, while senior pay reached $149,024.
- Mississippi (Score: 22.6): Recorded the 2nd-lowest cost-adjusted median salary, at $86,253, with 13.7 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay reached 1.49 times the local rent threshold, senior pay was $153,186, and degree payback stood at 0.59.
- North Dakota (Score: 26.7): Entry-level pay reached 1.71 times the local rent threshold, but tech jobs numbered just 16.1 per 1,000. Cost-adjusted median salary was $92,144, while senior pay was the 2nd-lowest at $145,427.
- Florida (Score: 27.9): Offered 30.3 tech jobs per 1,000, but entry-level pay stood at 0.90 against rent, while degree payback was 0.69. Cost-adjusted median pay was $97,782.
- Maine (Score: 28.9): Cost-adjusted median salary reached $94,116, with 23.4 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay reached 1.17 against rent, senior pay was $161,721, and degree payback stood at 0.83.
- Indiana (Score: 29.1): Cost-adjusted median salary was $90,015, with 21.1 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay reached 1.38 times rent, degree payback was 1.05, and senior pay stood at $153,457.
- Arkansas (Score: 29.8): Cost-adjusted median salary was $97,139, with 21.4 tech jobs per 1,000. Entry-level pay reached 1.33 times the local rent threshold, senior pay stood at $158,471, and degree payback was 0.64.
Industry expert analysis
Thibault Louis Lucas, Founder and CEO of Revid AI, said: “Washington’s lead is striking because it is not built on salary alone. The state combines the highest cost-adjusted median pay with the greatest concentration of tech jobs, giving workers both strong earnings and more choice when looking for their next role.”
Lucas added: “California still offers the highest senior pay, but the figures show why it does not take first place. Entry-level salaries fall short against local rent, meaning younger workers may struggle to benefit from the state’s high wages before they reach more senior positions.”
“Wyoming is one of the biggest surprises in the ranking. Its tech market is small, but entry-level pay stretches further against rent than anywhere else in the country, while its tech degree payback is also the strongest. That could make it particularly attractive to remote workers who are not dependent on finding a local employer.”
Lucas added: “At the other end of the ranking, Alaska and Hawaii show how quickly high living costs and a limited job market can weaken career prospects. Tech workers should look beyond the advertised salary and consider how many roles are available, how far their pay will stretch, and whether the state offers a realistic path to senior positions.”