Washington Overtakes California as AI Talent Hub, New Data Shows
Washington has taken the top position among U.S. states for concentration of artificial-intelligence talent, while California continues to list the largest number of AI job openings, according to a study by software talent marketplace Lemon.io.
The study ranked all 50 states using seven workforce measures, including AI and data-center employment per 100,000 workers, changes in AI employment from 2025 to 2026, median AI and technology salaries, job openings and the share of workers using AI tools.
Washington recorded 1,686 AI employees per 100,000 employed workers in 2026, up from 649 AI and data-center jobs per 100,000 in 2025, Lemon.io said. The state also had the highest reported AI-use rate among the leading states, with 25.4% of workers using AI in their jobs. Median annual AI and technology pay in the state was listed at $185,500, alongside 479 open AI roles in August.
California ranked second, with 1,200 AI employees per 100,000 workers and 515 open positions, the highest total in the study. Its median AI and tech salary was $190,000, while 22.4% of workers reported using AI tools.
Massachusetts followed in third place, with 1,187 AI employees per 100,000 workers, according to the report. The state’s AI employment figure rose from 272 AI and data-center jobs per 100,000 workers in 2025. Median AI and technology pay was $172,000, and the report identified 374 open AI positions.
New York placed fourth but led the states reviewed on compensation, with a median annual AI and technology salary of $200,000. It had 981 AI employees per 100,000 workers, 421 openings and an AI-use rate of 15.7%, Lemon.io said.
Colorado rounded out the top five, reporting 923 AI employees per 100,000 workers and a 24.1% AI-use rate. The state had 241 advertised AI openings and median annual pay of $155,000.
Other states in the top 10 were Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Illinois and Georgia. Virginia had 458 listed openings, second only to California, while Texas had 459.
Lemon.io’s analysis treats both specialized AI employment and broader workforce use of AI tools as indicators of where the sector is becoming embedded. The data points to a competitive market in which Washington’s technology ecosystem is gaining ground against California’s larger hiring base, while New York is offering the highest reported pay for AI specialists.